How do I reinstall after insert new hard drive?

My hard drive packed in and I ust inserted a new one but can someone explain how to reinstall Vista etc from here via boot from cd?

Do I need to install drivers etc first or click restore factory settings?

 

If you swapped out your HDD, you need to install Vista by booting off of either a Vista disc or a restore disc. If you use a Vista disc, you need to reinstall drivers. If you use a restore disc, you may or may not need to install drivers.

 

you can use a disk cloning tool.

You cannot restore to factory settings without the recovery DVD(s).

 

For a one-off cloning I suggest Acronis True Image Home, trial install. It's quite painless and fast. No need to reinstall Windows.

If you want to reinstall, check the ASUS Info BoothFAQ, question #14.

 

Thanks for that!

I lost my recovery DVDs how do I get hold of new ones please?
Is there anywhere I can download from?
Also do I have to format my new hard drive beforehand?

 

Download, I don't know. You can order new ones off ASUS eStore, for some models I think.

As an alternative, make an image of your current install and keep it safe!!!

Also if you do full-disk cloning and you still have the recovery partition on the old HDD, it may be usable from the new HDD as well.

 

You can do 1 thing .. what version of windows you are using ?

Have you got the serial number of the windows you have got ? It should be on a sticker below your notebook.

I say you get a clean install disk of the SAME windows version ( any disk would do. It may belong to someone else ). Do a clean install of windows, install the drivers, connect to the internet, and change the serial number to the one you have been given by ASUS.

BINGO .. you get a clean, ORIGINAL, REGISTERED version of windows without much hassle.

cheers..

 

One possible problem: The OEM license on the bottom of the notebook may not work with a retail copy of Windows.

 

you are absolutely right. OEM keys do not work with retail, and vice versa.

what if you can get any OEM DVD and try that out ..

or .. you are left with disk cloning ..

 

Assuming the old HDD is still working (rereading the first post, it may not), then I think the full disk cloning is the best idea, with the advantage that the HDD recovery partition may also work, eliminating the need for the DVD which the OP has lost.

If the HDD is dead, then I think the easiest option (not necessarily the cheapest) is to buy a new copy of Windows, and download the drivers off support.asus.com.

 

How do I mirror my main HDD by attaching an external HDD using Raid 1 ?

 

I don't follow exactly. If you want to do RAID on an external HDD, I'm not sure that's possible.

 

Well somebody said to do that on another site.

 

see my signature. download hiren's boot cd. keep your old hard drive in the machine and boot using this CD. navigate through the menu and you will find a number of disk cloning tools. It will take upto 2hrs to burn DVD's. Using these DVD's, you can transfer the hard drive image to the new hard drive.

good luck.

 

It seems to me that for at least last 6 months all NB manufactures stamp license and OS definition into BIOS header.

 

Wait, I'm not sure any longer what we are discussing.

If you want to do full disk cloning from the internal HDD to the external one, on the fly (without writing DVDs), while the Windows that you are cloning is running --- I think all this is fully possible with Acronis True Image. I think, without knowing for sure -- I have always imaged the partition(s) first.

If you want to do RAID1 with an external, I am not sure it's possible.

But the goal of RAID1 is not disk cloning (that's just a side effect). For disk cloning, you do not need RAID1, you need a disk cloning tool such as Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image.

Finally, I am not aware how the BIOS stamping with the license is related to all this.

 

i dont know much about disk cloning, but people use the hiren's boot cd. it has norton ghost as well as acronis true image softwares inside it. You dont need to do much, just use some DVDs.

 

Is it legal, then? Both Norton Ghost and Acronis are commercial software. If it's not legal it should not be discussed here.

 

You are right.. this is labelled "warez".

Since we are coming to know that its the same software, its recommended that you get a registered copy and perform the cloning operation.

 

Highly recommended. And discussion of any illegal/warez alternatives stops as of now.

 

Asus sent me a Vista recovery cd
I guess I insert and follow instructions?

 

Yep. See theFAQ on the Info Booth for further info.

 

Many thanks!

 

Well
Do not know exactly what to do.
I have just installed new Hard drive in the A8 laptop.

ANyone know to instruct do I have to put factory settings back first then best to do clean install or what?

 

Hey all

I ran the Asus recovery disk I had as my new hard drive said boot from whatever so it was the hardd drive problem but after running the recovery disk first time on the new Hard drive its is now asking me for the driver cd which I do not have one so how do I get out of this?
Can I just put my new Vista Ultimate op system disk in I bought?
IF so do I just pop it in or have to reboot to cd first option?

 

Ah, I did not know you do not have the drivers CD.

No matter. Simply reboot the system, it will start up with no drivers. Then, go to support.asus.com (from another computer, you will most likely have no working network connection on the laptop) and download the drivers and any utilities that you need (will take a while, the servers are quite slow).

Then install those things.

Voila. Streamlined install.

 

Ahh but there are millions of drivers listed

Know which one fir Asus A8 F8 series please?
WOuld Vista not figure out I need drivers and find them? on disk?

 

The drivers are not on the recovery disk.

You need to search for your model number in the searchbox to the left.

All this is covered in theFAQ, by the way.

 

DO you know the best free burn tool?
There are loads listed

Do I just downlod all and burn to disk?
Fingerprint driver and utility
Fingerprint driver and utility for Vista



File Size 12.53 (MBytes) 2008/03/19 update



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Version V2.1.0.880.18_V7.8.1

Description Fingerprint driver and utility
Fingerprint driver and utility for Vista



File Size 12.9 (MBytes) 2007/11/02 update



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Version V7.8.0.1012

Description Intel Matrix Storage Manager
Intel Matrix Storage Manager for Vista



File Size 279.93 (KBytes) 2007/10/26 update



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Version V5.0.1.2

Description ITE remote controller application
ITE remote controller application for Vista.



File Size 1.93 (MBytes) 2007/10/26 update



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Version V1.5.0.1013

Description Intel Turbo Memory Technology
Intel Turbo Memory Technology for Vista



File Size 21.81 (MBytes) 2007/10/26 update



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Version V3.8.1.12

Description Sinosun-SecureTool TPM driver
Sinosun-SecureTool TPM driver for Vista



File Size 16.99 (MBytes) 2007/10/09 update



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Version V1.0.0.0

Description KB_filter Driver
KB_filter Driver for Vista



File Size 93.92 (KBytes) 2007/09/22 update



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Version V3.0.1

Description Infineon TPM driver
Infineon TPM driver for Vista



File Size 39.88 (MBytes) 2007/09/19 update



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Not working I burned 4 drivers on one disk and it says cannot open file D recovery.DAT

HELP

 

Ok, let's step back a little. You will not be able to replicate the ASUS driver CD structure, so you needn't bother. You will not install the drivers automatically. You will install them manually.

What you need to do is:

A. Download drivers for all devices.

Choose the latest version for every device.

Download the following utilities, if applicable (some of them may not be present for your computer):
- Wireless (WLAN) Utility (should be bundled with the wireless driver)
- ATK Hotkey
- ATK generic function service
- ATK Media
- ATK OSD
- Wireless Console
- Power 4 Gear
- LifeFrame
Save them on a flash pendrive, or if you don't have one just burn on CD, in whatever form of organization you want.

B. Recover Vista (if not already done so or if the installation is corrupt)

Insert recovery DVD, etc. Like you did before.

At the point where it asks for the drivers CD, force a shutdown by keeping the power button pressed for 5+ seconds. Then, start the computer again. You should have a clean-slate, no-drivers, no-utils, Vista installation.

C. Install the drivers and utilities

For instance, in the order:

Chipset drivers
(restart)
GPU drivers
(restart)
ATK generic function
ATK Driver
ATK_Hotkey
ATKOSD
ATKMedia (if applicable)
(restart)
Power4Gear
Audio
Camera
LifeFrame
(restart)
Bluetooth
LAN
WLAN (wireless LAN drivers and utility)
Wireless_Console
(restart)
Modem
Card Reader
Touchpad
TPM (if you don't know what it is or you don't use it, safely skip this step)

I stress again not all things above may be applicable to you, and I may have missed some hardware that the F8 has.


Hope you will be able to manage with this guide.

 

Appreciate that but looks like a whole weeks download install work.
I think I wil ljust ask Asus to send me driver CD.

 

Eh, not a week, but a number of hours indeed.

Did I suggest cloning the old HDD onto the new one, in my earlier post?

In that way you may be able to use the recovery partition by hitting F9 during boot ==> zero driver headaches.

 

...or to call ASUS and ask for drivers CD?
Why not? they are so good, they already sent recovery disk...

 

Sure. But my solution would be faster

 

That is it

I been waiting a whole week for email replies as if they sent me a driver disk and still nothing in post I am never going to buy Asus computer again.

The two year warranty I had means nothing they try fob me off saying give correct serial number.

 

So why can't you give them correct serial #?

 

I did give correct serial from batteryand case
They juust say wrong serial.
They lie

 

Battery has it's own serial # (made by 3d party for ASUS)
Windows has it's own serial#

Serial # they need you can find in several places - original box, manual, at the bottom of NB (most confusing because of some other serials)
I think you gave them wrong #

 

I think that certainly can be the cause of the confusion.

 

***Newsflash***

I decided to start my laptop again and a different message came up saying preparing to start Vist first time so long time wait it came on however it is only basic Vista and I wanted to install Vista Ultimate I bought.
However I did not run any driver CD

SO how can I change to Vista Ultimate?

 

Sorry for missing some info I am just replying to your latest post.

You can switch by installing Vista Ultimate using the retail DVD for Vista ultimate. Or what do you mean "the Vista Ultimate you bought"?

 

I mean the Vista Ultimate I bought I want to install

Not sure if my laptop is fully working

As I mentioned I ran the Vista recovery cd I had from Asus then it said install driver cd whcih I did not have so then after one week I started it up and the different message came up starting Vista for first time.
So now I hav eVista home basic PRemium in but not much else however as stated I would really want to install the Vista Ultimate OEM I bought
What do I do please?

 

Do you mean that your computer came with a Vista Ultimate license, but they sent you a replacement DVD for Vista Home Basic? In that case, you should contact them and ask for the correct recovery DVD to be sent to you.

I don't know if the Vista version can be changed simply by changing the serial number, I would guess not. If you could it would be easier, you could set the serial on the bottom of the notebook.

 

No it came with Home premium but I want to put Ultimate in

 

Then I really don't understand. If it came with Home Premium, then they sent you the correct DVD.

disregard the italics:
And it also means you should have an Ultimate retail DVD lying around (you must have, since you bought Ultimate, right?) Which you can use to install Vista. So I don't see the problem.

I see however that you said you "bought" a Vista Ultimate OEM. I do not know how that is possible, to my knowledge OEM versions only come with new computers.

Please, explain as clearly as possible what is the problem.

 

I have my Laptop back to normal now!

 

That doesn't go far in the way of explaining what the problem was (or the solution, for that matter)...

I.e., more information would help. If only for a user that has the same problem and finds this page in 6 months from now via google search.

 

Thanks god it is over!!!

 

Hard drive broke, disk read error.

Now I have Vista Ultimate to backup image all my Hard drive.