Clean Install Guide for HP DM3 Intel based.

Ok here's the guide to a real clean install on an HP DM3 Intel based notebook.

The point of this clean install is to not install any unnecessary driver or software and get the most snappy performance.

First you need a running notebook (could be the bloatware installed DM3) or desktop and a 4GB (or larger) USB thumbdrive.

Prepare

• Download the Windows 7 Home Premium X64 bit ISO here.
• Download MS USB Tool and run it. Follow Instructions.

Now your USB key is ready.


Install Windows 7

• Put the USB thumb drive in your HP DM3 notebook.
• Boot it, press escape right away.
• Now press F9 for boot options. Select your USB key to boot from.
• Select 'custom install'
• Select 'drive options'
• Delete all partitions
• Now create a partition the way you want it. (Suggestion: make a 100GB primary partition to install Windows on, this ensures that your OS and applications will be on the fastest part of your hard drive)
• Install Windows. Run Windows update until there are no updates left.This may involve several reboots.

Install Drivers

• Intel Series 4. Download the x64 .exe driver from here and run it. Reboot required.
• Touchpad. I'd recommend first trying the already installed MS default driver. If you don't like that there are a couple of other options.
• Intel Rapid Storage driver. Download from here 64-bit Intel® RST Driver Files for F6 Install. Go to Device Manager, select under "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers" the "Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial ATA Controller". Then right click, update driver software. Browse, browse. Now browse to where you saved the Intel Rapid Storage driver. Select the folder and click OK. Reboot required.
• Card reader. Insert a SD card and Windows will install a driver.
• Audio. I'd suggest to try the already installed Microsoft driver first. If you don't like that there are a couple of other options.

This is what I call a real clean install. There's no unnecessary drivers or software installed.

For an easy and quick way to install the sofware you need have a look at: Ninite: Silent Unattended Install Multiple Programs At Once
(I haven't used it yet but I've heard very good things about it)

 

awesome work! Will this work for the dm4 1065?

 

Yes, except don't download the drivers on this thread. Go on to Hewlett Packard Technical Support - select a country or region, enter your country, then select download drivers, enter in your model number and download the drivers from there.

 

I prefer getting drivers directly from manufacturers like Intel because the drivers on HP.com tend to be outdated.

 

Direct and to the point. Do you know if the windows driver still doesn't let you disable the touch pad, because thats the only issue I've found using it(but stopped because of it). As for the audio I would give the +1 to the microsoft driver. However on the wireless front, does the microsoft driver have advantages over the Atheros one?

 

I was assuming all Intel based DM3s come with Intel 5100 wireless card. Mine does.

I have no experience with the Atheros card. Let me know if the Windows driver is no good, I'll add it to the guide.

 

Is it possible to do this on an HP DM3z 1030us??? Where would the drivers be?

 

I think it would work the same, except for the Chipset driver, Intel Rapid Storage Driver and possibly the Wireless driver.

But the general idea stays the same.

 

What drivers do I need? And where do I get the wireless driver?

Rep added.

 

Phil your url code on the Microsoft USB Tool needs fixing. For drivers, you can get it from HP's support section as stated before

 

Ok, and the Catalyst 10-7 drivers should work with the 3200HD?

 

PROBLEM!!! I've just finished installing W7 using the ISO. I'm on the desktop now but I have no internet connection?! And it wouldn't scan for nearby networks like it usually does.

WHAT DO I DO?? HELP!!

 

Download the drivers for your wireless card

 

Never mind, saw above (delete post)

 

Which one is this? I remember seeing Atheros before I fresh install. I installed it which created a folder swsetup etc but still nothing.

Which driver should I be installing?

Sorry if this sounds trivial, but I really don't have a clue. And this problem was not expected!

 

Look on the bottom of your laptop to see which is installed. Right above the FCC logo in the battery compartment. Or look in the device manager and google the hardware id of any hardware missing drivers to find out what you have. Then go to the drivers page for your specific model and download the ones you're missing

 

Done! Thank you! +1 for you.

 

I really like those volume gauge which used to showed up. They are not there anymore. Does anyone know which software/driver I need to install? I tried HP quick launch buttons but it didn't work.

 

Try installing the Audio Driver from HP's website

 

You mean On Screen Display? I've never seen those on my DM3. Even with the stock install I didn't get them. Does anyone know why?

 

I think its an option of HP MediaSmart, but I don't think I ever adjusted the volume before doing a clean install so I'm not sure

 

@Phil

I'm trying to install the Intel Rapid Storage driver. I downloaded the file but I can locate Storage controller under Device Manager? Can you help?

 

Yeah that wasn't very clear. It's under "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers", called "Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial ATA Controller". Then right click, update driver software. Browse, browse.

 

It says Windows has determined that the driver is already uptodate?

...and if I choose 'let me pick', it's looking for a .inf file but the downloaded file is a .zip?

Done it! I unzipped the downloaded file and chose let me pick. One of the unzipped files is a .inf. Update successful!

All seem to be in order now.

Thank you for everyone's input. Esp Phil!

 

What does the Rapid storage driver do? Is it necessary for my AMD DM3z?

 

I've found it gave a bit more performance on my SSD. I expect it will do the same for HDDs.

MS


Intel


Is it necessary? No.

 

Hi Phil,

Thanks for putting together the guide, however I have a question.
I received my dm3 yesterday (full of bloatware) and decided to wipe all partitions and install from my original x64 bit windows installation disk. That was the full retail version though so it wouldnt activate (as I now know). My question is: is the iso file you link to an OEM version and therefore the product key on the underside of the laptop will work and activate OK?
Cheers.

 

You're welcome.

I used the ISO from the download link. It wouldn't activate online so I had to call the MS activation phone line. Then it was activated. Maybe you could the same with you original x64 disk.

 

Thanks for the quick reply!

Yes, I had the option to activate by the automated phone service, however I did notice that it stated the product key was invalid (probably vecause its an OEM key for a Retail version). Luckily I had made recovery disks so I was able to revert back to factory state. I will investigate further and maybe try the phone activation again.

Many thanks again.

 

Now that you have the original software (OEM Windows 7) installed again you can use ABR (Activation Backup and Restore) to save the OEM serial number and Cert from your laptop to a flash drive or CD (remember to keep these files for future use also). ABR (Activation Backup and Restore) | directedge.us. Download the Windows 7 Beta version.

Once you install Windows 7 don't input a serial number. Windows 7 will be in trial mode. Perform a RESTORE from ABR and your OEM serial number along with the laptop CERT will be installed and Windows 7 will be activated as an OEM install.

 

Ok, some more questions:

-I am using the Microsoft default wireless drivers, are the broadcam/atheros ones HP provides better?

-How do I turn my bluetooth adapter off? I never use it and I would like to get a little extra battery life.

-How do I check what my BIOS version is and if it's up to date?

-Is there a reason why my DM3z has been running hotter than usual since I completely reinstalled everything from scratch without the HP bloatware?

 

Hi Deeastman,
Yes I did use ABR and store the backup key and certificate files. However did notice that the product key in the backup file was different to the one on the bottom of my laptop?
I then created a USB bootable drive and copied across the contents of my Retail DVD onto the usb stick. I then altered the ei.cfg file to make it into an OEM install version and then booted/installed from it.
Only thing is I did enter the product key from the bottom of my machine when windows asked me. However it didnt seem to make any difference when I then ran the ABR restore (the restore program did say it was removing previous product keys in the dos window while running). Windows is now fully activated and I've also downloaded and installed the updates (including one for detecting any tampering with the activation files) - all works OK!
Just need to figure out how to reduce the fan noise now (bios fan speed off doesnt work).
Thanks all for the advice.
Cheers.

 

TSE, the BIOS utility is on HP.com Just search for your model. When you run it it tells you what BIOS you have.

 

To turn your bluetooth off, search bluetooth in the start menu and open bluetooth settings, from there you can turn it off. As for the different wireless drivers, I would just use the microsoft one unless your having troubles with certain aspects of your wireless connnection, then I would use the specific one

 

The OEM product key will be the same for all laptops made by your laptop manufacturer and is not tied to the product key on the bottom of your laptop (at least not for activation purposes). A combination of the OEM key, Cert, and Bios information is what allows the OEM version to be activated without actually 'entering' a product key or performing an actual activation.

The key on the bottom of your laptop is NOT the key that the laptop was originally activated with, see above, but it is the key associated with the "Proof of License Certificate of Authenticity" for your version of Windows 7.
It can be used to register a retail version of Windows 7 but an activation by phone is most always required and an explanation as to why you need to use it.

Everything you did to install is spot on. Actually you don't need the ei.cfg file at all, without it you will be presented with a menu to select what version of Windows 7 you would like to install. Glad you had that info and your OS is now activated.

 

Ah, thanks for the inof - thats a thorough explanation of how the windows version, product key, hardware and OEM installation all tie together.

It might also explain the following - I took out the original hard drive (with my newly activated Win 7 on it) and placed a blank hard drive in it. I then tried to install the original HP installation from the recovery disks onto the new hard drive. everything progressed nicely until the first reboot when the machine says "No Bootable Media" even though the drive has just been partitioned, formatted and filled up with HP software by the recovery process. Any ideas?

Replacing the drive with the original one (with my clean install on) and that works ok.

EDIT: Actually, I think I will start this as a new thread in case anyone else has trouble installing a new hard drive - located here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-pavilion-notebooks/507246-replacing-hard-drive-boot-problem-dm3-1112sa.html