Solved windows 7 clean install but unable to get updates

[Paul Black]

Yes, that is correct.

This brilliant tutorial by Brink might also help:

Clean Install Windows 7

Good luck and I hope it all goes well!

 

[mdl18313]

really hoping that this was what I was looking for, but the system failed to load...here is the error
An operating system wasn't found. Try disconnecting any drives that don't contain an operating system. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart...
I have all my storage disks disconnected, and I made sure to press any key during the start up...what did I do wrong this time?

 

[mdl18313]

Paul, I mounted the ISO file then I am burning the files that reside in the ISO file, ie...boot folder, efi folder, source folder, support folder, upgrade folder, autorun, bootmgr, bootmgr.efi, setup...to the DVD

 

[mdl18313]

Well that failed, now the error message is...An operating system wasn't found. Try disconnecting any drives that don't contain an operating system...
Yet the DVD looks exactly the same as the Windows 7 disk, right down to the file sizes...why isn't the system seeing the setup file, it sees it on the Windows 7 disk and starts the install but not on this disk...now the wife is losing faith in me IT skills to ever get this OS installed...that's a kick in the head

 

[mdl18313]

is it possible that windows 7 just won't install on an SSD drive? I had it install on this system when my hard drive was a regular drive but now that I have an SSD drive it won't install, no way I had it installed on a smaller SSD drive and now it won't install

 

[Snick]

No, it is possible to install Windows 7 all versions on SSD

What do you mean: "Mounted ISO file?"

You can't copy & paste an ISO file to DVD or USB stick, it has to be burned. (copy & paste will result in non-bootable DVD or USB stick)

For DVD use ImgBurn for USB use either Rufus 2.18 or Rufus 2.18 portable

I have Windows 7 home premium on Samsung 850 pro 256 gb SSD

Fresh/clean install, you have to boot to your install media (DVD or USB)

Start your computer and continually press (I believe dell desktop is F12) for boot order, select DVD or CD-ROM or if your Win7 is on USB choose that (should indicate usb type, I have PNY usb stick)

If that doesn't get you to boot menu, try other keys by elimination

Screenshots of ImgBurn and Rufus:

 

[Snick]

If you downloaded image from TechBench you can use eicfg_removal_utility.zip
to convert it to AIO (all-in-one - All versions of Windows)
To do so download the zip file, open it, click on eicfg_remover.exe, in popup window, navigate (go to the image you downloaded) from TechBench, (mine is downloads Win7_Ult_SP1_English_x64) click open. Popup should say Success: ei.cfg restored).
What you did:
You removed the ei.cfg text file from the iso. the ei.cfg text file sets the version, i.e. (basic, home, home premium, ultimate) making it AIO all-in-one. You cannot use a different version from your product key, i.e. if you have product key for Win7 x64 Home Premium that is the version you must choose for install, otherwise you will not have activation, i.e. windows will not be verified as genuine.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi mdl18313,

error message is...An operating system wasn't found.

You can't just copy the ISO file to a DVD or USB, it has to be burnt so as to make it bootable.
Once you have done that just make sure that the DVD/USB is the TOP option in your BIOS (you can change it back to the HD after the installation) and then reboot with the DVD in the DVD drive.

Snick has given you excellent information and explanations so you should be alright from here on in.

Let us know how you get on!

 

[Snick]

I wouldn't enter bios setup to change boot order, you don't need to do this to boot to your install media, & not doing so, prevents you from making a mistake in BIOS configuration.

You can boot from DVD or USB without changing BIOS setup

When you start your computer, repeatedly press, I believe it's F12 on Dell Desktop PC. You should see a screen that says boot menu or similar, with several choices. You are looking for DVD/CD or name of USB stick (mine is PNY). Will most likely be under Legacy and near the bottom of screen.

If you make a mistake here, it's not critical, just power down the machine, power up, quickly press appropriate F key to enter Boot menu and try another choice.

I don't have a problem walking individuals through processes to accomplish computer related tasks.

 

[mdl18313]

Tried another time to load the Windows 7 and the error said "an operating system wasn't found", even when I used the original window 7 disk so I removed all the storage drives and removed all the unused sata cables from the mother board and also pulled the SSD drive and put the SSD drive in a "hot shoe" connected to my laptop and reformatted the drive and removed all partitions. Ten I reinstalled the SSD drive, but when I attempted to install windows 7 at the end of the install step seemed to hangup for at least a half hour when this error "Windows Setup could not configure Windows to run on this computer's hardware" Really? This just keeps throwing more curves at me. What now?

 

[Snick]

Did you download ISO and burn it to disk?

You seem to want to do your own thing and not listen/follow what we are asking you to do or saying.

 

[SIW2]

Windows setup could not configure windows to run on this computers hardware - YouTube

 

[Botard]

"Windows Setup could not configure Windows to run on this computer's hardware" Really? This just keeps throwing more curves at me. What now?

This should be eject the installer at first restart of installation.

 

[mdl18313]

Ok guys thanks for your help, I finally got the install to complete. The post from SIW2 with the link he gave me was exactly what I was needing, but the first try I thought was working but the error popped up again. Then when viewing other videos on the link one of them said if the error pops up again just click "OK", so I saw this after I started the install again thinking that I would do that but to my amazement the install worked without any issues...woohoo...again thanks for everybody help.

 

[mdl18313]

thanks again

 

[Snick]

Glad to hear your issue is resolved! Love the veterans input!

Happy Computing!