Solved Recovery but no EMS

[gregrocker]

A 4 gb flash stick is large enough for the Installer or the Repair CD to be written to.

Here are alternate methods if Ultra ISO doesn't work following the exact steps I gave earlier:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html
YouTube - How to install Windows 7 from USB (WinToFlash)

 

[weiser701]

OK, I've decided to focus on the USB route and I have a fresh 16GB stick, unused and ready to go. I had already tried the Hirens boot CD option (on USB) but couldn't get the computer to boot from USB. I followed the directions and thought I had it all set up right. I guess the only thing different was the USB stick wasn't formatted to FAT. Instead it was formatted to FAT32. Does that make a difference? Is FAT32 required on a drive/partition that size? I changed the boot order to 'Removable Devices' at the top of the order. Is there something wrong with my computer if it won't boot from any of the USB ports?

Maybe I need detailed, step-by-step instructions in what to do with the Recovery CD and USB stick now that I have it and I'm committed to going that route. I appreciate all the help so far. It's more than I ever expected. Really... much appreciated.

 

[gregrocker]

Do you have a Win7 installation DVD for your licensed version of Win7?

Or do you have Recovery disk(s) provided by manufacturer?

You said CD - is this the Repair CD for Win7? http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/51100-repair-cd-system-repair-disk.html

Please be specific as to what you have or ask questions to provide the answer, as this thread is pages of miscommunication with not enough feedback to help you properly.

 

[weiser701]

Do you have a Win7 installation DVD for your licensed version of Win7?

Or do you have Recovery disk(s) provided by manufacturer?

You said CD - is this the Repair CD for Win7? http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/51100-repair-cd-system-repair-disk.html

Please be specific as to what you have or ask questions to provide the answer, as this thread is pages of miscommunication with not enough feedback to help you properly.

I apologize. I listed earlier that it's a recovery disk provided by the manufacturer: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/131897-recovery-but-no-ems-3.html#post1137432

The title is: Windows 7 Recovery Media for Windows 7 Products

If I had the installation CD then I'd be familiar with using that for doing a clean install like I used to do with my old HP. I did that quite frequently and always with success. It was such a great peace of mind knowing I had it at my disposal. Of course, I'm now also trying to cope with not having an optical drive.

Thank you for the PM. I'm going to work on that today. I'll report back with my results.

 

[gregrocker]

You can write Recov DVD ISO to flash stick using Ultra ISO trial version: On file tab Open ISO, on Bootable tab Write Disk Image, Format first, then Write. Boot under USB or HD's.

If you can locate or borrow an install DVD, use the MS tool to write to flash or UltraISO method above.

 

[weiser701]

Well, I got a hold of the Windows 7 Install DVD and burned it to USB, but I just can't seem to get my Asus laptop to boot from it. I have the appropriate order set in the BIOS but I always arrive at Windows Boot Manager and my options are:

1. Windows 7
2. Ramdisk boot options (Something like that - that came from Boyans)

I don't know if it's because of what I added with Boyans help or there's just something missing on this computer. I still blame the computer since I didn't have the Recovery option from the beginning, before anything was done.

 

[gregrocker]

How was the RAMDISK boot option added? What happened when you tried to boot it? I would reverse the process to get rid of it.

Are you accessing the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key by tapping the Asus' F8, ESC or DEL keys at bootup? Try setting it first to boot in BIOS setup. It may be listed under USB, removeable or HD's. It should register if it is plugged in.

If not, try another method mentioned for writing to the USB stick.

 

[weiser701]

How was the RAMDISK boot option added? What happened when you tried to boot it? I would reverse the process to get rid of it.

This is the advice I followed to add the RAMDISK option: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/131897-recovery-but-no-ems-4.html#post1138601

It just gives me an option to repair boot up but nothing seems to be accomplished. But I appreciate all the time and effort boyans put into his advice. I'm not sure how to reverse the process as I wasn't even sure what I was doing in the first place. I was just copying and pasting as prompted. It was all way more advanced than what I've been familiar with.

Are you accessing the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key by tapping the Asus' F8, ESC or DEL keys at bootup? Try setting it first to boot in BIOS setup. It may be listed under USB, removeable or HD's. It should register if it is plugged in.

Yes, I accessed via F2 I believe. It was labeled as "Removable Devices" and it's currently at the top.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

In the Windows start menu search box type msconfig click the entry and at the boot tab, if there is a "RAMDISK" entry it can be deleted to remove the boot menu entry but this won't remove the actual addition you made using the boyans info.

 

[gregrocker]

Is the listing only "removeable Devices" or does it register the exact device to chooe to boot?

Unless the exact flash stick model show up on the BIOS Boot Order or one-time BIOS Boot Menu, it may not be bootable and registering. In that case try another method to write to stick.

I believe F2 enters BIOS setup. What is your model so we can give you the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key.

 

[weiser701]

Is the listing only "removeable Devices" or does it register the exact device to chooe to boot?

Unless the exact flash stick model show up on the BIOS Boot Order or one-time BIOS Boot Menu, it may not be bootable and registering. In that case try another method to write to stick.

I believe F2 enters BIOS setup. What is your model so we can give you the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key.

Oh yeah, that is correct. F2 enters BIOS setup. I thought that's you were referring to before. I guess I'm not aware of one-time BIOS Boot Menu. I am running an Asus UL30A, the low power consumption 13.3" model.

In BIOS setup, there's a message at the right that reads (from memory):

"Any device in parentheses is disabled in the corresponding menu type"

Well, all boot options are in parentheses. Does that have any significance?

 

[weiser701]

In the Windows start menu search box type msconfig click the entry and at the boot tab, if there is a "RAMDISK" entry it can be deleted to remove the boot menu entry but this won't remove the actual addition you made using the boyans info.

Thank you. I was able to get it removed. Funny, it was actually labeled Windows Recovery Environment like boyans said it should be on boot up, rather than Ramdisk. I wonder why the difference.

However, I still wasn't able to boot from USB, on any port. Hopefully I'll have some success from greg's latest offering.

Sorry about frustrating you guys so much

 

[gregrocker]

All boot options including HD are in parentheses? Or just the Removeable?

On that model, the bootable USB sticks is reported to register as a HD in the BIOS:

By pressing F2 when the ASUS logo is displayed, go to the BIOS and configure it to boot on the USB key. The magic trick: the USB key is seen as a hard drive! So you must go to the hard drive boot order sub-menu to put the USB key in first position, before the real hard drive. Save and exit from the BIOS through F10.
The machine then reboots and should boot on the USB key (or do a cold start by powering off then powering on the laptop).

Source: Installation of Linux Ubuntu Karmic Koala (9.10) on an ASUS UL30A-QX090V laptop - David Mentré's blog

The one-time BIOS Boot Menu key for most Asus' is F8, ESC or DEL. If stick doesn't show up on either Menu under HD's then try another writing method. Use the MS tool linked, or install UltraISO trial version: On File tab open ISO, on Bootable tab Write Disk Image, Format, Write. Or use Win2Flash: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srOoGhm-jcI

 

[weiser701]

All boot options including HD are in parentheses? Or just the Removeable?

On that model, the bootable USB sticks is reported to register as a HD in the BIOS:

By pressing F2 when the ASUS logo is displayed, go to the BIOS and configure it to boot on the USB key. The magic trick: the USB key is seen as a hard drive! So you must go to the hard drive boot order sub-menu to put the USB key in first position, before the real hard drive. Save and exit from the BIOS through F10.
The machine then reboots and should boot on the USB key (or do a cold start by powering off then powering on the laptop).

YES! That was it!

A clean install of Windows 7 is now residing on my Asus laptop.

Thank you very much to everyone who selflessly donated their time and efforts to help me with this matter. It is truly and greatly appreciated

 

[weiser701]

To sum up...

1. Computer was experiencing some sort of driver failure, which resulted in BSOD

2. Attempted to do System Recovery with the pre-installed Recovery Partition

3. Required menu options to do restore weren't being displayed at boot up

4. No optical drive so I attempted to write the included Recovery media to USB

5. Discovered that writing a Windows 7 Install to USB was the best option (although the Recovery media would have been option #2 if an Install disc wasn't available)

6. Changed boot order to USB through HDD sub menu in BIOS

7. Success! Clean install of Windows 7!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello mate, good to see you found a solution and thanks for the update.