Clean Vista install WITH NO ACTIVATION

Sir, help. I can't see why i don't have the option of "advanced chipset features in my bios.. it only displays:

Phoenixbios setup utility

then Diagnostics

> Primary hard disk self test
> Memory self test



i can't shoose to enable ahci mode in my bios cause i don't have d options displayed to do so

what setting do i have to go to enable it?

*had updated to the latest bios.

i have a hp dv6000t NB ..

please reply. thank you

 

I got everything off the HP website - EXCEPT - for Quick Play. That is not available there, hence the need to back up your SWSETUP folder before you wipe out your drive.

I think the other thing missing, which may or may not be needed, is the HP Recover Manager software. I still have my recover partition but I'm trying to decide if its worth keeping on the drive so that in case I ever need to go back to the original factory state it'll be faster via the HDD

 

How about programs? Just download new ones or something?

 

Yes. Just go to the support page for your DV5T and go down the row. That way you'll also ensure you've got the latest HP's got since you've already went to the trouble of starting with a fresh install

 

I have Windows Vista Home Premium "Upgrade". This is the version I bought that enables me to upgrade from XP on a desktop computer. Would this work for this clean install on an HP DV5T? I bought the DV5T with Vista Home Premium.

 

got a recovery disk set from HP, so i followed the hole install, it made a new recovery partition.. and hell yeaah again crapware. this is funny cause i got 2 cd's one with vista recovery and the other one with, aplication & drivers..

didn't throw in that one and still this *@*#&# Crapware...

 

There are 160 pages in this thread.

So can anyone please advise on doing this activationless install with XP?

 

No. This thread is only for Vista. XP is completely different.

 

My guess is that you can probably do the full install using that upgrade disc.

 

Well, OK, is there not an XP thread? I can't find one.

 

Try aVira.

 

What good is aVira?

 

It's an excellent free anti-virus software. Post in this thread for more info about it and alternatives: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=190538

 

Special thanks to Orev and Stallen - with your guides, clean installation is as smooth as silk. Easy to do. Thumbs up guys.

 

Bothered by 2 things:

1. Dunno what I did but my screen doesn't seem as sharp as it was before I clean installed. I've tried changing font size with custom DPI but it still looks fuzzy and not as good.

2. I can't seem to find Vista Service Pack 2 anywhere among my installed updates. I used a Vista DVD from 2007 so not sure if that's ther problem. I've done the Windows updats a few times but just can't see the Service Pack. It's not even in the help/about windows section.

Am I splitting hairs here?

Thanks.

 

HappiLappie:

1. Assuming you have a Standard LCD display (WXGA) make sure in your graphics control panel the resolution is set to 1280 x 800 pixels.

2. Service Pack 1 (SP1) is the latest for Vista, there is no SP2. Windows XP has SP1, SP2, and SP3.

 

1. Try changing the resolution to the highest possible (the native resolution).

2. There is no Vista Service Pack 2; there is only Service Pack 1.

 

Thanks Crash/Deeastman. I meant Service Pack 1.

The higher resolutions hurt my eyes, i've kept it at 1024 x 768.

Whatever settings the laptop came with on first boot were perfect - i guess I have to keep tweaking but I think I've tried pretty much everything.

 

Regarding Vista Service Pack 1, I had to search for it's version number and search through my installed updates to confirm that it was in fact not downloaded. It was only when I installed Microsoft Update that it detected the service pack 1.

Why didn't Windows update detect such an important item?

 

The clearest font presentation will always be at the native resolution of the LCD panel. In your case it would be 1280 x 800. Keep in mind that the resolution your are using is NOT a wide screen format but for the older standard screen size (4:3).

Any non native resolution format will always be a comprimise so you will just need to find one that is acceptable to you. At least you now know why it is not as sharp as it could be, which is what you asked.

 

There are some Vista prerequisite updates which must be installed prior to the SP1 update. Once those updates are installed the SP1 update will present itself. Sometimes it takes a few automatic Microsoft Update cycles before all the prerequisite updates are installed. Manually performing the updates will often expedite the process.

 

Laptops must be run at their native resolutions otherwise they will be fuzzy. There is no way to fix that. It is a limitation of the LCD panel.

If you find the native resolution too small for reading, I suggest that you:

1. Set the laptop to the native resolution
2. Right-click on the desktop and go to "Personalize"
3. In the left column click on "Adjust font size (DPI)"
4. Choose "Larger scale (120 DPI)..." and then [OK]

This will make the text bigger and easier to read while keeping everything else the correct size. It will also not be fuzzy any more.

This is the STRONGLY recommended way to deal with the issue you are having. Lower the resolution is not a good solution.

 

Does anyone know if there is a WAU folder on the DV7? I can't seem to find it.

 

There are no WAU folders on HP computers.

 

Oh okay. So I can't do a fresh install without a cd?

 

No.
.........

 

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://...t&cd=1&usg=AFQjCNH0d-sqin6iUk-qem0XQgQlSYF4Zg

More people should try revo installer.....

 

You can get the vista install files on DVD (without license) from http://store.digitalriver.com/store/wmp_phy/en_US/DisplayHomePage. Apparently they used to allow for download of the content, but no longer.

Anyway, the pricing is very good.

 

Is this disc the same as the anytime upgrade disk? Will it work for a clean install?

 

Yeah, most Vista discs are all the same except for the ones customized by various OEM's.

 

djrichard, how did you get to that page?

 

This is where I found the reference: http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/showpost.php?p=133779&postcount=11

Thank heavens for web history on google.

 

can i use the windows vista business(no sp1) reinstallation dvd that came with my dell desktop to do clean install on my hp dv5?

 

for people who know XXOD.nl tuesday i can borrow there OEM disc's they use, so for me it will be HOMEPREMIUM.

so if i clean install and don't do the ABR trick but just call Microsoft, will i then be possible to download Windows Vista SP1 from windows update??

 

Please take a look at this section "OEM Re-Installation Disc" in the guide.

You will be able to download SP1 from Microsoft no matter what you do -- if you use ABR or if you call them. ABR does not hack Vista and it is still a completely legitimate installation.

 

oke but with the ABR trick, i wont officaily activate it or do i?

and can i install with me reg key a 64 bit premium version instead of a Premium 32 bit?

 

When you activate Vista the normal way, the activation process puts some information onto your computer that says "it's activated". ABR saves that information restores it later, avoiding the need to contact Microsoft to get that information again. When you restore with ABR, you do not need to go through the activation process because ABR has already taken care of it.

ABR is not a "trick". It is not a hack and does not make the installation of Vista "illegal" in any way.

Yes, you can use backup that was generated on a 32-bit system on a 64-bit system. This information is in the F.A.Q.

 

Hi, i just bought my dv5t today and I want to do the clean install.
Unfortunately none of friends has the Vista disc.
How can I make the required disc to do this without buying ? I cant find WAU folder in my laptop.

 

You can't download the files and make the disk any longer. HP computers don't have a WAU folder.

 

As was posted recently, you might be able to purchase one inexpensively by trying here:
http://store.digitalriver.com/store/wmp_phy/en_US/DisplayHomePage

 

I've added this link to the main guide. Thanks djrichard!

 

I seem to still be having trouble getting the recovery disk creator to recognize my DVDs as blank. This is the only thing holding me back from doing the clean install. Any ideas on what could be causing this error, as the DVDs are brand new, could it just be the brand?

 

You must use DVD+R discs. You probably have DVD-R discs. And they cannot be rewritable.

 

Did you ever try another brand of discs other than the Maxell discs you were using when you asked this question back on 9/17? A couple of suggestions were given to you back then.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3935602&postcount=1582

 

Woah! Couldn't you have at least notified me that you're thanking me so I could at least boast no these forums? I was searching for ABR on the Internet, and on Google I read "Thanks to Silas Awaketh..[..]", and I thought, lulz, who has taken my name and is going on helping others, until I found out it was I, myself!

 

if i backup my SWsetup folder will it install on my clean install of vista?

 

Its just a folder. It wont install anything on its own unless you start the installation process for any of the software located within it. The SWSetup folder is a HP specific folder, Vista by default doesnt have that folder.

 

Oké i actually meant, that if i copy it to me External HDD, and coppy it back, if the programs i want will install on the fresh install..

 

Yes it will.

 

ok, i know there's alot of posting in this thread, so i did try a search, and came up ziltch. can someone tell me, if the license matters for 64 vs 32 bit software? i purchased 64 bit, but i think i want to switch to 32 bit. is that possible?