Solved Wrong Windows Version Installed - Help

[ElieJK90]

Hey everyone!
I'm the guy who dropped his laptop like a week ago and I posted for help here in another section. The problem was a damaged hard disk.. So I bought a new one, they replaced it for me and reinstalled windows. HOWEVER, they installed me the WRONG version of windows.. I have a sony vaio VPCEB15FG that comes with a windows 7 home premium (64-bit). They installed me a windows 7 professional (32-bit).. And they weren't able to find all the driver updates and installations (which doesn't chock me cause it's the wrong version of windows). I went on the sony vaio website and found the proper driver installations. But it's not compatible with my laptop anymore cause it's the wrong version of windows.. What can I do to go back to my windows 7 home premium 64-bit? Where can I get it from.. I don't have any CDs.. And how do I reinstall the proper drivers etc?
Because right now the drivers for the "base system device" and the "ethernet controller" are missing and I can't connect to the internet using a cable. :/
Help?

 

[Petey7]

If you had it fixed at a store or sent it in to get fixed then who ever fixed it should be held responsible for installing the correct version of Windows, and I would insist that they do it for free. If you know any one with an installation CD, then you could use that to do it yourself, although getting it activated can sometime be troublesome, using an OEM key with a retail copy of Windows and all.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life

You can download and burn the ISO from the above link.

Make sure you download the EXACT same version as you originally had.

Someone else can confirm, but I am reasonably sure it will activate using your original product key.

 

[Petey7]

It should activate, but usually when using an OEM product key to reinstall Windows you have to call Microsoft to get it activated. Its a quick process and usually goes very smoothly.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18715-activate-windows-7-phone.html

 

[ElieJK90]

They sort of did it for me as a favor so I'd rather fix it myself.. I hate the fact that they did it wrong but yeah..
But I'm not sure about the process.. When I download the new windows will it replace the old one? Will I be able to access internet to download drivers? I don't know what to expect and I'm scared to ruin things!

 

[Petey7]

Your best bet is to download all of your drivers from the sony website before hand and then copy them to a flash drive, external hard drive, or CD/DVD. You should then do a clean install with the version downloaded above. If you need instructions for burning the ISO let us know. After you get Windows installed, the generic drivers should be enough until you get all of the drivers you downloaded before installed. Once you have them installed, try to activate Windows and if need be, use the method I posted above.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

They sort of did it for me as a favor so I'd rather fix it myself.. I hate the fact that they did it wrong but yeah..
But I'm not sure about the process.. When I download the new windows will it replace the old one? Will I be able to access internet to download drivers? I don't know what to expect and I'm scared to ruin things!

If you burn the ISO and install it, it will replace whatever Windows is now on the machine.

You should get on the net and download your drivers now, with your current installation. Put them on a DVD or USB thumb drive. The burned Windows disk will have most of the drivers you need and install them automatically, but I would get them on a USB or DVD just to be safe--particularly the Ethernet driver so you will be able to access the Internet.

 

[gregrocker]

Download this ISO file of your version Win7: http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-58997.iso Windows 7 Home Premium x64 English

Burn the ISO of your licensed version to DVD or write to flash stick using Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool.

Then boot the installer to clean reinstall using the Product Key on COA sticker, following these steps to get a perfect reinstall of factory OEM: Reinstalling Windows 7

As it says in the steps for reinstall, the Win7 installer is driver-complete with newer arriving quickly via optional Windows Updates.

Any drivers then missing in Device Manager can be found on the Sony Support Downloads webpage for your model here: http://www.sony-asia.com/support/product/VPCEB15FG.

Put the wireless driver on a stick or CD first so you can get online quickly to get these drivers updates.

Looking at the apps available I would wait to see if you need the added battery support before installing it, because this and the rest of the factory bloatware often has better versions built into Win7.

 

[ElieJK90]

Ok I'm about to do everything you just proposed! I downloaded the drivers.. One question though.. After I have my Home Premium back.. How do I install drivers?

 

[Petey7]

Ok I'm about to do everything you just proposed! I downloaded the drivers.. One question though.. After I have my Home Premium back.. How do I install drivers?

Same way you install any other software.

 

[gregrocker]

Win7 provides the drivers it wants via the installer and optional Windows Update. This is not XP.

You only need to put the wireless driver on a stick or CD to get online quickly to get newer drivers from optional Windows Updates.

Only import drivers which are missing in Device Manager after install and several rounds of optional Updates.

If you change out drivers given by the installer for other than performance reasons, you will often have performance problems that will be hard to trace. Wait to check performance before changing any drivers.

 

[ElieJK90]

Hey! I'm having a problem with the boot usb thingie.. It says "Files were copied successfully. However, we were unable to run bootsect to make the USB device bootable. I tried clicking the online help link but I can't seem to get to the help page.. What do I do?
Reminder: I'm currently on windows 7 professional, 32-Bit.

Oh and I also tried downloading bootsect.exe and copy/pasting it to the system32 folder.. But that didn't work.

And one more thing. Once this is fixed.. If I don't have any files I want to save or backup.. I can just run the boot thingie and replace this windows version with the one I want right?
P.S: I already downloaded all the drivers from the sony website and put them aside on an external hard disk.

 

[ElieJK90]

Can I just run the setup from my usb from windows right now? Without transforming it into a boot thingie etc?

 

[Petey7]

Some USB flash drives are just not capable of being booted from. Yes, you do need to have bootsect on the flash drive for you to be able to boot from it as far as I know. Also, I am not sure, but almost sounds like Greg is saying to not worry about having your drivers backed up for your computer. I think this were we will have to disagree, because I know the when reinstalling Windows on my computer, several drivers are still missing after installing Windows updates, and it is very convenient to have them backed up already. I would help more but have to run. Hopefully someone else will be along shortly to help you how.

 

[SIW2]

I don't follow the problem.

They gave you a higher Edition of 7 - lucky you.

Why would the drivers be any different for Home premium or Pro?

I don't think whatever problem you are having is because you now have Pro as opposed to Premium.

 

[ElieJK90]

I'm a bit clueless when it comes to this stuff.. But isn't 32-bit less performing than 64-bit?

 

[ElieJK90]

And some of the small problems I'm having are like not being able to adjust screen brightness when i hit Fn + button to do so..

 

[SIW2]

Ther may only be certain bit version drivers for that machine.

If so, he needs the correct bit version of 7 installed - probably he could still use Pro - if he has a prod key for it - just install the correct bit version this time.

I'm a bit clueless when it comes to this stuff.. But isn't 32-bit less performing than 64-bit?

I wouldn't describe it that way.

It depends what your needs are.

There are some things a geek would want 64 bit windows for.

99% of people don't do those things.

You might argue that for most people , 32 bit is more suitable. It is smaller, uses fewer resources and has better compatibility with apps.

 

[ElieJK90]

That's what I'm trying to do.. And I was following the steps that greg suggested but I'm having trouble creating the boot usb thing.. Because it won't find bootsect.exe
I was wondering if I could just run the setup right now from the usb? Because the files were copied successfully..

 

[Petey7]

Sorry. Had some stuff that I needed to get done immediately. Based on what you posted before, now that I have had more time to read it, it seems that the USB drive was not made bootable. You can try to boot from it, but do not be too disappointed if it fails to load. You may have to format the flash drive and try again. Remember to use the instructions in the tutorial.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31541-windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool.html