Checking for updates of my windows 7 system no longer responds

a cooperator said:

Thank you Gerg,
I would respectfully like you to reply my inquiries at your earliest convenience.

gregrocker said:

Look now for the number which says Product Key on your COA sticker to make sure it is readable. Write it down.

Yes, but there are many keys in that animated picture, how many of them I should write down, and how can I know whether or not it will active my windows?

There is only one Product Key on the sticker. Have you even looked at it?

a cooperator said:

gregrocker said:

Yes, you need to reinstall your programs. Make sure you have the disks or installers and Product Keys, if any. Run the Belarc Advisor so you have a list of installed hardware and software with any keys.

so, what can I benefit from the Clean Reinstall as long as the programs and settings will be deleted?
If clean install doesn't differ from restore from "Recovery of Factory", then I would restore my system from "Recovery of Factory".

This is why I said you should only do Clean Reinstall if you are intent upon getting the cleanest install of only the OS, without the preinstalled factory bloatware. You apparently don't understand or appreciate this difference so should in fact use Recovery from the partition (with disks as back up) if Repair Install doesn't work.

a cooperator said:

gregrocker said:

As it says in the Special Note for HP Users at the end of the tutorial, HP Recovery will often run after a Clean Reinstall to C. So you can save it's partition during install and not delete it. But as it also says in the tutorial be sure to make your Recovery disks first. There is no guarantee. Recovery might not run now.

First: As long as I will repair the windows 7 which installed in C, then why might "Clean Reinstall" be deleting the Recovery of Factory which is on D ?

I did not say a Clean Reinstall would delete D, just that D might not run. Do you have a reading comprehension problem?

a cooperator said:

Second: I have really created a copy from a backup in DVDs with Recovery Manager tool which is empty now, I don't know why(Screenshot 1) in the very first time of my computer's starting. Do you believe this considers a copy of the Recovery Factory which is on D(screenshot 2)

Yes. You can make another one this way: HP Recov DIsks - make another set and Creating a Recovery Disk on a USB Flash Disk - HP technical support (Finland - English)

a cooperator said:

Third: Do you believe that I should copy the "recovery of Factory" which is on D and then paste it in an external HD as long as I cannot do another backup because the Recovery Manager with which I have done the first one became empty in every start.

I do not know why your Recovery Manager is not opening. It may also be affected by the OS issues which require a Repair Install.

a cooperator said:

Fourth: If Clean Reinstall might be deleting "recovery of Factory", I would rather restore from the "recovery of Factory'".

Where does it say that Clean Reinstall would delete Factory Recovery? I specfically said it would not and you should not.

a cooperator said:

Fifth: If did a Clean Reinstall, I can no longer even restore from 'Recovery of Factory" which is on DVDs anymore, can I?

As long as the DVD's will boot and run then you can run Factory Recovery which will restore everything back to factory condition.

a cooperator said:

Sixth: This is the partition of Microsoft Office Starter which I didn't create. However, it came with my HD from the Factory. I cannot even open it and when I try that I notice 'Unable to access disk.' Will it be deleted with a Clean Reinstall? (screenshot below), what is the benefit of such partition

The Office virtual partition Q goes away when you uninstall Starter, or Clean Reinstall.

a cooperator said:

gregrocker said:

What do you mean by define your Devices. It is quite specific in the tutorial on how to handle drivers. Read that section again to make sure you know what to do and not do.

I mean that some devices such LAN, Wireless, Sound, device drivers and any other devices, as far as I know that the windows automatically defines any devices connected with computer, Doesn't it?

Yes. But you may need to provide some drivers if the installer or Windows Update doesn't. These are on the HP Support Downloads webpage for your model.

a cooperator said:

gregrocker said:

Yes, you will have Restore points as soon as you begin installing Updates.

Can the last system Restores created before I did a Clean Reinstall be still available after Clean Reinstall be completed? I think I won't find any system Restores as long as Clean Reinstall will delete everything.

Of course, Clean Reinstall deletes everything.

a cooperator said:

you said in the explanation that:
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.

As far as I know that I cannot control in making a program don't write itself while I installing it.

Remove it if it does, using steps in tutorial.

a cooperator said:

gregrocker said:

Because Factory Recovery is the bloated HP preinstall with all of the sponsors' programs and HP utilities which are not needed . Your image will be of your customized Clean Install.

1- All Factory Recoveries have unneeded programs and HP utilities regardless of whether in the D or the one created in DVDS(as I did) or HD.

Correct.

a cooperator said:

2- How do you judge that "Factory Recovery" has unneeded programs and HP utilities as long as I didn't notice such these utilities in my system being installed since I prepared the windows in the fist time until now. Only I want to see such programs and HP utilities to understand because I am novice in these things.

If these don't bother you then you can ignore them. But they could very well be the cause of your performance problems.

a cooperator said:

gregrocker said:

Your image will be of your customized Clean Install.

1-you mean that after I have successfully done a "Clean Install", I should proceed to create an image backup of my customized Clean Install? If yes, can I do this with 'backup and restore tool' or with a third party programs, such as Acronis. Either one.

2-If I have a problem in the future this window 7 Home Premium SP1 or even another one, wiil I have to a Clean Reinstall" again or I will restore from the image backup of my customized Clean Install.

Either one.

a cooperator said:

gregrocker said:

I do not advise you to Clean Reinstall unless you are strongly motivated by its benefit of getting rid of the HP preinstalled crapware and useless HP utlities which have better versions built into Windows 7.

But what I will lose if I did Clean Reinstall as long as I have the Factory Recovery on DVDs. So if I found myself unsatisfied with Clean Reinstall, I will restore my system from the Factory Recovery on DVDs and everything then will be alright.

Factory Recovery from partition or DVD's can fail. You'd then need to order Recover Disks from HP for a fee.

a cooperator said:

gregrocker said:

Then you have no need to contact HP since they would charge you anyway after the 1 year warranty and tech support expired.

Yes, you're quite right; however, I am noticing that I wasn't having any problems with the updates of Windows, except after the period of the Warranty has been expired.

Have you read over the steps to try a Repair Install first?

a cooperator said:

Factory Recovery from DVD's can also fail as we see here regularly. I was letting you know what your options are if both methods fail.

Thank you so much,Yes, I understood well, Greg, now. I have read a Repair Install and download ISO, but I have a few inquiries about this, I hope you reply me to initiate first with a Repair Install .
I highly appreciate your time and know this would be quite a lot but I would kindly like you to answer me at your earliest convenience.

ITEMS THAT WILL BE RESET TO DEFAULT OR AFFECTED:

• Sounds
• Services
• Visual Effects Settings
• Device Drivers - Be sure to have these handy to reinstall. They do not always remain after the repair (upgrade) install.
• You may lose the ability to sign on to MSN Messenger, to solve this problem have a look at this thread Unable to sign in to WLM.
• You may lose your custom themes due to not having permisions set on the old themes. Go to the hidden themes folder at C:/Users/(User-Name)/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Themes, then Take Ownership of the themes folder and you will now have all your themes back.
• It has been reported that you may also lose your Media Center gadget after doing the repair install.
• Windows Updates will need to be checked and reinstalled again.

I am quite surprised that even repair install will change the settings?

You cannot use a OEM Windows 7 "Factory" Restore/Recovery type of installation disc that came with or created from a store bought computer to do a repair install with. These can only be used do a clean install instead.

*What does an [OEM Windows 7 "Factory" Restore/Recovery type of installation disc that came with or created from a store bought computer to do a repair install with.'] mean? The retailer from whom I purchased my Laptop didn't give me any Discs. However, I did a backup copy in DVDs after I finished from prepared the windows in the first time of it. And I also found another Factory Recovery in D partition.

You can only do a repair install with the same edition Windows 7 installation disc for the same edition of Windows 7 that you have installed.
*Should I download Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life for the same version of my installed window(Windows 7 Home premium SP1) ? Or can I download any other version in order for I will be able to upgrade my system into
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 during the repair install.

You should download from Digital River the installer with SP1 for your licensed version shown on the COA sticker, burn to DVD or write to flash stick with Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool.

There is a workaround to change during a repair install to another version but you would need to have the Product Key for it. Do you have an Ultimate Product Key?

a cooperator said:

You can use a retail OEM Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with.
*I don't know what a retail OEM Windows 7 installation disc mean. If it is the OEM Windows 7 "Factory" Restore/Recovery type of installation disc, then why did Brink repeat it here?

It is the same as the one you download from Digital River.

a cooperator said:

You can use a retail (full or upgrade) Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with.
*I don't know what a retail (full or upgrade) windows 7 installation disc is. Does it differ from a retail OEM Windows 7 installation disc?

It is the same as the one you download from Digital River.

a cooperator said:

If you changed the default location of the Program Files or Programs Files (x86) folder, then you will need to change it back to the C: drive, and change any shortcuts that pointed to the other location to also point to the C: drive before doing a repair install.
*As far as I know that I won't do any changes for anything during the process of a repair install. Then what is the benefit of this warning?


4-Repair Installed Windows 7 without SP1 using Windows 7 without SP1 DVD/USB
*As long as my system installed which needs a repair is 'Windows 7 Home Prem OA MEA' SP1, what does this option(step) do? As far as I now that all the version of Windows are either SP1 or SP2 and I don't know that there other version other than SP1 or SP2. So, Who should do this step?
I am really click on two links which are provided in Brink's Explanation(4 and 5), but I didn't find out any difference between[the latest official Windows 7 Professional or Home Premium without and with SP1 ISO file) Could you let me know what difference there is?

If it doesn't apply to you then just ignore it. We are not here to narrarate the tutorials for you.

a cooperator said:

5. Repair Installed Windows 7 SP1 using Windows 7 with SP1 DVD/USB
I will do this step as long as my system installed is SP1. Will I not be incorrect?

9. Windows will now check for any compatibility issues. If any are found like in the example below, take care of them first then restart the repair install process over again.
How can I take care of them first? What should I do if this might happen?

Ask us if it happens.

a cooperator said:

Uncheck the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box unchecked, then click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You can activate Windows 7 later after you make sure it is running properly. (See step 20 below)
I understood this above well.

But when I skipped to the step 20, then clicked on how to activate I saw this:
To Automatically Activate Windows 7 Online
NOTE: This is for when you are doing a Clean install or Upgrade install of Windows 7.1. When you get to this step during installation below, type in your valid product key number and check the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box.
NOTE: Automatic activation will now begin trying to activate your copy of Windows 7 three days after you log on for the first time.
My question concentrates only on why three days only are 'Windows 7 three days after you log on for the first time.'

It's not important why they do this. Stop asking questions about unimportant issues which don't apply to you since you have a key.

a cooperator said:

Finally(A) Can I come across any step to change language of my Windows during the process of the Repair Install?

No. Language is specific to the installer. You can try running the installer for the language of your choice to see if it will work since there have been reports that users are able to clean reinstall with a different language installer and the same Product key. If it won't run then you can use the correct Language installer or run Factory Recovery if it provides you with a language choice during setup.

a cooperator said:

(B)This is just for my Curiosity, if anyone doesn't have any windows at all in his computer, I think he can download either Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River without SP1 or Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River with SP1 and burn them. After that, he will continue with the rest of steps. Finally, he will get a free Windows and he will activate his new Windows as long as the activate key is available in the bottom of Laptop.

It is not free since the Key on bottom of laptop means it was purchased.

a cooperator said:

(C) Can I benefit from the Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River with SP1 at any time I want to do a Repair Install?

Yes.

a cooperator said:

(D) As far as I know that when I want to active my Windows system, I must enter product key which is printed in the sticker on the bottom of the Laptop. However, when I looked at my system in the Control Panel, I found that the product key is not appeared in the section of the Window's activity; however, the product ID only is shown there, although that there isn't any product ID on the bottom of the Laptop.

Nobody said anything about using a Product ID to activate.

a cooperator said:

(E) Also, there isn't any 'Change product key' option shown in mys system, such as it is in this window:



(F) Does it not recommend to let your product ID shown on a screenshot for anyone?

(G) What does 'OA MEA' mean in this "Windows 7 Home Prem OA MEA'?

Sometimes the link is missing. There are other ways to do this using Command Line.

OA means Offline Activation which is how it is activated at factory on the present OEM-SLP activation it came with. I and Google are unsure but MEA may be the regional edition - you may be limited to languages restricted to that region.

a cooperator said:

Thank you Greg, Please reply me Greg, I have never ever done such things.

gregrocker said:

There is a workaround to change during a repair install to another version but you would need to have the Product Key for it. Do you have an Ultimate Product Key?

No, I don't have, I only have 'Windows Ultimate ISO SP1

Then you cannot install Ultimate as you don't own it like you do Home Premium - unless you want to buy a Product Key.

a cooperator said:

gregrocker said:

If it doesn't apply to you then just ignore it. We are not here to narrate the tutorials for you.

I only want to understand! If you don't mind, could you let me know what difference there is? As far as I now that all the version of Windows are either SP1 or SP2 and I don't know that there other version other than SP1 or SP2. So, Who should do this step?

Those who do not have SP1 installed, which everyone should.

a cooperator said:

gregrocker said:

No. Language is specific to the installer. You can try running the installer for the language of your choice to see if it will work since there have been recent reports that users are able to clean reinstall with a different language installer and the same Product key. If it won't run they you can use the correct Language installer.

But I remember I have come across a step for choosing the type of Window's language while I was preparing my system for its first staring. But unfortunately, I couldn't change it after I completed the prepare. So I am asking now if there any step can let me to choose language. If not could you please let me know if there is any programs or ways to do this.

gregrocker said:

You can try running the installer for the language of your choice to...

I am really don't understand this, how can I do this? Do you mean that I restore from the Factory Recovery, then I will come across a step for changing the language. Can I do it now before doing repair install?

gregrocker said:

.....to see if it will work since there have been recent reports that users are able to clean reinstall with a different language installer and the same Product key.

Why did you return to speak 'clean reinstall', I think we have finished the speaking about this?

Because some users have reported they were able to change the language using the same version installer for their desired language during a Clean Reinstall, which may also work for a Repair Install.

If you had a choice to choose Languages when setting up your computer then if you run Factory Recovery you should be presented with those choices again. It sets it back to exactly as it came from the factory, and you say those choices were presented when you set it up, right?

a cooperator said:

gregrocker said:

Nobody said anything about using a Product ID to activate.

Please understand me Greg, I don't have a product ID code is shown on the COA(a Certificate of Authenticity) sticker instead of I have a Product Key[Windows 7 Home Prem OA MEA: Product Key: XXXXXXXXX.], Thus, my question is that product key should be shown in the my system activity instead of the product ID.

No they deliberately hide the Product Key so it cannot be stolen. Product ID is a separate identifier that is NOT used to activate.

a cooperator said:

gregrocker said:

Sometimes the link is missing. There are other ways to do this using Command Line.

I am scared that my system version is altered because this option is not shown? Could you please at least give a hint or link to how make this shown.

It is not shown because Factory OEM does not readily make changing the key available. You don't need it and it is not a concern.

a cooperator said:

gregrocker said:

I and Google are unsure but MEA may be the regional edition - you may be limited to languages restricted to that region.

No, I don't think that I may be limited to change language of Windows, because I am quite sure that I have come across a step of changing the language while I preparing the system.

IF this is the case then that choice should be presented again when you run Factory Recovery. For this reason I would run Factory Recovery if you want the language changed. This is a question you can ask your OEM Tech Support.

a cooperator said:

Finally: (A) If the sticker which contains product key torn, how can I get the product key. Because there is not product key under battery of notebook. There is only the product and serial number of Laptop.
My sticker contains:Windows 7 Home Prem OA MEA: Product Key: XXXXXXXXX.

That is the COA sticker. Why do you say it has no Product Key and then type out a Product Key? How many digits is the Key?

a cooperator said:

gregrocker said:

Write down the Product Key from COA sticker located on back or side of PC tower, bottom or under battery of notebook. Make sure you get the characters correct as this is a main cause of activation failure. You can input or Skip the key during install then afterwards activate at Control Panel>System, which may require a quick robocall. The COA sticker looks like this

(B) If I active the windows while I setting up my computer during a Clean Reinstall or repair install, Will I be encountering any problems in the activation. Because I think I read something such.

(C) Will the repair option which is listed on the options while I booting by pressing F8 repair my system?

No, that is to repair failed Startup.

a cooperator said:

(D) If I did a Repair Install, I would be able to do the Factory Recovery if I want.

Yes, of course.

I would do the Factory Recovery first to resolve your Language issue as it will also resolve the other issues.
HP Recover Windows 7 Operating System Using HP Recovery - HP Customer Care (United States - English)
Back up your files first and make sure your Recovery Disks will boot as you may need them if the Recovery Partition fails to run.
Afterwards Clean Up Factory Bloatware which will get you close to a Clean Reinstall.

Don't want to say anything else, I do not have the phenomenal patience of Greg, just confirming something important:

Myself a multilingual Windows user, lots of experience with installing different Windows editions in various languages, I can confirm that Windows product keys are edition specific but language neutral.

What this means is that you can install for instance English Windows 7 Ultimate using product key from a Swedish Ultimate, or German Home Premium using product key from Spanish Home Premium.

Editions need to match, languages not.

Kari