Installing Win7 from folder on second hard drive - how to

[Beanster]

Hello, and HELP
I need to wipe my hard drive and reinstall Windows 7, for the 3rd time. I have been working with Microsoft support for more than 6 months, and they are not able to resolve my issues with Windows Updates constantly failing. So I'm gonna DIY and start over fresh. The MS tech support guy decided that my Win7 install DVD must be corrupted, so he downloaded a new install file (X17-59186) which is stored on my second internal drive (for saved files and photos only).
My C:\ drive is a Crucial M4 256 GB SATA III SSD drive
My D:\ drive is a Western Digital 1Tb SATA 6.0Gb/s internal hard drive. This drive has many folders storing documents and photos. One of these folders is "Downloads" and the Win 7 software is located here.
Here's my question:
According to instructions, I must go into BIOS, set the boot sequence to the DVD drive, insert the install DVD, restart, get to a command prompt and open DISKPART to create the partition, then restart and the reinstall starts from the DVD drive.

How do I proceed without a DVD? Thanks in advance for helping.
Beanster

 

[ignatzatsonic]

First step is to burn that X17-59186 file to a disc, which you would then boot from.

I assume that file has an ISO extension?

I assume you have a DVD drive??

Can you do that? If so, do so, and report back.

Confusion: you say the "MS tech support guy" downloaded that file. Then you say it's on your hard drive.

How did it get from him to you? Do you know EXACTLY where it came from?

Do you in fact have a 25 character "Product Key" that corresponds to version X17-59186?

 

[gregrocker]

Make sure the download completed and is the correct size, then write it to flash stick or burn to DVD using Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool, boot the installation media to do a Clean Install Windows 7.

It will be best to power down to unplug all other drives first. Then during the booted install use the drive options pictured in Steps 7/8 to delete all partitions on the target HD, create New and do the install.

I'd also look over these same steps for Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which are the same for retail and compile everything that works best to get and keep a perfect install.

 

[Beanster]

Thanks for responding! First the easy questions. I cannot recall exactly where he got that file, which does have an ISO extension and, yes, he gave me a new product key for this file. It took HOURS to download this 3 Gb file, which he downloaded to my C:\ drive. I copied it to the D:\ drive, knowing I would be wiping c:\ clean.

When I right-click on the file, I see an option to Burn Disc Image, but it cannot find the Windows burner. My own Nero burner software is gone, as are my printers, etc. When I click on the Start button, NOTHING is there. I can find Word, Excel, etc. by using the search function, and they open just fine and I can get to my saved docs on D:\. Thank god for that second HD!
So I cannot burn. However, on the right-click of the file there is an option to Extract Files... Perhaps that would work? I mean, I could extract to the DVD? But I can't format the disc, or at least I don't think I can until I try, which I will do right now....

 

[Beanster]

Forgot to mention that it has .rar extension, hence can extract.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You say it has an ISO extension. Then you say it has an RAR extension.

Hmmmm..........................

It can't be both.

 

[gregrocker]

I just gave you specific instructions on how to burn the iSO which you ignored.

But now you say it's not an .ISO but a .RAR which is not a file type MS Support would have had you download. Sounds like it came from a torrent.

What does it say on your Win7 COA sticker which either came in the retail packaging or is affixed to a store-bought PC? Write back everything it says on the sticker except the identifying numbers.

We cannot help you if you don't have a Win7 license as such.

 

[Beanster]

Sorry to confuse, it's an ISO file. I'm trying your suggestion, gregrocker, right now. However, I WAS able to extract the files (to the same location on D:\), so now I'm really confused as well.

I downloaded the tool, but it did not behave according to the instructions. Please, let me try the download again, and I assure you, I have a valid license. Back in a sec....

 

[Beanster]

Hello, gregrocker,
Sorry I had to leave yesterday. I opened your link to get the tool, and I saw this:

Warning!
The Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool does not work with UEFI.
To create a 64-bit Windows 7 or Windows 8 UEFI USB flash drive, see:
How to Create a Bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 7 and Windows 8

I have UEFI, so I went to the link above to create a bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive. This was completed successfully.

Next, in following your link for a clean install, I found "How to Install Windows 7 Using the "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface" (UEFI)" at this link: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-7-a.html

Am I ready to follow these instructions and begin? Should I boot to DISKPART at startup to clean the drive?
Thanks.