Solved Question re: Win 7 Reinstall to new HD on Gateway Desktop

[savmom]

Sorry to keep asking stupid noob type questions. I hate beating a dead horse....pesky people are my pet peeve!!!

uuuuuhhhhhhh Homer kill pests


so I am trying very hard not to be one myself

That being said, after some awesome advice from another member, I purchased a new drive for my Gateway DX4870 desktop and it will be here as soon as the usps truck arrives later this morning

I was searching around the Acer forum (Acer/Gateway are combined now I think? :huh and found a couple '14 threads where people utilized the Gateway recovery discs to reinstall the WIN7 OS on a brand new blank hd in their desktops.

Wondering if I can do the same thing? Basically use the Gateway recovery dvd's I created at startup to install the same OS. I know the Acer OS is full of junk/stuff I don't NEED but I don't mind removing it later on.

If this is an option, do I have to do any formatting of the HD before using it? It's a WD WD1003FZEX, if that makes any difference.

If using the recovery media is possible, it would avoid some seriously nerve-wracking technical stuff on my part and I'm completely freaked that I will do something wrong using the cloning software mentioned here/there and my current hd is about to visit the big hard drive resting grounds in the sky.

Totally irrelevant to this thread but a little info that might shed light on my reservations with this techie stuff: I'm an extremely-exhausted, pushing-50, work-from-home-mama with disabled dh AND dd, so my mind is overwhelmed with caring for them, trying to work to pay the bills/insurance, coordinating appointments/testing/procedures ...... well I'm sure you get the idea and occasionally

Now if anyone thinks using the recovery dvd's will cause problems, I will try to figure out one of the other methods in the tutorials (dl'ing anything is pretty much not happenin' due to the new restrictions from our wonderful :sarc: ISP who decided that since they are the only internet provider here, they would implement a generous :sarc: monthly cap which means no more netflix, hulu, etc )

I appreciate any advice/help/or good old :banghead:

 

[torchwood]

Hi Savmom,
Based on you comment re your ISP.
If you use the reinstall disks >> your back to PLAIN W7, NO SP1.
None of your own stuff either, back your docs/pics etc to a USB.

THAT means LOTS of downloading, your best bet is to clone.

Roy

 

[AddRAM]

I don`t see why it wouldn`t work, that`s what they are for.

As long as you don`t change the motherboard they should work fine.

There`s only 2 methods, well make that 3, I don`t even consider cloning, too many bad things can happen.

Use the recovery discs (OK)

Clean install windows (better)

Use a disk image you should have created already (easiest and fastest)

Macrium Reflect Free

 

[savmom]

How would I go about doing a Clean Install of Windows? From a link here on the forum? Or via a purchased disk?

Thanks for the replies, I sure appreciate your advice

 

[AddRAM]

Yes you need an install dvd.

a clean install is easy

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

But you need an activation key.

Do you have a COA ? What version of windows is on it ?

 

[torchwood]

As you have a desktop, you should have got a set of Disks from Gateway when you bought it.
If you use them it should auto activate.

Roy

 

[savmom]

Yes you need an install dvd.

a clean install is easy

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

But you need an activation key.

Do you have a COA ? What version of windows is on it ?

Sorry for the delay in replying, I couldn't get online until now


I have the little COA sticker with the 25-number/letter thing.

From my system info: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit SP1

Where would I get a disc, from Amazon or Newegg or some place like that?

As you have a desktop, you should have got a set of Disks from Gateway when you bought it.
If you use them it should auto activate.

Roy

I did create a set of recovery discs yesterday, there were three of them. I created a set when I initially got the computer 3 years ago & used those to reinstall the OS when I got a weird BSOD but I could not find dvd #1 so I made new ones.

It also created a disc labeled Windows 7 64-bit repair disc. Would I need to use that somehow?


Thanks for your help!


EDITED TO ASK:

If someone I know has a Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit for refurbished pc, can that be used to install Windows on my 64 bit system?

 

[AddRAM]

You would only use that disc to do a restore from a disk image or to run startup repair, etc.

You can use this website to download an iso file of the windows 7 version you need, either 32 or 64 bit.

Download Windows 7 ISOs, Legally and for Free | PCsteps.com

Microsoft DigitalRiver Mirror

Then you burn that file to dvd, with a simple program like this. At the slowest possible speed.

Free ISO Burner

If you have a COA with a readable code you do not have to buy windows again. You are entitled to install the version that`s on that COA.

 

[savmom]

How do I know which iso to use? I see several for Home Premium 64-bit.

A friend is going to let me downlaod anything I need at her house (no cap lol) so I can go dl whatever you say I need tonight.

And thank you SO SO SO SO SO SO Much for being so patient & helpful. I'm about to go crazy over this stuff

 

[AddRAM]

You download the version that`s listed on your COA Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit SP1

X17-58997.iso

 

[savmom]

My sticker says X16-96072

 

[AddRAM]

Don`t go by that, what version of Windows 7 does it show.

Windows 7 Home Premium ???????

 

[savmom]

It says this:

Windows 7 Home Prem OA

 

[AddRAM]

Well, there you go, download that.

$50 for Professional ? Ya right, another ripoff

Windows 7 Professional - 32/64 Bit ( Product Key + Download) - AZComputerStore.Com

 

[savmom]

OK so I need x17-58997 which according to that one site is the 676549 iso

Now to pester you with one more annoying question (sorry)

It says I have to dl a torrent client right? So, do you have a preference? One that is safe to use? I don't know anything about using torrents or whatever.

 

[AddRAM]

Utorrent, don`t install any garbage it may offer.

?Torrent® (uTorrent) - a (very) tiny BitTorrent client

 

[savmom]

I shout out & thank you to Addram for his help ...I was able to get my system back up & running without using the Gateway restore discs! Now I have a wonderful Win 7 OS without all that crapware that was annoying to get rid of in the beginning lol

 

[AddRAM]

That`s excellent And I was glad to help

Come back here anytime you need help