Solved New HD and Clean Install Results in Windows 7 Product Code Failure

[GeekyUU]

Hello all and many thanks for any advice given.

A coworker's Asus laptop crashed with a Status Oxc000000f error. He was unable to get to any other screen. I offered to try to fix it and have just run into error after error. Ultimately after everything else had failed I bought a new Hard Drive to install and ran a clean install from a disc I had burned. The laptop came pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Premium with the Product Code sticker right there on the bottom. After the laptop booted to the desktop there is a Windows Build 7601 This copy of Windows is not Genuine error message in the bottom right corner of the screen. Almost everything seems normal otherwise. Except for internet access, when I try internet explore it will not load and the diagnostics show that it is missing a properly installed network adapter.

I am not a computer wiz by any stretch of the imagination, probably shouldn't have attempted as much as I have, but I'm in this deep I'd like to see it through. If any one has any advice on how I can correct these issues I would be very greatful.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

.............clean install from a disc I had burned. The laptop came pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Premium with the Product Code sticker.........After the laptop booted to the desktop there is a Windows Build 7601 This copy of Windows is not Genuine........

Do you have any particular reason to believe that it is a genuine copy?

Where did you get the ISO that you burned? I'm assuming it was an ISO.

Did you attempt to activate Windows?

 

[GeekyUU]

I have no reason not to believe it is a genuine copy.

I burned the ISO from a site I found online, but now I wish I had tracked down an OEM copy.

The 7601 error eventually led to a pop up screen turned the background black and insisted on a new product key to continue anything.

I shut down the laptop and tried to reboot only to receive a BOOTMGR error.

I found that the BIOS was not recognizing the new HD and have since reinstalled the old one. Now I have a new error

File: \windows\system32\config\system
Status: 0xc0000225
Info: windows failed to load because the system registry file is missing, or corrupt

 

[GeekyUU]

The ISO was for an SP1 version. If I could borrow an OEM installation disc would another clean install possibly work?

 

[AddRAM]

You do not have to get an oem disc, the one you have will be sufficient.

Have you installed the network driver yet, can you get out to the net ?

Sounds like you just have to activate the pc.

Get the network drivers while you use the working hard drive, put the driver on a flash drive, put in the new hard drive and install the driver.

Then activate windows.

 

[GeekyUU]

Sorry for the delayed response, I was starting to get a little punchy, needed a nap.

So I re-installed the new HD, and ran another clean install off of the ISO disc, but this time did not enter the product key yet. I am missing a lot of drivers including a network driver, so I have no internet access yet. The model number of the comp is Asus N53SV, it looks like the BIOS version has some updates that need to be installed, currently running version N53SV.209, 2/10/2011.

I think I should be able to download the drivers from the ASUS website to a disc to install, at least that's what I'm hoping...

 

[GeekyUU]

Thank you addram. the original hd was not working to where I could get to desktop, only error screens. Tried to burn drivers to dvd from asus website but will not load on problem comp. Doesn't seem to recognize format.

 

[GeekyUU]

I have an old laptop with windows 7 64bit. Found a program called DriverMax that I can (supposedly) use to copy the drivers from my old laptop onto the one I'm trying to repair. Does anyone have experience with this program, tips/advice, will it work?

 

[AddRAM]

You can`t copy drivers from another computer, you have to go to the manufacturer`s website to download the drivers. Put the network drivers on a flash drive or cd, a flash drive is much easier.

Don`t use driver programs, you don`t need them.

 

[GeekyUU]

Thank you addram. I'm going to get an empty flash drive now. I suppose my logic (if you can call it that) is that the product key can't be verified until I have all the drivers installed and can get connectivity restored. Does that make sense?

 

[AddRAM]

Well ya, you have to install the network (ethernet) drivers before you can get out to the net, then just run windows update.

You have 30 days to activate windows, you don`t have to rush that, but you do need a valid key, you don`t want to do all that work then not be able to activate windows.

You said it has a Home Premium COA, so as long as you can read the key, you`re all set.

 

[GeekyUU]

The product key sticker is intact and not worn.

So, do I just do a save as of the driver files onto the flash drive? Also the bios version on the laptop appears to have 3 newer versions available, would I load just the newest version or do I need to install in order as updates? Thank you for your help.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I wouldn't update the BIOS unless I had a SPECIFIC reason to believe doing so would solve an existing problem.

BIOS updating can go very very wrong, in which case you get to buy a new motherboard. Not to be taken lightly.

Problems the updates are designed to fix are usually mentioned at the motherboard manufacturer's web site.

Windows 7 is very good at providing the proper drivers. The only one I'd be particularly concerned about is the NIC (Internet) driver as you need it to establish connectivity. I might download the others, but probably wouldn't install them unless the drivers supplied by Windows proved to be deficient for some reason.

 

[AddRAM]

You always install the latest bios, but as Ignatz has said, don`t worry about that now.

And yes save the network driver to the flash drive.

But I would save it on the pc you`re using too.

 

[GeekyUU]

Of course, very sensible advice ignat and addram. I guess I'm still a little spun up from lack of sleep and suffering through error after error. The most important thing is to get connectivity at this point. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

 

[gregrocker]

Look over these steps for doing a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to see how close you've come so far. If not I'd start over and do it again. Everything needed is in the tutorial, including the latest official Win7 installer which I'd use if you have any further problems with the one you "found." Make sure you use the licensed version on the COA sticker which Product Key is used to activate it. Follow the steps closely on drivers.

 

[GeekyUU]

Thank you!!!

AWESOME!!! I cannot thank you all enough. It took several tries to find the correct driver but once I got connectivity back things have been going a lot smoother. After a few more driver installs and 150 or so automatic windows updates everything seems to be working fine. The product key was verified and I am done with this little project.