Just Bought P-7805u - need advice :D

So, I just bought a P-7805u from best buy. My plan was to use the O/S disk to wipe the drive and do a fresh install - cleaning all the bloatware...I created a disk using the utility on the drive...then ran it - which I guess wiped the drive - started back up...and bam - the bloatware is still there

Question: How do I effectively clean the hard drive without buying an OEM version of Vista?

Question: I just bought this machine - is there anything I should update online? - driver, bios, suggestions?

Question: Anything else I should know?

Any help is appreciated

 

pcdecrapifier. I have never used it myself but hear it is great for doing just what you need.

 

This? I saw this...I plan on using it any other suggestions? Anything i "must" do? *drivers, bios, etc*

 

1. You don't need to "buy" Vista. You already have a license (check your sticker underneath. Use that and install with any Vista Installer.

2. GPU drivers (dox 180.84 latest, but unofficial).

 

go to www.dban.org and download it, will wipe every scrap of your hard drive, and i mean every thing to the point were its un recoverable, its called draik's boot and nuke. Have fun with your new laptop.

 

That doesn't make any sense and is terrible advice. I said recently that I'm going to be less opinionated in my posts and I've lived up to that so far, but that is just terrible advice. Deleting the partitions in the Windows Installer will be just as effective with much less time spent. Not to mention you've not helped him get anything installed, only helped him get his drive zeroed to department of defense standards.

p5mmr9, if you have a friend with a Vista disc, you can borrow their OEM media and use the key on the bottom of your laptop. It does not matter what version of Vista they have (Home, Business, Ultimate), only if it is X86 or X64. Alternatively, you can buy this media from Microsoft for a small fee (I believe 10 dollars).

 

only helped him get his drive zeroed to department of defense standards.

And thats the way i like it.

 

Wait...so can i download vista and create a disk? and then install off that disk? if so - where do i download vista?

I would love nothing more than to be able to delete Gateway's wasteful partition...but at this point the only thing I have is a recovery disk that I made off the software that came with the unit. Any advice?

What if I have no friends (with Vista )?

 

Get a few more posts and PM me.
But really, the only option besides borrowing a disc is buying it from MS and they mail you a disc.

 

ok, i think i know where to go...thank you for the advice.

 

Question:

Will this work?

 

No, that's just an installer for Service Pack 1. It upgrades computers that are on SP0.

 

gah ok... ...

 

My 7811 came with a 32/64 bit install disk, just an OS with no bloat. Does the 7805 not have the Vista installation DVD included?

 

No it does not , just a restore partition

 

So i used pcdecrapifier...it helped, but it looks like i'm going to have to buy a vista media disk. Any recommendations for a good - fast - east coast software merchant?

 

Not only no OS disk, but no system restore disk either. Just instructions on how to burn your own.

Cause saving 30 cents per $1000 unit is the way to profitability.

 

I still had my vista disk from my p-6860fx so I used it to reinstall the 7805u. That is a bummer that they don't include the disc.

 

I'm sure you can solve your problem on Demonoid or h33t (after it's up and running again....has been down for a few days now...)

 

I was also looking for a way to raid 0 my Gateway p-7805u.

What I found was this website.

what I plan to do is
A. Download one of those torrents
B. Burn the ISO
C. Restart and load raid drivers
D. Install Vista Home x64
E. Use my serial # as my activation key

I was wondering if this would work for me and p5mmr9 except - the raid part

 

I've seen that exact file on h33t, uploaded by Original. Unfortunately, h33t has been down for several days now. It's supposedly due to a router problem, but who knows.....

 

Seems like the only way is to buy a media disk from Microsoft for 10 bucks.

 

Guys STOP posting this info about torrents.

You could get banned if this gets spotted - there have been major problems in the official Win 7 thread with people posting about illegal downloads.

I also suggest you delete/edit your posts.

 

You have a link? I've been trying to find the link on MS's site to buy the physical disks, but their search engine is borked right now.

 

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/1033/ordermedia/default.mspx

I'm pretty sure this is limited to RETAIL copies only, however you can try your key and see if it works. Also technically its for upgrading from 32 to 64, but the key is the same for both...

 

When I called Microsoft they guy told me I would have to get the disks from the computer manufacturer. Looks like its time to call Gateway's customer support.

 

I've got a Vista Ultimate 64-bit CD from another computer. Can I use this disk with the Vista Key from my p-7805u? If so does the install program check the key and just install Home Premium?

 

As long as the disk you have is Vista Ultimate X64 OEM, NOT Retail. And yes, it will install whatever version your key is for.

 

If you install Vista Home Premium from that disk you can use the serial # from the bottom of your laptop to activate the OS.

 

the version installed is linked to the key that you use.

 

True, but if you installed with a disk and chose not to enter a key until a later time, you'd have to manually select the version.

 

good info to know, but still

thanks.

 

Ok here is what I know so far...

1) I have a Vista disk that I borrowed from a friend
2) The disk WILL accept my Licence

Question:
I know there are two partitions on my drive...the main partition and the partition Gateway created for their rescue crap... How do I delete the gateway partition? I am sitting at the "Where do you want to install Windows" screeen and it only shows one partition. Suggestions?

 

I guess my real question is - how the heck do i wipe this hard drive completely clean?

 

I think you clean select options in the Vista install to format, then new drive, then install.

 

yes...i deleted the main partition and formatted and installed vista - still no way of deleting the hidden partition...any suggestions?

 

btw, i've loaded up vista now - everything is working, however I am having trouble with the PC recognizing my ethernet modem and/or drivers. I looked on Gateway's site and this model isn't listed...can anyone with this model tell me the modem name/description so I can find the driver online?

 

Those drivers would have been on the driver CD you could have created using the Gateway Recovery Management. Since you have deleted that and did a re-install then that method is no longer possible. Try calling Gateway, I'm sure they can get you that info quickly....maybe.

 

I had this problem a few years ago with a older gateway laptop, I ended up leaving it, I thought about it, do I really need the space right now? And It is nice to have a complete restore available for resale

 

You have to use the driver cd's app. I couldn't make Vista find/recognize drivers off the CD until I ran the installation from within the autoexecuted app off the driver disc.

 

I actually made a driver disk prior to formatting...the driver for the ethernet modem was not on this disk. I ended up using the drivers posted on Gateway's site for P-7800 series - they worked.

As to the partition...I downloaded Cute Partition Manager - created a boot disk - loaded it up, deleted all partitions - turned off the PC - loaded up Vista and allowed Vista to create the main and only partition. As to whether or not to delete Gateway's partition...why not? It's YOUR 10GB's Gateway has basically hi-jacked...and who knows what crap is on that partition?

It would be nice if someone with more knowledge and experience could begin compliling a list of compatible drivers. I'm sure I'm short some needed drivers...and Gateway's site doesn't even acknowledge this model's existence atm lol.

Anyway, I want to thank everyone for all their help...my one word of advice for those in a similar situation...make sure you download the ethernet drivers prior to formatting... at least those are the ethernet drivers that worked for me.

 

Interesting...I didn't try this.

 

I'm not sure I qualify as more knowledgable or experienced, but I can tell you every driver scrounged for the P-7811FX for XP works fine on this one in XP. Only real difference between the two is the video card but they use the same driver.

 

Just to clarify, previous versions of Windows would balk if you tried to install from a retail disk and use your OEM key (from the sticker on the machine) or vice versa or something to that effect. Is this still the case? Is there still something I should know when just trying to get my hands on a copy of Vista for installation and activation using my own key, be it an OEM or retail key (besides the 32-bit vs. 64-bit point, that is)?

 

to the OP, feel free to try my guide, it applies to your laptop as well

 

some vista discs come with all versions (premium, business, ultimate) on it, the only difference is whether is a 32 or 64 bit disc. But your license can only be used to activate whatever version it came with (vista home premium in this case)

 

That's not what he meant - he meant OEM disc vs Retail.
As in, you can't reinstall XP Home OEM with an XP Home Retail disc - it won't take the OEM key as valid.
And yes, this is still the case with Vista.

 

I still think that's nuts. If you've got a genuine Windows key sticker on the bottom of your notebook, it really shouldn't matter what media you use to install it, especially now with Vista where the key determines the version you get. Ahh well, Microsoft appears to disagree.

Thanks for the confirmation.

 

I have used my retail vista ultimate disk to reinstall windows home premium on my 6831 and the oem key on the bottom worked for me, just my experience

 

Vista has all versions on one disk, the key is the "key", you need the right version key to install the one you bought or have.