Solved OS v OEM

[Ziani]

Hiya,

I am using Asus OEM Windows 7 Home and am thinking on getting Windows 7 pro. If I replace this with the new OS will I have to install certain Asus software as well or will the new OS install everything?

Thanks

 

[theog]

NO, you can use anytime upgrade.

No install files needed.
Only the Upgrade key is need.
Anytime upgrade only adds-on the Programs & Features from version to version.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/95744-windows-anytime-upgrade-how.html

 

[Ziani]

NO, you can use anytime upgrade.

No install files needed.
Only the Upgrade key is need.
Anytime upgrade only adds-on the Programs & Features from version to version.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/95744-windows-anytime-upgrade-how.html

Thank you but I was thinking of a complete new install....NOT upgrading. I also don't want to keep all the rubbish that came with the OEM.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
In general the Full / Retail version of W7 wil be OK but you will probably have to install some ASUS drivers -- their website is OK

I changed a MB with an ASUS one and the CD that came with the Motherboard had all the drivers on it in any case.


Advantages of OS vs OEM

1) Can move to different computers - just tell MS you've upgraded computer / hardware and activation is automatic

2) You install ONLY what YOU want -- no OEM Trial / add / cr--/ ware .

If I buy a store supplied computer the 1st thing I do is WIPE their disk clean and install a fresh instance of Windows. (In case of problems take a copy of the factory image disk so you can restore it to "Store Status" just in case the computer is faulty as installing a different OS *May* (not necessarilly Will) invalidate the warranty - better to be safe than sorry.

3) You can easily recover / re-install W7 if needed (recovery disk creation etc etc).

4) OEM - if you have to re-install from their image you end up with all the initial Junk -- and also sometimes their restore package doesn't work.

5) You can re-partition disks easily -- with a standard OEM hidden restore partition you can get problems moving stuff around and re-arranging disk partitions.

6) Can install in your own language (or if W7 Pro and up you can install additional Language packs).

probably other things too I haven't mentioned.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Bill2]

Hello Ziani,

If you're not completely comfortable installing windows/software or just plain too busy, follow Theog's advice. The advantages are:

1) The Anytime Upgrade license is cheaper than a full retail license.

2) Anytime upgrade is a 10 minute, usually painless procedure that simply unlocks new features of the upgraded version without disturbing installed apps and user files.

3) After anytime upgrading, just uninstall the asus stuff you dont need, keep the stuff you like, do some basic maintenance (run a AV scan, clean temp files and run defrag) THEN create an image of the install. This is a quick and simple way of going back to good state if things go wrong.

4) Before you upgrade (or clean install), make a set of recovery disks using the asus builtin recovery manager, those let you restore to factory install if needed and also save a copy of the license you paid for.

With machines these days having large and fast hard disks and lots of ram, clean install may not provide any great performance boost though its also a matter of personal preference.

 

[Ziani]

Hi there
In general the Full / Retail version of W7 wil be OK but you will probably have to install some ASUS drivers -- their website is OK

I changed a MB with an ASUS one and the CD that came with the Motherboard had all the drivers on it in any case.


Advantages of OS vs OEM

1) Can move to different computers - just tell MS you've upgraded computer / hardware and activation is automatic

2) You install ONLY what YOU want -- no OEM Trial / add / cr--/ ware .

If I buy a store supplied computer the 1st thing I do is WIPE their disk clean and install a fresh instance of Windows. (In case of problems take a copy of the factory image disk so you can restore it to "Store Status" just in case the computer is faulty as installing a different OS *May* (not necessarilly Will) invalidate the warranty - better to be safe than sorry.

Cheers
jimbo

Thanks Jimbo,

Why would I have to inform MS that I have upgraded as I would have a new License with the new OS?

You say wipe their disk clean which is what I would do. Is this done when installing new OS....gives option to reformat?

Not sure how to take a copy of the factory image? Would I not just be able to re install the OEM with the dsk that came with it to restore it to Store Status?

 

[seavixen32]

Windows Anytime Upgrade is the easiest way to go and probably one of the cheapest.

Just go online and buy an upgrade product key and you're good to go:

Windows Anytime Upgrade - Upgrade your Windows 7 edition - Microsoft Windows

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/95744-windows-anytime-upgrade-how.html

You can also buy an upgrade product key in some computer stores.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Ziani, welcome to Seven Forums!


If you want to do a clean install anyway, this may be a better process, after you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media and want to do a complete wipe secure erase of the entire Hard Disk Drive / Solid State Drive, have a look at Step One of the Optimize tutorial below then boot the Windows installation media to start the Windows 7 clean install process.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Additional Secure Erase / Wipe Information


​

Be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

 

[Ziani]

Hello Ziani, welcome to Seven Forums!


If you want to do a clean install anyway, this may be a better process, after you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media and want to do a complete wipe secure erase of the entire Hard Disk Drive / Solid State Drive, have a look at Step One of the Optimize tutorial below then boot the Windows installation media to start the Windows 7 clean install process.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Additional Secure Erase / Wipe Information


​

Be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

Thanks Bare foot kid...this sounds perfect. Do I really need to secure/erase the HDD before doing a clean install? What I am planning is having 2 drives C: & D: and installing new OS on C: At the moment I have both and was just planning on a clean install on C: and leaving D: although I may change the size.

 

[kegobeer]

No, there's no need to do any kind of erase. You can just quick format the drive during the installation process.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

No it's not necessary, just the best way forward to a clean install.

 

[theog]

A Quick format will leave the Asus Recovery Partition in place, but unusable. You will need to delete all partitions.

 

[gregrocker]

You can use Win7 Pro upgrade version. Boot the installer, it will see an existing OS and pass a flag allowing use of Upgrade version key upfront - even if you then go on to use Custom install>Drive Options to Delete all partitions, Create new and Format as shown in this tutorial: Clean Install Windows 7 .

Wiping the HD using Diskpart "Clean All" is unnecessary overkill unless there are install problems caused by boot sector corruption. This will also cause the installer to not see an OS, requiring waiting to insert the Product key until after the install to do one of the workarounds given here to use Upgrade version on a cleaned HD: Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Here I have compiled steps based on hundreds of clean reinstalls of factory OEM to help get a perfect reinstall: Reinstalling Windows 7

Another indirect path is to unlock all versions in the Win7 installer to clean reinstall Home Premium (which you own for the life of the machine) with the Product Key on COA sticker, then use Anytime Upgrade (which is cheaper) to upgrade to Pro from a clean reinstall without the factory bloatware.

You can also clean up the factory bloatware if you want using these tips: Clean up factory bloatware

 

[mjf]

Ziani,
as I understand it we are talking 2 quite different options.

The Anytime upgrade would work on an existing ASUS OEM installation freeing up the pro options. It would still look and be partitioned like a ASUS PC.
Other members - is this correct?
If so, it doesn't look very appealing to me.

As I see it, the other way you get your hands on the install disks and can do a true clean install when needed. The OS will always be tied to your existing PC.

 

[theog]

Ziani,
as I understand it we are talking 2 quite different options.

The Anytime upgrade would work on an existing ASUS OEM installation freeing up the pro options. It would still look and be partitioned like a ASUS PC.
Other members - is this correct?
If so, it doesn't look very appealing to me.

As I see it, the other way you get your hands on the install disks and can do a true clean install when needed. The OS will always be tied to your existing PC.

YES, to Anytime Upgrade option.
Takes about 10 min.

Clean install option.
OEM manufacturer's setup
(base of)

1) Delete all partition.
2) Install Windows.
3) Install all OEM manufacturer's drivers.
4) Reinstall all Software.
Could Take 2 hours to 24 hours+

 

[Ziani]

A Quick format will leave the Asus Recovery Partition in place, but unusable. You will need to delete all partitions.

That's what I thought. I see I have at the moment a primary partition and 2 drives C: & D:....am i right in thinking that will be the Asus recovery partition? I understand by what I am reading here that I will have to delete this when I install with a retail OS?

I am using this OEM version as a practice version to find my way round Windows 7. I hate OEM's because of all the crap they put on and set them to autorun. I nearly did not bother with my new mean machine because of all this hassle but am glad I did now and will be happy when I have my new OS installed and set up just how I like it.

Thanks guys again for all your help

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Have a look at the information in this tutorial linked below, though if you are going to purchase a retail installer ..., this is just another option.

Clean Install : Factory COA Activation Key

​

 

[mjf]

Have a look at the information in this tutorial linked below, though if you are going to purchase a retail installer ..., this is just another option.

Clean Install : Factory COA Activation Key

​

+1

I see no point in sticking to the OEM's partition structure. You can always pull drivers from your existing configuration. Some OEMs allow you to backup their drivers (eg. ACER).

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Have a look at the information in this tutorial linked below, though if you are going to purchase a retail installer ..., this is just another option.

Clean Install : Factory COA Activation Key

​

+1

I see no point in sticking to the OEM's partition structure. You can always pull drivers from your existing configuration. Some OEMs allow you to backup their drivers (eg. ACER).

Thanks mate, I'm like you, why purchase when there's this option.

 

[Ziani]

This is soo annoying...am getting ready for my clean install with retail OS ...creating my recovery disks just in case I need them and its not working. It mounts the recovery partition and creates 5 iso's but errors when burning to disk...have tried many disks.
Any ideas?