Solved Reinstalling Windows 7 on a netbook; no included Recovery Disk

[kosokuadam]

Recently (well, December), I got a new netbook. It's a Samsung N150 Plus, and it came with Windows 7 Starter Edition. A little while ago, the hard drive got completely erased (did something really stupid), and I need to reinstall the Windows 7 on here as soon as I can. Of course, being a netbook, there was no Windows 7 reinstall/recovery disk included (no optical drive). I'm also contacting the Frys where I bought the thing, but are there any other reinstallation options should that not work? I have all my receipts and the Windows 7 Starter Product key.

 

[Mashed1316]

Hello there.

The only way to do it would be to download a Windows 7 copy from MSDN or TechNet or any other means, erase the ei.cfg to create an universal disk in order to install Windows 7 Starter. you'll probably have to activate by phone, but other than that. no problems.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85813-windows-7-universal-installation-disc-create.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

Since you said that the hard drive erased completely, this is the way to go. If your recovery partition is still on the HDD then the safest way to go would be to do a system restore and a factory reset.

 

[seth500]

you would have to have an optical drive and a purchased windows 7 copy even to get started. Since you have neither your kinda in a pickle, another way is to have a friend put windows 7 on a usb stick and install that way...

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

 

[whs]

Don't you have a recovery partition (often a hidden partition of appr. 8 to 10GBs). If yes, you can reinstall from there. Look into the little booklet that came with the netbook. The procedure (which is different with every make) should be explained there.

 

[gregrocker]

Tips to get a purrfect factory OEM reinstall: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

 

[kosokuadam]

OK, thank you. I downloaded the Windows 7 ISO. I also found another tutorial on Sevenforums.com that dealt with creating a Universal Installation disc by removing ei.cfg from the .iso file. I did that, and loaded the .iso file onto my USB drive. However, when I went to install it, I was not presented with the screen to choose my version that the tutorial said I would be. As I have a product key for Starter edition, this is a problem. I'm going to try it again, but if the problem persists, where can I get a straight starter version .iso?

 

[gregrocker]

Rightclick open the installer, look in Sources folder to see if ei.cfg is in any of the alphabetical sections.

Are you booting the installer or is it actually running from the existing OS? At bootup tap the BIOS Boot Menu hotkey to boot stick under USB or HD's. Or set flash stick to boot first in BIOS setup Boot Order.

If stick won't boot, then try writing the ISO again using UltraISO trial version: On File tab open ISO, on Bootable tab Write DIsk Image, format stick, Write.

 

[kosokuadam]

Yes, EI.cfg was there. I deleted it, and it's now working fine. Thank you very much .