Why won't my computer recognize my clean install of Win 7 on SSD?

[happygolucky]

Hi all,

My sister has an HP G62. I bought a Crucial M4 256gb ssd for christmas for her to help speed it up. I used the HP factory recovery disks to install the HP factory version of Windows 7 64 bit to the SSD.

But on booting up, the computer does not recognize the SSD as boot-worthy. I went into BIOS and ran a diagnostic on the SSD and that worked fine. Any idea why this might be happening? Do I have to enable some setting in BIOS to get it to recognize the SSD?

Or should I do a clean, non-HP-recovery install of Windows 7?

Thanks a million for your help.

 

[Pauly]

Personally i would http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164
Get rid of all the crapware and get windows the way its supposed to be

 

[happygolucky]

Thanks Pauly.

I just don't want to redo this whole process only to find that there is a reason BIOS is not picking up the SSD. Do you think it is the crapware that is interfering with its recognition at bootup?

 

[Pauly]

No, something else
Is drive visible in bios, i you ran diagnostic on it then it must be recieving power and data
Did you actually manage to install windows or is error b4 you start

 

[happygolucky]

Well I ran the four HP recovery disks, it took about an hour, and at the end of it, everything seemed fine. The recovery software said the computer would restart then begin to search for drivers, but when the computer restarted I only got the HP insignia and then a black screen saying a bootable disk was required.

I've read something about AHCI... do I need to do something with that for the SSD to be recognized?

 

[Pauly]

Yes before installing enter bios and change HDD mode to ahci if it is not already but that should not stop it from working
I would just go for it, download updated installer as per tutorial above put it on usb or dvd and your ready to go, just do the groundwork before will save problems after, if you have no access to another machine get your drivers before hand especially network ones, just follow the tutorial its all there

 

[happygolucky]

BIOS won't let me change it to AHCI, I don't have any advanced options.

I'm going to try a clean install and see what happens.

Cheers.

 

[gregrocker]

I would reset the BIOS to defaults, then set SATA controller to AHCI. Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Unplug all other HD's, set DVD drive to boot first, then SSD.

Then stick closely to the steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

If any problems persist report back at which step and any error message.

 

[happygolucky]

Hello folks

I performed a clean install and the BIOS was able to read the SSD. Unfortunately, when trying to activate Windows 7 I am running into some problems. I tried activating online... no luck. It's not giving me any sort of activate by phone option.

Any ideas how I can get this to work? It's saying "You must activate today" so I don't want to leave this much longer.

Is it possible that I wasn't supposed to install with the SP1?

Thanks.

 

[Pauly]

You can install with SP1 thats a better way of doing, what happens when you try to activate ?

 

[bigmck]

Hello folks

I performed a clean install and the BIOS was able to read the SSD. Unfortunately, when trying to activate Windows 7 I am running into some problems. I tried activating online... no luck. It's not giving me any sort of activate by phone option.

Any ideas how I can get this to work? It's saying "You must activate today" so I don't want to leave this much longer.

Is it possible that I wasn't supposed to install with the SP1?

Thanks.

Did you input the 25 character Product Key that was on the sticker which should have been on the PC? If that fails, activate by phone using this tutorial. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18715-activate-windows-7-phone.html

 

[gregrocker]

I guess you didn't follow the tutorial after all?

15. Activation at Control Panel>System may require a robocall to MS the first time to record your hardware signature in their servers. It will always work as long as you install the correct version and input the key accurately.

 

[happygolucky]

When I try to activate, it says:

-The Windows Home 7 Premium Key you entered is invalid for activation.
-Type a different product key.
-Contact Microsoft to resolve this problem. (This option leads to Microsoft thanking me for purchasing an evaluation copy of Windows and asking me to enter a genuine Windows product key.)

Any thoughts?

 

[happygolucky]

Gregrocker,

it didn't give me an option for robocall. The above options are the only ones I received. I'm certain I entered the right product key... I double-checked with both Belarc and another keyfinder, as the product key has faded off my sister's laptop.

bigmck,

after typing slui.exe 4, I am not given a phone option.

 

[gregrocker]

It can really only be incorrect characters being typed if you bought an HP from a legit retailer and it has the genuine Win7 COA sticker onboard.



How To Activate Windows 7 by Phone Step-by-Step Guide

 

[happygolucky]

I found this...

"You might be using a product key that doesn't match the version of Windows 7 that's installed on your computer. Check the product key to make sure it is for the version that you are trying to activate. You can't use a product key for Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 (SP1) to activate a copy of Windows 7 without SP1."

So maybe it is that I'm trying to activate the Digital River SP1 iso rather than just basic Windows 7? Is there somewhere I can get Windows 7 without SP1?


Edit: for some reason, video won't play in either of my browsers, though it will in WMP, so it can't be my graphics card. Does non-genuine windows disable features like this?

 

[gregrocker]

Get the Windows Media Player plug-in for your browser in addiiton to Flash Player.

Use Phone Activation. Confirm you installed the correct version.

 

[happygolucky]

Hey everyone! Success! Had to call MS but they gave me an activation key. Just getting the kinks of the software fixed. Video is working in chrome and explorer but not firefox.

Thanks so much!

 

[Pauly]

Don't forget to take a system image backup then you can always restore and never have o go through all that again