Upgraded to SSD, can't restore to factory to clean it all up

[pxfragonard]

Hi. I put an SSD into my Win7 machine thinking to do a factory restore, get all the updates, remove the bloatware, reinstall the programs I'll want to keep after January 15, 2020 and then unplug it, using it for the heavy lifting in photography, video and so on and getting a light laptop to do all the lighter stuff with windows 10.

Now I find I can't do that. Here's what it said when I tried to install the recovery disc. "Unable to recover your PC. The system drive is too small."

I did get a 512gb SSD where a 1.5TB HDD was. Is that the problem? Is there a solution? Or another way to clean everything up? I'm not unhappy. The thing is lighting fast now, especially at startup. But I would like to get it as fresh as possible.

I note that in disk management, I have only two partitions, Windows and C: whereas the disk I replaced had D: HP_RECOVERY.

Another thing that might be helpful. When I started it, I had to recover from the last Macrium backup. This might be irrelevant but I thought I'd mention it.

 

[Megahertz07]

When you do a Factory Recover (that can be launched from running Windows or BIOS), it formats the C: partition and loads an image from HP_RECOVERY partition. The problem is that it expects to find a C: partition the size it was on the original disk. As you have a smaller disk, it gives you the error.

You can manually load the HP_RECOVERY partition image to a formatted C: partition. You have to do it booting from a WinPE drive.
It's not very difficult but it isn't for everyone.

Anyway, a Factory recover comes with all that aged and useless programs, so my suggestion is to do a clean install, deleting all partitions on the SSD and start from scratch.

- Download ABR to a USB drive ABRbeta.exe . Run it to extract to a folder.

On the actual installation make a backup of your SLP license using ABR activation_backup.exe. Instructions how to use (3 Tools to Backup and Restore Windows 7 and Vista OEM Activation License • Raymond.CC) Save the created backup-cert.xrm-ms to the USB drive.

-Download all the drivers for your laptop from HP site to the USB drive.

- Boot from the Win 7 installation disk, go to install and choose same version you have now (Home Premium) If you don't have a Win 7 HP SP1 installation disk, let me know and I'll send you a M$ Link to download it.

- Open Device manager and Install all the missing drivers

- When done, you can offline activate using ABR activation_restore.exe

As a fresh install, it will need to install all updates.
My recommendation is to use Simplix.
My suggestion is to set Services - Windows Update - Manual and on WU page set it to Never check.
Then download UpdatePack7R2-19.11.15.exe and UpdatePatch-19.11.18.exe to same folder.
Run UpdatePatch-19.11.18.exe and it will create UpdatePack7R2-19.11.18.exe.
Run UpdatePack7R2-19.11.18.exe to install all updates.
Simplix is a single file (750MB) that contain all updates since Win 7 released up to date. It has all security and non security updates without the trash (telemetry and tracking). Very good.
Then run WU manually to find updates for Office etc and decide witch one to install.

When done, restore your data from old HDD.

 

[pxfragonard]

Ah, Thanks for all your thought. "Boot from the Win 7 installation disk" That's the rub. It came pre-installed. No disk.

Another problem is that I'm running an ancient Office and 7 won't allow the new .docx install. I have those discs though from a Vista machine.

A lot to digest and consider. I do want to do a clean install. It makes sense to get it done before January 15 and I really appreciate your help.

 

[pxfragonard]

BTW it's a desktop, not a laptop but I guess that doesn't make any difference to your instructions.

 

[Megahertz07]

A link for Win7_HomePrem_SP1_English_COEM_x64.iso
Link is valid for 24 hours. Dec/09/2019 21:21:30 UTC (London time)
Download it NOW.

Can you explain "I'm running an ancient Office and 7 won't allow the new .docx install. I have those discs though from a Vista machine." What Office version you have?
You can install a patch to open and save .docx (I have it).

 

[pxfragonard]

It's Office 2002.

 

[Megahertz07]

BTW it's a desktop, not a laptop but I guess that doesn't make any difference to your instructions.

No it doesn't make any difference to my instructions.

The HP Pavilion p6745f Desktop PC drivers

 

[Megahertz07]

It's Office 2002.

Do you have the installation disks and the key code?

 

[pxfragonard]

Thanks. I checked that site but didn't see a patch for Office that will enable me to open and save Word files as .docx. But I'm not technically proficient. I don't know why it calls me a power user! I have changed a drive and put in new power supply so I'm slowly getting there. One day, I hope to build a computer from scratch but I'm really weak on software and understanding all that.

 

[Megahertz07]

Thanks. I checked that site but didn't see a patch for Office that will enable me to open and save Word files as .docx. But I'm not technically proficient. I don't know why it calls me a power user! I have changed a drive and put in new power supply so I'm slowly getting there. One day, I hope to build a computer from scratch but I'm really weak on software and understanding all that.

Download and install Microsoft-Office-Compatibility-Pack

The update pack Compatibility Pack (SP3)

 

[pxfragonard]

Thanks!

 

[Megahertz07]

Very important: Remember to detach the old drive (SATA or power cable) before you begin a clean install on the SSD or you may end with the boot loader on the old disk and the OS on the SSD.

 

[pxfragonard]

There's only one bay. I put the old drive in a separate enclosure so as to access my files. So that's all good unless I'm goofy enough to try it with that drive attached! I'm going to hide that drive right now!

 

[pxfragonard]

A link for Win7_HomePrem_SP1_English_COEM_x64.iso
Link is valid for 24 hours. Dec/09/2019 21:21:30 UTC (London time)
Download it NOW.

Can you explain "I'm running an ancient Office and 7 won't allow the new .docx install. I have those discs though from a Vista machine." What Office version you have?
You can install a patch to open and save .docx (I have it).

Hmm. This .iso file doesn't work. It doesn't look like one either. It has a VLC icon, which is a default program for "other" files. I'm pretty sure I've seen .iso files and the icon is different.

BTW. When I start the computer with the USB in, it should start from there anyway, right? Secondly, do I have to unplug all peripherals except mouse, keyboard, and monitor?

 

[SIW2]

This .iso file doesn't work.

The iso file is fine. There is something odd about your vlc file association settings.

 

[pxfragonard]

Very important: Remember to detach the old drive (SATA or power cable) before you begin a clean install on the SSD or you may end with the boot loader on the old disk and the OS on the SSD.

Went to the boot menu, asked it to start from the usb, nada. Did you mean I should wipe the drive first, entirely, and then install from the USB iso file because there would be no other choice?

 

[pxfragonard]

The iso file is fine. There is something odd about your vlc file association settings.

There is no .iso file type in my file associations list, just .ifo (other file) and that's associated with VLC presumably because VLC is a default program. But that extension is the closest I have to .iso on the list.

 

[SIW2]

Something wrong there. The default association is with isoburn.exe

Mine has 7-zip as default with isoburn.exe on the open with list

Try rt click an .iso and select open with. Then select isoburn.exe or browse to windows\system32\isoburn.exe if it isn't on the list.

 

[Megahertz07]

So you downloaded the Win7_HomePrem_SP1_English_COEM_x64.iso.
Did you burn a DVD with it or did you do a USB Win 7 installation disk?
If you did a USB Win 7 installation disk, how did you make it? (you can't only transfer the iso file to the USB disk)

 

[pxfragonard]

Trying to reinstall from recovery, it now says Windows is locked. Interesting. I'll keep plugging. BTW Megahertz07, you didn't mean I should wipe the drive first, did you? I didn't think that made sense and that you meant the clean install would do that itself and rewrite the partitions. I'm leaning toward a factory reset now since this isn't working, then try a clean install on top of that since any problems in doing that would have been fixed. So I assume.