Solved Reinstalling Windows 7 starter - how do I create a recovery partition

[gregrocker]

Hazel can we also see a snip of Computer>Properties (or Control Panel>System) maximized page?

As pointed out earlier, Starter normally only comes in 32 bit which would not have been reinstalled in UEFI mode, so the EFI boot partition is very strange.

 

[theog]

Hi and thanks for the replies.

• Yes, the 'screenshot' info I posted was from the netbook (I'm not that silly that I posted info from perfectly working laptop!). Sorry I didn't have the snipping tool.
• The reinstallation was with official Asus Microsoft disc. I described how it was partitioned above. The Windows 7 is on the main 232.87GB partition. The only other partion is the '16mb Healthy EFI System Partition'. Does this mean Windows 7 starter recovery is on the 16mb partition then?
• Sorry I couldn't do the screen capture - as I mentioned, the snipping tool isn't in my accessories folder, so I wrote out the info above.

Windows 7 Starter is x32, UEFI is for x64 versions.

What OS is installed?

 

[hazel123]

Thanks very much everybody! There is some really helpful and useful info there - I will make a system image and be done with it. I think there must be something in the Windows Starter disc to limit what you can do when installing.

Anyway - meanwhile I have just installed Windows 7 Home Premium full on my Asus Eee Pc 900 - woohoo! I have spent a week trying to update the bios - nearly killed the netbook, until I found the simple way (using asus update utility instead of usb) - installed supertalent 64gb, disabled 4gb ssd on motherboard, and am currently loading Windows 7 home premium. I am very happy. I love the little netbooks - you can carry them anywhere and my XP will be no good soon. And yes it ended up costing me £130 for the software and £64 for the ssd - but where can you buy a laptop that weighs less than 1kg with Windows 7 on, and has a keyboard? So it's worth it. And I am a real novice - I've just been reading up about things. My original 701 netbook, which I adore, sadly won't run any Windows at all now - not upgradeable, but the 900 is only 1cm bigger.

 

[gregrocker]

Be sure to stick with the tools and methods compiled in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 (same for retail) to get and keep a perfect install.

You are entitled to use Upgrade version on that PC, even clean installed. If you want to use your full version license elsewhere you can change out the key to Upgrade at any time. It may require option three in Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version to activate Upgrade version on a new SSD.

 

[hazel123]

Thanks. So do you mean, I could keep the Windows 7 full version to install on something else (eg our ageing laptop on XP), and upgrade to Windows 7 from XP on the netbook? Using the Windows Anytime Upgrade in the Eee PC program menu?

 

[gregrocker]

Yes. You can also buy Win7 Upgrade version and boot it to reinstall Upgrade, or simply change the key to it after doing the quick Option 3 workaround in Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version to activate Upgrade version on a PC which is installed on a wiped or new HD. This is because the installer when booted looks for any other OS to set a flag allowing upgrade version key during install.

But a laptop which came with XP also qualifies for Upgrade version. Run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to start.

 

[hazel123]

Thanks very much - I'll try it. How do I go about unactivating the Full Windows 7 I have installed, so I can use it on another computer please?

 

[gregrocker]

You don't need to deactivate Windows just change the key to the new one, or Clean Install Windows 7 making sure to delete all partitions to avoid problems during booted Install using the Drive options shown in Steps 7 and 8.

There should be a Change Product Key link at Computer>Properties. If not it shows how to manually insert the new key and then Activate it here: SLMgr Commands and Options

If there was no previous OS on the HD when you booted to install Win7 then no flag was passed allowing use of Upgrade version key. In this case do the quick registry workaround in Option 3 of Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

 

[hazel123]

Thanks!