Reinstalling Windows 7

[markg2]

I downloaded the 64 bit ISO (mydigitallife), ran the ei.cfg removal tool against the file then burned same to a DVD with ImgBurn (as plan B) and then to the stick with Universal-USB-Installer (as plan A). I'll be using my key from the MS upgrade disk that I had used moving from Vista to 32 bit Win7. I'll be following Brink's Option Two: Custom Install.

Mark

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Are you positive the DVD functions/boots correctly? Why not just use that to boot ?

 

[markg2]

My initial plan was to set the BIOS boot order to DVD first and boot from the ISO image on my DVD.

Then it was suggested that I use the USB stick to boot from since it would be faster. So I now plan on setting the BIOS to see the ISO image on the USB stick first and boot.

If for any reason that fails to work I figured I'd move the DVD back to first in BIOS and then boot to the DVD.

See something not right here?

Mark

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

No that'll work good, you are aware "faster" only means a minute or two over the DVD.

The entire Windows 7 clean install process only takes about 10 minutes or so.

 

[markg2]

Thanks for that heads up--I was thinking like 1/2 the time and that time=1hr +!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Thanks for that heads up--I was thinking like 1/2 the time and that time=1hr +!

Barring any unforeseen issues, 15/20 minutes tops using the DVD installer.

 

[markg2]

Just a few last minute (nervous) confirmations

1. On Brink's Custom Install she says to manually activate Win7 upon completion.
a. Is that an automatic prompt and screen I'll receive from the installer or do I need to go to a MS website to do so? If it's a web address do you have the link?
b. Is there a preferred or necessary sequence between manually installing the key and doing all the OS updates?

2. Any salient things you see missing below:
a. I tested the Acronis boot DVD
b. Despite having verify set on backups I just verified last night's Acronis image and that of early July
c. I have all data + exe downloads on a stick + wife's computer
d. BelArc hard copy
e. Comm settings, passwords and serial number hard copies
f. Firefox FEBE how to profile restore hard copy

I'm not sure NASA prepares more thoroughly

Mark

 

[theog]

Have a read of post 12, How to reinstall a HP/Compaq.

 

[gregrocker]

If you're reinstalling factory OEM, you can insert the Product Key from COA sticker upfront during the install and then afterwards auto-activate it at Computer>Properties.

Only if you're clean reinstalling retail Upgrade (not OEM) version to a new or wiped HD do you need to wait until after install to do one of the workarounds given in this tutorial to activate Upgrade version on clean HD: Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

As it says in Reinstalling Windows 7 go online quickly to Windows Updates to get latest updates including optional Updates which will provide newer drivers than in the installer.

After exhausting Updates for any drivers missing in Device Manager go to the maker's Support Downloads webpage for your model to import them.

I would not change out any drivers given by installer/optional Updates except Standard VGA display driver if it isn't updated, or any drivers which are confirmed by troubleshooting to be causing performance issues.

 

[markg2]

1 last question regarding the custom install-->drive options advanced-->delete partitions-->format-->install.

Do I provide the OS key that's on the bottom of this computer for Vista that shipped with the computer or do I provide the Win7 key associated with the upgrade disk that I used to move from Vista to Win7 32bit?

 

[gregrocker]

The key on the Win7 upgrade disk COA sticker is used to activate Win7.

If this a manufacturer's OEM Vista>Win7 Upgrade kit then it is a clean-copy DVD bootable to clean reinstall, thanks to MS making that a condition for manufacturers to offer the program.

 

[tazmo8448]

Now this thread is close to what I am striving for, I have an HP with win7x64 hm prem and when I try to access F11 to install recovery discs it kicks it back saying Boot Manager missing and I did go to that bootmgr-fix thing and could not get it to work for me at all, the command prompt wouldn't take the commands, just looked at me and went back to where it started again. I tried 'em all, the ones that were listed that is. I did manage to get to the startup repair thing which is F9 on this machine but when I ran the repair computer section and it didn't take or rather nothing happened and it asked for me to insert my disc (no retail-home made) I made one when I got it 2/11 and one in 6/11 along with the repair discs but am at a loss of where to direct the download to. I'm thinking C drive but the recovery directs me to win32 so that is where I quit and came here. This thing will boot from F8 and F9 but not from F11 for some reason and I was thinking about doing a reset back to factory specs and upon reading the blurb on it remembered that I had done that back in Feb when it initially came out of the box and said I had a bad copy of Windows OS(it says you can only do it once) so here I am so to speak. And thanks in advance for any attention I may receive.

 

[gregrocker]

Try running HP factory recovery again using these steps: HP Recover Windows 7 Operating System Using HP Recovery - HP Customer Care (United States - English). This runs the recovery partition on the HD, not the Recovery disks.

If it fails boot the Recovery Disks you made or order Recovery Disks from HP Tech SUpport. http://timtrott.co.uk/dismantle-clean-repair-hp-laptop/If these disks don't work you can make another set this way: HP Recov DIsks - make another set. These are not the System Repair Disk which are used to start Win7 when it won't boot.

If you prefer to get a clean reinstall rather than reload the factory image, follow the steps given in my first post to get a perfect reinstall of factory OEM.

 

[tazmo8448]

Well I did make two sets of recovery disks along with the repair disks and it took the first repair disk and seemed to be doing a file download and when I went into the disk and looked at the files it had bootmgr in it but even when I toggled the boot from CD/DVD mode and ran it the repair option wouldn't recognize it as such saying so to that effect. Don't know why in the world HP makes ya have to pay for a DVD when they full well know that that issue is going to arise as some point in time. I had to do a few restores to a better place in time to get things back to decent and that is when the problems seemed to start. When I did do the Recovery thing I used Microsoft instead of HP and that very well may be where the problem is as to why it is not recognized when trying to upload. That clean thing you referred me to is a handful and I bookmarked it so I can print it out for future reference but I am hoping I don't have to. I think I am going to send this thing back to HP before the warranty expires it's been there twice already....kinda makes me wanna lean to an Imac. Thanks Greg

 

[gregrocker]

I would also take advantage of the warranty, especially since you can't seem to get clear on the difference between Recovery disks and Repair CD even when I post illustrated tutorials in the blue links which explain.

What is it that has caused you to RMA the machine twice?

 

[tazmo8448]

I got this thing in Nov last yr and got the BSOD so many times that I had to send it back. So the second go around I did the Recovery and Repair thing. Then the HDMI port wouldn't function and after hrs and hrs on the phone with HP sent it back again and did another R and R now this was after doing a factory reset again on the new HHD as per HP, they were thinking it would repair the HDMI problem. I did another R and R in Oct because I had a lot of programs installed via downloads and thought that would save them when in reality i should've backed em up on a cd/dvd. This thing has really been a learning experience.

 

[tazmo8448]

Now when I try to make a repair disc I get the following:
System repair could not be created
The parameter is incorrect (0X80070057)

 

[tazmo8448]

By the way is there a book or resource that shows all the Command Prompts and what they do?

 

[gregrocker]

No. I would find an installation DVD for your version and clean reinstall with the Product Key on the COA Sticker using the steps I gave earlier in this thread in my first post. This will get a much leaner Win7 without the load of bloatware and useless factory utilities that have better versions built into WIn7. Then I'd use the tools in the steps to keep it clean and defragged and not tweak anything which is the leading cause of these problems.

 

[tazmo8448]

That does sound like a plan..and you are right about the bloatware...NY Times, E-Bay, two different photo shops and it goes on and on.