Chastity or anyone, please help.

Foreword :: Alright, I cannot apologize enough for the question I am about to ask as I have seen it on the forums millions of times.
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How can I completely format my G73SW and perform an entirely fresh install of Windows 7?

Now before you go off to link me to some guide, I have been reading these forums for the past 14 hours, I cannot find any guide pertaining to my situation. (Forum search engines blow.)

Anyways, I shall start off by giving you as much information as possible
::

I am trying to perform this fresh install on an Asus G73SW-1BTY.
I currently have two drives, 'C: OS' and 'D: Data'.
I have no such driver disc or any recovery disc.
(mainly because I purchased this refurbished off of Newegg and all that came in the box was the lappy, the battery, the AC power, and a single sheet of paper saying "Thanks.")

I do however have a boot-able USB drive with Windows 7 Ultimate (Already Activated) that I used to format the desktop I'm currently typing this on without problem.

::

Now this is what I have run into --

I have backed up everything I wanted from my 'D:' drive, everything else can go bye-bye.

So when I boot my G73SW and go into my BIOS and select the Verbatim (USB boot-able), I get to the drive screen and it asks me for a driver disc.

Spoiler

Now I have read so so so much about how complicated formatting this damn G73SW is and I just don't understand why it's so hard. There's so many modified drivers and modified .inf's I have read about it just makes me lost.

If someone could please, walk me through on how to get this completely formatted and a fresh install of Windows 7 I would be entirely and eternally grateful.

Thank you very much in advance.


EDIT: I'm sorry as I'm sure it's against the rules, but I realized I posted in the wrong section and re posted here, by all means feel free to take the first one down.

 

Reinstalling Windows shouldn't be that difficult. This guide should go over everything you need to know: http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus-gaming-notebook-forum/468027-complete-walk-through-doing-clean-windows-7-install.html

And this one will go over your drivers once Windows is installed: http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus-gaming-notebook-forum/583215-g73sw-g53sw-latest-drivers-everything-you-need-fresh-install.html

 

I know that's my thought as well. But I have read both of those countless. With all due respect, look at where I get stuck. :/ The guides show nothing about that part...

EDIT: And please the details in my OP are the most important. I have NO Recovery Disc NOR a Drivers Disc. All I really have is Windows 7 on a USB-Bootable Drive to format :/

 

Quick question..

Why are you trying to re-install is there a issue w/ your current install?

If you can still access Windows you can click 'Start > All programs > AI Recovery Burner' to burn a set of system CDs.

Unless your install isn't factory.

 

Well initially it was because I couldn't update my damn nVidia drivers. I literally tried everything that involved Registry Cleaning, Clean Install, just..everything.

And in the process I just messed up a lot of my files and I've been wanting to do a fresh format for a while anyways and I thought why not. I love starting fresh (I never did, I used it right out of the box.)

But I don't need the CD's....I have Windows 7 on a Bootable USB I should just be able to format the damn thing ya know? Wipe. Format. Install. Done.

That's how I've always done it..

 

Where did you DL that install from?

It looks like the system builds ed that allows you to slipstream adv drivers into it.

It shouldn't be prompting you to insert DVD drivers.

BE SURE TO USE x64 !

Try this :

*snip*

followed by this:

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

You'll either need to pre-download your drivers or nab them on another PC


Drivers HERE: http://usa.asus.com/Notebooks/Gaming_Powerhouse/G73SW/#download

 

Well I don't know the exact rules of the forums yet so I'll just say I have it

But I used it to format the desktop next to me, never once asked for drivers...

...but I did however modify the image since then. Read something on these forums about deleting some ie.cfg and inserting some other file into the Sources folder. Can't remember the exact reason I was very tired when I was following the tut. But I know it was specifically for the G73SW to format fresh.

I don't know I'm so lost. I think I just need to start from square one and just format this thing clean. ugh. so stuck..

EDIT: Unfortunately, I cannot download anything at the moment. Currently under a . But I already have a formatted USB Drive. ( http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7vista-from-usb-drive-detailed-100-working-guide/)

Like I said I modified the image after I had success formatting the Desktop next to me, so I'm going to re-format the USB drive with the original image on it and try again...brb

 

Yeah dude, never download Windows from those 'special sites'

There are plenty of legit ways of getting Windows as long as you have a valid code.

 

I had that problem like 3 or 4 years ago on a Gateway FX. I had to install the drivers before installing windows or something like that. I can't recall correctly, I just Google'd that out and found a page that helped me with the progress. I will try to look around to help you, I'm sorry I can't be of more help right now.

Edit:

Oh yes I remember now: I got that error but I wasn't installing from a USB drive. It was a bad DVD so what I did to solve it was burn Windows in a DVD at 1x speed, tried the reinstall and it worked at the first try.

 

or use this:

Provided it's a valid .iso

Microsoft Store Online

 

Well thanks for the support so far guys.

BTW: Still asks for drivers...bah. This seriously shouldn't be that hard to format and reinstall Windows....

 

It's not.


It's your ISO dude.

I sold 20-30 G73's and I never had that issue

 

I figured. I'm currently texting a buddy to see if I can leech his internet to download a decent .iso.

So, is there anything special I need to know about formatting a G73SW?

I've read SO damn much about special installs and modified drivers and this and that. It's overwhelming and making me feel like I am going to end up with a $1400 Paperweight.

 

Seems like you have a bad image. Download an original one here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-digitalriver-windows-7-sp1-13-languages.html

 

I have no idea what you're talking about. This Asus is just like any other computer. You can find drivers here.

 

So my key on the bottom of this laptop will successfully activate if I download the exact same version of windows from there? (Home Premium).

 

yep.

 

Well thank you very much for that.

Not sure if my problems solved yet as I still need to get my hands on that .ISO but I'll be sure to reply back to let everyone know.

 

OP:

I just ran into the same problem when I tried to install my new SDD on my G73JH. Windows wasn't picking up my drive at the same screen.
What got windows installer to see my drive, was to remove my extra drive and put my soon to be new C: drive in its place. No driver was needed.

So if you havent tried removing the extra drive and try placing the OS drive in each bay, I would give that a shot.

 

So your saying move my HDD to the other drive bay?

EDIT: And it worked like a charm!! It doesn't yell at me now for driver disc. I am able to go ahead and format. So my next question is, the .ISO I have is W7 Ultimate, how can I modify that so it installs Home Premium?

 

Im glad my to hear that worked for you.
As for your ISO, You'll have to download a Download the right version.. unless it has multiple versions of windows you can choose from as soon as it boots up. There isn't a way to modify it.

 

Alright just wanted to update anyone really following this that everything is formatted and I'm running Ultimate on this G73SW

(had to run a clear all cmd in DISKPART because I messed something up, glad I didn't hold my breath for that to finish good god.)

I had a BOOTMGR IS MISSING message I was like o.o oops

But I sorted it out and I'm running fine.

 

Glad to hear everything is OK


^___^

 

Dude your issue is REALLY simple/

You have a key on the bottom of your laptop right?? A sticker.

Download the DVD iso from the links provided. Boot of said DVD, then when asked for a key hit home premium and provide your key. Its legal safe and easy.

BUT, if you backed things up TO your D: your going to lose it all. When you select the HDD to install during the windows install wipe the partition and erase it so its just one single drive with one single partition.

Just to remind you, using the key on the bottom of your laptop you can be 100% legal

 

You could also use a windows repair disc to fix the botmgr is missing issue.

 

No I couldn't as it wasn't the usual bootmgr problem.

I had no OS installed so technically there really was no "bootmgr" to fix at all. It was 100% raw hard drive. I just accidently deleted a volume using DISKPART and it messed everything up.