Solved PC ships w/out OS - how to install the OS?

[lister]

Hi I bought a PC that is shipping without the OS because I have the windows 7 ultimate disk that I bought separately. I imagine that it is pretty straightforward right?

I.e. boot up the new PC and the BIOS will say that there is no media - right? Then as long as the hard drive is NTFS format I can let the windows installation do its magic right?

Thanks!

 

[stormy13]

Pretty much,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello mate, if AHCI is not set by default in the BIOS be sure to enable it before you start the install.

 

[lister]

Hello mate, if AHCI is not set by default in the BIOS be sure to enable it before you start the install.

That is very helpful thanks. I read that:

"AHCI is the acronym for the Advanced Host Controller Interface. It is a new interface specification that allows the SATA controller driver to support advanced features like Native Command Queuing and Hot Plug."

How new is it? My PC coming is a re-furb so I am wondering if it has AHCI. I guess if it does I will swtich it on.

Thanks

 

[theog]

Hello mate, if AHCI is not set by default in the BIOS be sure to enable it before you start the install.

That is very helpful thanks. I read that:

"AHCI is the acronym for the Advanced Host Controller Interface. It is a new interface specification that allows the SATA controller driver to support advanced features like Native Command Queuing and Hot Plug."

How new is it? My PC coming is a re-furb so I am wondering if it has AHCI. I guess if it does I will swtich it on.

Thanks

About 10 years.

 

[seavixen32]

Do make sure you've got the drivers you need and in particular, the one for your network adapter.

Providing you've got that one you can soon download anything else you need although Windows 7 does have a pretty comprehensive driver database so you may find that Device Manager is well populated.

 

[lister]

thanks for that. In fact I just googled "HPZ600 drivers" which is the machine I am getting (re-furb) and it says that you can update the BIOS - i.e. the latest version is May 2011. This is very likely to be the latest BIOS for this machine.

Would you suggest to download that BIOS? Is it difficult to install a new BIOS? I will research as well -

Thanks v much

- also - to add: the BIOS update has "Added support for booting to FAT12 images on USB devices"

i.e. would you bother with this? If this is a minor feature it might not be worth it for me to do the BIOS update. Thanks!!!

 

[seavixen32]

Updating the BIOS can have a beneficial effect on your computer, but I'd recommend you do it only after you have installed/updated your drivers.

How to Update Your BIOS | PCWorld

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/77347-nvidia-graphics-card-flash-bios.html

 

[lister]

i made a complete hash of the install - my kid brother unplugged the machine as it was installing.

It re-booted fine - is it ok to re-write over the "not fully installed" windows set-up? I am holding back to check if I need to do something else...maybe wipe the drive first? Thansk

 

[seavixen32]

I would be inclined to wipe the drive and start again. For the sake of some time, it's not worth not doing it.

And keep your kid brother under lock and key while the re-install takes place!

 

[lister]

yes thanks I just did it and it seems to be fine. thanks!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello mate.


If you didn't do a wipe, the very least I'd do is the clean command.


To start fresh with a clean installation or clean install with an upgrade version of Windows 7, it may be best to over-write the Master Boot Record of any possible corruption and then use the Windows installer to create and format the partition(s) for installation, have a look at the "#6 clean" option of Method One in this first tutorial linked below.

Secure Erase / Wipe : Definition and Methods
​

DISKPART : At PC Startup

​

If you want to completely wipe, over-write the entire Hard Disk Drive of any possible malware infection and / or to get the best possible space to do the install to or just for security purposes, have a look at these tutorials.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
​

Additional Secure Erase / Wipe Information

​

 

[theog]

That is good news.

 

[seavixen32]

yes thanks I just did it and it seems to be fine. thanks!

That's good news, well done.

 

[lister]

thanks for all help

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello again, so you got it all sorted?

 

[lister]

certainly did thanks to you all

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Thanks for the update and don't be a stranger.