Solved Reached the breaking point! - Must I do a 'clean' install of W7-Pro-64

[Mike Lynch]

Well, I am bewildered by the number of problems our PC is experiencing.
Having posted most of the issues, there doesn’t appear to be a permanent solution yet.
Again, I am giving up on ‘fixes’ and just asking advice by this Post.
I would like to believe that a ‘clean’ install of HP’s provided Windows-7 Pro will fix all of the problems.
This however, will be a major project for me.
Before undertaking it, I’d like to ask if there might be a less drastic solution.
I have heard the term ‘repair’ in some Forum responses.
Does a ‘repair’ have equal potential for fixing problems as a ‘clean’ install does?
If so, please tell me why?
I’d be inclined to try a ‘repair’ vs. a ‘clean install’ if it could produce the same results.
Mike Lynch

 

[Megahertz07]

A repair install will reinstall windows and will keep your data, the programs and most of the trash you have accumulated over the years. It doesn't take much time to reinstall Windows and the updates.

A second option is to do a Factory Recover. It will format the drive and install Windows and programs as it came brand new. As it will clean your drive, you must backup all your data on an external drive.
It doesn't take much time to reinstall Windows, the updates and recover your data from the backup.

A third option is a Clean install. You use a MS Win 7 installation drive. It doesn't install the outdated and useless programs.
It is the best option but most time consuming and you may have to find some drivers (that you download from HP).

In your case I would do a Factory Recover. It is fast and safe. For the updates use Simplix

HP PCs - How to Reset Your Computer to Factory Settings

 

[RolandJS]

While it may not fix everything, a repair install will certainly help the situation. Both of my laptops underwent a repair install, and a number of problems went away. Consider a repair install after you have made full image backups of your C and D partitions onto external media. If the RI works, then do another set of backups.
(Megahertz and I posted at the same time. As always, MH gives solid advice!)

 

[SIW2]

Are they still providing win7 pro media for the 8300 ?

I can't see it on the cloud recovery thing. Any of the hp win7 pro media will probably be fine whatever model it is allegedly for. It is possible to select just the os and not the drivers in the thing

 

[Mike Lynch]

I have my original Media from HP.
Unfortunately, it has a bunch of non HP junk included.
I will need to delete them.

 

[SIW2]

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool (Windows 10, 7) | HP(R) Customer Support



HP Cloud Recovery

 

[Mike Lynch]

FYI!

I looked through the Listing and as my luck would have it, an 8300 is not there.
I attached what Belarc sees as my Model #
I also attached the four Disks HP provided several years ago.
Unless you see things differently, I think I'll have to go the Clean route!

 

[Megahertz07]

You may have the recovery partition on your disk to make a Factory recover.
Open disk manager and see if there is a Recovery partition (~15G)

 

[SIW2]

Belarc tells you the machine is HP Compaq Elite 8300 CMT

Your "recovery discs" are for Elite 8300.

I don't know if they include SP1 - they are dated 2013 so I expect they do.

If you are going to use those "recovery discs" make sure you unplug any other hard disks because I expect the hp "recovery media " will repartition at least the target disk.

I would use the regular MS installation media instead:

Redscreen on recovery disks - HP Support Community - 4761631

 

[Mike Lynch]

Megahertz07,

No recovery partition.


SIW2,

I do have a W7-Pro Disk.

There was only one Disk when I bought it on the Internet about four years ago.

It came with a License, the HP Disks also have a License.

Interesting, HP, a set of four, non HP, only one.

Maybe the extra three Disks have all the 'extra junk' on them.

 

[Megahertz07]

If you do a clean install using a MS installation drive you will need to activate.
- If you use the key number on the COA sticker it will activate as OEM (on line)
- You can save the current activation (SLP) and then use it on the clean install. No key needed and it's a offline activation (recommended). Use Dism++ to save the current SLP activation. SIW2 is the one to guide you.

 

[Mike Lynch]

I forgot!

I immediately went to the Forum, after Windows-7 started and entered the response above.

What I forgot was our PC did something unusual last night.
To stop it, I had to unplug the power and replug the power.

I woke up about 2am and went to our PC
We try to log off after we are through using it for the day.
On the desktop were the User Icons, as usual.
I clicked on mine, to sign on, but the screen went Black with the normal Curser in the center.
It stayed that way for at least 20 minutes as I waited for Windows 7.
Windows 7 never 'woke up'!
I clicked and clicked, moving the Curser to many different locations.
Nothing would awaken Windows 7.
I then tried: Control, Alt, Del and the Task Manager opened up.I opened the Resource Monitor also.
They were indicating Disk and Network activity.
I opened up Processes and then started to examine the short list of 'stuff' running.
CSRSS.exe was running and had it's Priority set to HIGH.
I never had reason to look at this type of situation before but thought that perhaps CSRSS.exe could be consuming too much.
I decided to end it but the System would not let me.
I left the PC like this and went to bed.
At about 730am Eastern, I awoke and the PC was still doing 'whatever it was doing'.
I decided to unplug and replug the power.
Windows-7 started, asking how to start and I replied to just start.
It did and that's where I am now, grateful to have access to the Internet and the Forum.

Strange Things Are Afoot At The Circle K!

After last night and the other 'stuff' going on, I am looking forward to doing a Clean Install.

 

[Mike Lynch]

Megahertz07

Use Dism++ to save the current SLP activation.

I am not familiar with this procedure.

Where should I save it to or do I just write down the SLP number?

 

[Megahertz07]

I suggested Dism++ as SIW2 always recommend it.

I have successfully used ABR

 

[SIW2]

I do have a W7-Pro Disk. It came with a License

You don't need to use the license from your win7 disc.

Backup the existing activation first SEE HERE

Install from the w7-pro disc. Skip when it asks for key. Then when you have reached the desktop, restore the activation you backed up.

 

[TechnoMage2016]

Well, I am bewildered by the number of problems our PC is experiencing.
Having posted most of the issues, there doesn’t appear to be a permanent solution yet.
Again, I am giving up on ‘fixes’ and just asking advice by this Post.
I would like to believe that a ‘clean’ install of HP’s provided Windows-7 Pro will fix all of the problems.
This however, will be a major project for me.
Before undertaking it, I’d like to ask if there might be a less drastic solution.
I have heard the term ‘repair’ in some Forum responses.
Does a ‘repair’ have equal potential for fixing problems as a ‘clean’ install does?
If so, please tell me why?
I’d be inclined to try a ‘repair’ vs. a ‘clean install’ if it could produce the same results.
Mike Lynch

Mike,
I'm bypassing all the responses to your query, to get right down to my own experience.
You mentioned "HP's provided Windows-7 Pro" and therein lies the problem.
HP packs their OS with so much garbage, you'd hardly recognize it from what MS wrote and published.


If someone gave me a brand new HP computer, still in the box, the first thing I'd do it wipe the HD and do a Clean Install, from a pure MS OS. That simple chore eliminates tons of problems, on down the road.


I agree, that sometimes a PC's registry (OS) can get so fouled up, that only a fresh, clean, install can fix it. I like fixing things....it's what I've done now, for over forty years. But sometimes there are things that just cannot be fixed, and are better off replaced. An OS is one of those things.


So, just back up all your data, wipe the HD, and install a new OS. A new OS is easy come by.
Once the new OS is installed, then copy your data files back to the HD.


I don't think you live close by, or I'd offer to do it for you.


Good Luck,
TechnoMage

 

[Mike Lynch]

The new disk drive I ordered arrived this afternoon. Having given my situation some thought, considering all the input I received, I believe I will use the Windows-7 Disk from Microsoft. I will get started tomorrow morning.

To move the Files, once I have a clean install on the new hard drive, should I use Easy File Transfer or Drag and Drop?

 

[Megahertz07]

I don't like drag and drop from one drive to another. I use Ctrl+c (copy) and Ctrl+v (paste).

Did you buy a SSD? How big is the new drive?

 

[Mike Lynch]

It is a regular hard drive.
It is 6TB.

 

[Megahertz07]

You should buy a small SSD (120G - US$25) for windows and programs and use the HDD for data only.
A SSD is 6 times faster than a HDD. It will boot in ~20sec and open programs at a blink of an eye.

As you're doing a clean install you can move C:\users (SSD) to D:\Users (HDD)
That is what I have on my desktop and laptop.