Reinstalling Windows 7

[JRMC]

I'd like to format my computer for many reasons but I have a question but before that I'd like to say that I got this computer through an event, here in my country, that costed me 150€ but it didn't come with the Windows 7 Home Premium installation/backup CD and I really want to format it. So, please let me know if I download a Windows 7 Home Premium copy and use the product key, below my computer, will it work?

 

[gregrocker]

Getting a Perfect Reinstall of Factory OEM

Note: This is an early draft of what became Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which is more current and complete.

A clean reinstall is often better than getting a new computer since most PC's come larded with sponsor's bloatware and useless factory utilities that have much better versions built into Win7. For this reason many tech enthusiasts clean reinstall using the Product Key on the COA sticker affixed to the machine.

Download the latest official Win7 installer ISO with SP1 for your licensed version, burn to DVD or write to flash stick using Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool.

Back up your files externally, make your Recovery Disks so you have a path back to factory condition, or save a Backup Image of the entire HD first. Run an audit of hardware and software including Product Keys using Belarc Advisor. Gather your program installers.

Boot the Windows 7 installer, choose Custom Install, then Drive Options (Advanced) to Delete all partitions not needed, repartition as desired following illustrated steps given here: Clean Install Windows 7. If you don't have a partition scheme in mind, just click Next after deleting to let the installer create and format your installation partition for you.

The installer is mostly driver-complete, with newer arriving quickly via optional Windows Updates. Just in case, have your Wireless or Ethernet LAN driver on flash stick or CD so you can install it to get online quickly. Then enable hardware driver auto-updating and check for optional Updates.

Any drivers still missing in Device Manager after several rounds of Updates can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for your model computer or device, along with possibly needed hotfixes which you can also wait to see if you need. Driver Install - Device Manager

Install updates and then programs slowly over time to gauge performance changes after each. Don't let any programs write themselves into msconfig>Startup as they slow startup, become freeloaders on your RAM/CPU and can spy on you. Uncheck everything except AV and gadgets in msconfig>Startup, then after reboots do the same in msconfig>Services after checking Hide All MS Services. Check back periodically to see if anything writes itself back in and turn it off in its Program Preferences or Uninstall it. Startup Programs - Change

Use a lightweight free AV like Microsoft Security Essentials which works perfectly with Windows 7 Firewall.

Activation at Control Panel>System may require a robocall to MS the first time to record your hardware signature in their servers.

When finished, clean and order the HD perfectly using state-of-the-art free CCleaner "Run Cleaner" button and Registry tab, then Puran boot-time defragger + Full Disk Check after checking Intelligent Optimizer on Additional Operations tab:

Finally save a Windows 7 Backup image externally so you never have to reinstall again, just reimage the HD or it's replacement using DVD/Repair CD with the stored image.

Special note to HP owners: HP Recovery will now do a Minimized OS Recovery when booting from F11, which retains only the OS, Recovery Manager, HP Support Ass't, and HP Wireless LAN. This is as close to a clean reinstall as you can get without using a retail DVD with COA key. If you clean reinstall only to C and leave all other partitions intact, F11 Recovery will still work later if you need it. You can Extract HP 3rd Party Software from RecovCD.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello JRMC, welcome to Seven Forums!


Here's some interesting info you may find useful, and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

After you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media; if you can find an exact Windows version that the PC shipped with you can do a clean install using the activation key on the COA sticker attached to the PC though it may require a robo-call to MS to sort the OEM batch-key.

How to Activate Windows 7 by Phone


If you can't find an exact same version, you could use the info in this tutorial to create an "all versions" installer of any version Windows installer, to install using the same method I posted above.

Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create


After you have made backups of everything you care to save, the best method is to do a complete wipe (secure erase) of the entire Hard Disk Drive first, it over-writes everything, all the old Windows code including all the old drivers/programs, giving you the best possible space to install Windows to.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

 

[JRMC]

Thanks, both of you. I don't really need all of that because I know half mostly, just on how to clean up my HDD and reinstall.
But one last question:

Do I copy the ei.cfg removal tool in to the Win7 installation CD/DVD?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

The ei.cfg removal tool can only be used on a Windows 7 ISO file, if you only have an installation disk you will have to extract the contents and remove/disable the ie.cfg file, I just added " .old " to mine and left it in place, and then burn the recreated ISO to a DVD.

click to enlarge

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[JRMC]

Thanks once again.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

You're welcome, if you have need of further assistance, feel free to ask.

 

[LowPingBoy]

Confused about the best method to reinstall Win 7 Professional after switching to an SSD as described in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html.

I have HP laptop - came with Win7 Home Premium that I have upgraded to Win 7 Professional -64. So, I have no disks at all, the sticker on the machine has the code/license for Home edition and I have a Windows Activate Anytime upgrade key for Home to Professional. I would like to do a clean install of Professional. But, do I first have to install the original Home version and then go through the upgrade using my key?

Also, do I need to make an Install disk as described in How to create a Windows Vista / 7 installation disc (bootable) using ImgBurn - ImgBurn Support Forum It seems to me that will likely be for Professional and I do not think I have a license number for that - just the upgrade key.

Basically looking for any help about step-by-step help for getting Professional up and running on my new SSD given the complications of upgrading,no install disk, etc.

Thanks a lot for your help and assistance.

LPB

 

[gregrocker]

If you're happy with your current Win7 installation then you can clone or image it over to the new SSD.

If you have a WD or Seagate HD in the mix, you can use their free premium Acronis True Image cloning or imaging program to either clone or save a backup image externally to reimage to the SSD. Seagate Acronis cloning free util
WD Acronis free cloning app

Or you can use Win7 native imaging:
Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
System Image Recovery

To reinstall you'll need to use your HP Recovery Disks (which you should make now if you haven't) then run the Anytime Upgrade again. Or you can find a Win7 installater to do a clean reinstall of just the OS unhindered by the factory bloatware which is worst of all on HP's. Here are steps for getting a perfect factory OEM reinstall: Reinstalling Windows 7

There are some reports that clean reinstalling with a Professional installer will accept the Anytime Upgrade key but I have not confirmed this. You can try, however.

 

[LowPingBoy]

gregrocker:

Thanks a lot for this very useful guide. Looking forward to following your suggestions and having my SSD installed and up and running soon.

LPB

 

[gregrocker]

Glad to help. Let us know how it goes.

 

[theog]

I'd like to format my computer for many reasons but I have a question but before that I'd like to say that I got this computer through an event, here in my country, that costed me 150€ but it didn't come with the Windows 7 Home Premium installation/backup CD and I really want to format it. So, please let me know if I download a Windows 7 Home Premium copy and use the product key, below my computer, will it work?

Pressing the f11 key during startup on a computer with an HP factory image will start the system recovery process even if the prompt is not displayed.
How to make HP Recovery DVD disks:
Recover Windows Vista Operating System Using HP Recovery - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

How to make HP Recovery USB disk:
Creating a Recovery Disk on a USB Flash Disk HP Pavilion dv6700z CTO Entertainment Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

or
You can Order HP Recovery Disks from here:
Compaq Mini CQ10-500 PC series*-* HP Notebook PCs - Order Recovery Discs for Windows 7, Vista, or XP - c00810334 - HP Business Support Center

 

[LowPingBoy]

No Joy

I followed the steps to replace my HDD with an SSD recommend by Gregrocker - created an image backup and then did the system image recovery. System drive in my laptop is 1tb, backed up the image to an eSATA drive with 360gb. Replaced the old drive with a 120gb SSD and began the System Image Recovery process. Went through the screens, keyboard, etc., found the image backup on the eSATA drive, mapped as E, clicked on it and then NEXT. Then the error - "The system image restore failed. No disk that can be used for recovering the system disk can be found." I found that peculiar inasmuch as the process correctly located and highlighted the file on E: Then did some searching on the error and found only that I should try to re size to original partition, currently almost the entire 1tb HD. So I did that, down to about 60gs, surely small enough for a 120 gb SSD. But the error persists. 4 hours later and still making new images, and getting the same error. I think that maybe the partition size is not the problem but I have no idea what to do next. System is an HP Pavilion. And OS is Win 7 Professional with virtual XP.

Very grateful for any suggestions. I have my recovery disks but would rather not begin at square 1.

Thanks a lot.

LowPingBoy

 

[theog]

Did you set the old HD to Partition 1 60gb & all rest of the HD Unallocated, than imaged the os partition?



If NO
Cloning tools in gregrocker's post 9.

Take a look at this Tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/70822-ssd-tweaks-optimizations-windows-7-a.html

 

[LowPingBoy]

My apologies for not responding sooner. Got caught up in Father's day for the remainder of Sunday, had a long and lousy day at work yesterday and did not get back to it until last night.

Turned out to be far more involved than I believed it should be after following the steps earlier presented in this thread. Tried the Geek approach for awhile but continued to become frustrated with various nags too numerous to describe. So, purchased the Paragon download and was then confronted by a host of other issues the most formidable of which had to do with dynamic vs. basic disk. I have no idea how anything was made dynamic, which prevents the clone operation, but it is not an easy process to reverse back to basic.

The long and the short of it is that I finally have a 120g OCZ Agility 3 up and blazing. And, as you know, blaze is probably not sufficient to describe the speed improvement. Opened a Word attachment in an email in about 1 second and Word was not then open.

Thanks to all who have helped me through this. I have to believe that I am really an outlier here, because it sure did not go described by many others. The next challenge for me is trying to get a clear idea of how the drives share and map between Win 7 and XP. But that's for another day after studying tutorials that I hope can take me through it. This laptop is a desk top replacement that is running pure XP. But for some reason drives on the Win 7/XP just seem a whole lot more involved. Would be very cool if you could open Computer in Win 7 and My Computer in XP and see the same thing. Guess there must be a reason why MS did not set it up that way, but it sure would have been a whole lot easier for those of us that have to frequently switch back and forth between the two.

Thanks to all for your help.

LPB

 

[theog]

My apologies for not responding sooner. Got caught up in Father's day for the remainder of Sunday, had a long and lousy day at work yesterday and did not get back to it until last night.

Turned out to be far more involved than I believed it should be after following the steps earlier presented in this thread. Tried the Geek approach for awhile but continued to become frustrated with various nags too numerous to describe. So, purchased the Paragon download and was then confronted by a host of other issues the most formidable of which had to do with dynamic vs. basic disk. I have no idea how anything was made dynamic, which prevents the clone operation, but it is not an easy process to reverse back to basic.

The long and the short of it is that I finally have a 120g OCZ Agility 3 up and blazing. And, as you know, blaze is probably not sufficient to describe the speed improvement. Opened a Word attachment in an email in about 1 second and Word was not then open.

Thanks to all who have helped me through this. I have to believe that I am really an outlier here, because it sure did not go described by many others. The next challenge for me is trying to get a clear idea of how the drives share and map between Win 7 and XP. But that's for another day after studying tutorials that I hope can take me through it. This laptop is a desk top replacement that is running pure XP. But for some reason drives on the Win 7/XP just seem a whole lot more involved. Would be very cool if you could open Computer in Win 7 and My Computer in XP and see the same thing. Guess there must be a reason why MS did not set it up that way, but it sure would have been a whole lot easier for those of us that have to frequently switch back and forth between the two.

Thanks to all for your help.

LPB

Well done.

You are welcome.

 

[markg2]

<<<<<<then Drive Options (Advanced) to Delete all partitions not needed, following illustrated steps given here: Clean Install Windows 7>>>>

I've read the link but don't get the larger picture.

My current drive has two partitions. One hidden with the Lenovo OEM Vista install and the balance for general use that I see as c:\.

Is the object to delete both partitions during the advanced install and then the installer somehow creates its own hidden partition for the OS and the balance for general use or does Brink's 'How to Partition' infer that I need to make all the decisions regarding creating n partitions of n size--which is not something that I look forward to.

Mark

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Mark.


At step #7 click "Drive options ... " then at #8 click to highlight/select each partition in turn and click delete for each partition and when all shows as Unallocated space click next and the Windows installer will do all that is needed to create a single partition to install Windows 7 to.

 

[markg2]

That's a relief!

One more--I've now got so many directions my directions have directions .

And I cannot find one that's sticking in my mind regarding booting the installer from an SS thumb drive. I'm fairly certain that the direction said to change the BIOS setting to an 'extended something' specific to a thumb drive. Does that statement ring any bell with you?

Mark

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

That's a relief!

One more--I've now got so many directions my directions have directions .

And I cannot find one that's sticking in my mind regarding booting the installer from an SS thumb drive. I'm fairly certain that the direction said to change the BIOS setting to an 'extended something' specific to a thumb drive. Does that statement ring any bell with you?

Mark

What type Windows 7 installation media do you have, what I'm asking is, is it an ISO file or a DVD that you (or someone else) created from an ISO file or is it a 'store bought' DVD installer purchased from MS?