Clean Vista install WITH NO ACTIVATION

Hi Orev:

Many thanks for the guide.
I used the script to obtain the OEM product key, but it didn't work when I tried to activate 64-bit Vista version. I apologize if you've already discussed this problem somewhere in the many, many pages of this topic.
I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks!

 

I guess you didn't read the guide. That comment is from a very old post and it's not intended to run it. The key returned by that scripts is known to not work with activation.

You should be using ABR instead, as is outlined in the guide. First you backup with ABR, reinstall Vista, then restore with ABR. The only way to get your activation saved would be to restore using the recovery disc, then start the process over again.

 

orev, the guide is clear and you deserve a cookie . Since August, i've been using this method. I guess i installed Vista 50 times with it .

 

Orev,

It works now!
Many thanks!!!

I read your guide, but was thrown off track by some complaints that a version of ABR didn't work in Vista. I didn't have the courage to read through 190+ pages of threads to find out whether the script would work or not!

You're awesome!

 

OK, glad it worked for you after all. I think maybe the beta versions of ABR had a few issues, but it's been around for a while and I'm pretty sure I got all the bugs worked out . If you find one, let me know.

 

just wanted to say thanks to orev for this guide. I'm new to vista, and I want to use it at the freshest stage. I hate bloatware and this has provided an alternate solution to a more intense install for xp. But more options is nice. Thanks to all the people who put their input, for it has made things clear and easier.

 

I have a VISTA 64 bit OEM Business installation disk from DELL. I have tried the procedure recommended on the first page of this site (delete $OEM$ directory and pid.txt file), and created a new boot disk using VLite. However, I am not given the option of installing anything but Business Vista. I want to install Vista Premium on my Lenovo laptop, and upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit.

Do the Dell OEM DVDs still have all versions on them?

 

As far as I know they have all versions, but Dell may have changed how they perform the unattended installation. I'm not sure how they might have done that though.

Something to try would be to go into vLite and after you've chosen the files where Vista is, look through the vLite options and see if it is forcing anything in there. vLite might pick up whatever Dell did in the disc, and you might be able to remove it from there.

Otherwise, you might need to find another source for the install disc.

 

Thanks for the reply. I looked but didn't see anything forcing the Business installation.

 

i have a vista enterprise dvd.

there was no $oem$ folder.
I deleted the pid.txt file

Now it asks for a product key, if I don't enter one
it will install enterprise.

also when i enter my vista business key it doesn't accept it.

In the licences folder, it does mention other versions of vista but at no point during installation does it let me choose which vista to install.

what files are in the $oem$ folder, if I could find the files somewhere else
in the disk I could just delete them from there.

 

C:\Swsetup\DPFPR\Digital_3.0.1.2761.cva Finger Print REader

i wanna this driver for 64 bit vista ultimate..

there is not any 64 bit drivers in it..

can u tell me from when i can get this...please..

 

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3744020&os=2100&lang=en

 

is there an aplication like ABR but for XP system?

 

I don't think so, but I'm sure Orev could clarify.

 

not at the moment.........

 

There might be but you'll have to search google or something like that. I don't know of one. I seem to remember that the process on XP is easier, so you may be able to just keep a copy of certain files, instead of doing what ABR does.

 

hello
i deleted the files created by ABR from my flash memory
but i wrote the key that was in the txt file
can i use this key if i want to format later ???? i mean without any online activation
i have xp right now so i cant do the process of ABR backup license again

 

No, that key will not work with online or phone activation. You must use the key on the bottom of the laptop, and will have to activate by phone (will not work with online activation)

 

so what is this key used for ???
if it's not my windows vista original key ,neither for online activation

 

The key is used by the OEM to install on your laptop, and it only works with the activation certificate that Microsoft provides to them, and is typically only used at the factory. That's the certificate that ABR backs up.

 

so in other words that key is useless
i thought i can use this key during the vista installation process ...............

 

The key is not useless, you just deleted all the other files that make it useful.

 

there's no way to know what's the VISTA key that we have on our machines ???
and i mean by that the actual key that we are supposed to enter in any vista installation

 

When your computer is installed from the factory it is preinstalled with a Key and Activation. The activation and the key go together... you cannot use one without the other. Also, they put ANOTHER key on the sticker on the bottom of your laptop. They do it this way because it's too hard too keep track of which sticker they gave you, so the preinstalled Key is different.

The preinstalled key is known by Microsoft and they will not allow it to be activated, because it is only meant to be used at the factory. The key on the sticker is allowed to be used, but will not activate online, only by phone.

If you have not reinstalled your computer, then the key you have on the system is the one from the factory. If you have reinstalled, then it is the one you typed in.

ABR backs-up the key that was installed at the factory, and also the activation that goes with the key. Since you deleted the files, and the factory key cannot be activated, you cannot use the key that was found by ABR. You will have to type in the one from the sticker.

 

hi orev
i just found out that i have copied the folder of ABR files from my usb flash drive to my hard disk
i have this folder now in windows xp
let's assume that i will install vista sometimes
i can click on activation backup from this folder on my HD and it will work ???

 

If you install vista, you will want to use the "restore" program, not the backup one, as you will be restoring the data to the new vista. This assumes that the files you are talking about are the 2 backup-* files, as well as the activation backup and restore files.

 

i am talking about the 2 or 3 files created by abr when i made backup license
i have them in a folder on my hard disk
i can click on restore license from my hard disk when i install vista
or i have to put it back on my flash memory and make the restore process from there since when i backed up my license i did it directly from my flash memory?

 

It doesn't matter. A file is a file. However, many people will format the hard drive when they are reinstalling the operating system, which will cause all data on the hard drive to be lost. If you format the drive, you will need to copy the files to the flash drive first (and also backup all the rest of your data).

 

I've just done a clean intall. Now my HDX works perfect.
Thanks a lot.

BTW I had problem with QLB. There is no folder like this in C:\SWSetup.
For HDX9000 owners I recommend page 100 of the Dragon's tread to solve it.

 

Noob here, need help regarding recovery disk / backup restore process.
Sorry for this long one, I just tried to dump every information i think to be needed to analyze my problem.

I received this tablet hp tc4400 with chinese language vista business installed in it several months ago.

1. As I cannot work in chinese (I bought this in Beijing), I searched the net, found a program to change it to english, got vistalizator, and now it is in english (well, not 100%)

2. I had bad experience working with XP (many times reinstalling XP on my older Dell because of virus, for eventually got my C: partition physically damaged, fortunately my data on D: partition could be saved). So the first thing I did when I could work it in english was to make another partition for my data (I scanned this thread and orev said it is not beneficial anymore, but what if the 1 partition disk is damaged and unaccessible?). This new partition became F:, there I put my works. Before partitioning, there were already 3 partitions in this tablet: (1) Local Disk C: (2) HP_RECOVERY (D) (3) OS_TOOLS (E). I made this partition using Disk Management (Shrinking C, then create F).

3. Now here comes the problem. I run the recovery burning program (I prepared DVD+R in the drive), failed at 50% process. It just suddenly cancelling, and said will be resuming at that point the next time I run the process. But it was always repeating that way. I don't know, I guess maybe the acts of changing language and/or creating partition F out of C caused the recovery partition data corrupted. Just guessing.

4. I searched in C partition what have been done so far, these are the files created anyway :

- There is a folder called C:/System Recovery that has 1 MASTER.LOG file along with 3 folders, which are :

(1) PRELOAD, with 5 files in it: ALL.CRC (15,863 KB), BASE.DAT (1 KB), BASE.WIM (4,696,539 KB), CSP.DAT (1 KB), DESC.TXT (1 KB), I open the DESC.TXT, these 4 lines were inside it:
[Diff]
Time=20070425 23:02:47
Files=74515
Size=11878602760

(2) TEMP, empty

(3) Tmp_Mount, empty

- In addition to those folders and files, it created a file in C:\Temp folder called BASE.WIM which is the same as in the PRELOAD folder (4,696,539 KB).

5. I contacted HP support chat online, just to get as well expected answer: the partition is corrupt, and I have to purchase a replacement.

6. I could not access the folders in HP_RECOVERY (D) Partition, it has several files and folders in it, but the folders are locked (I already set up the folder option for every possibilities to show and display and not to hide everything ). In front of the folder(s) name, the yellow picture is a 'lock', instead of a 'document folder'. If clicked on the locked folder, inside it will show the logo of 'hp invent' and warning not to alter the content,and dislaimer if doing that, whole responsibility is the owner, with your own risk (still in chinese, which I can read a little). Nothing could be done in that.

7. The OS_TOOLS (E) Partition has 2 folders (boot and sources) and 1 file (HP_WINRE , no extention). Inside ''boot'' folder there is boot.sdi file, and inside ''sources'' folder there is winre.wim file. This partition has no locked file, all accessible.

Ok.. thanks for reading all those long story,

My stupid questions:

1. Is there any possibility I could do to regain the recovery disk from this tablet? And how ?

2. If recovery partition didn't make any good, Is full system backup able to function as recovery does? I mean if this system is crashed and failed to boot for some reason, can I rely on the full system backup to ignite my machine?

Thank you, any helps is greatly appreciated.

-----
Ucok

 

Anybody here knows where can I buy only the Vista or Vista SP1 installation media DVD? My OEM DVD is damaged.

 

yeah, thanks for ur advice. I'm running a clean installed vista on my lappy(sign). It's very fast and efficient. thanks!

 

I used the method in this message to buy two generic Vista 64 installation disks for $15 each. One fr me and one for my nephew in college. Unfortunately, it was from Digital River when it was handling sales for Windows Marketplace. DR no longer is.

 

I'm looking for the Vista Installation CD only too but could not find it anywhere, except to pay the full retail cost. Does anyone want to sell me theirs or let me borrow it? I bought a new Solid State Disk to replace the hard drive that comes with my HP DV4T, but I don't want any of the bloatwares on it. The SSD only has 60GB so I want to minimize the disk space usage. The DV4T only comes with the recovery disk.

Thanks,
Gnimble

 

hi guys,the links for ABR-1.0.exe are not working.webpage opens with warning that account suspended.can anybody give me a working link to it.thanks.

 

The site is fixed now. Small problem with the ISP.

 

orev, you are my hero!

I received a brand new HP 6735s yesterday (32bit (upgrading to 64bit) Vista, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, 2.1 GHz AMD) and it was filled to the brim with bloat. 91 processes at boot, no thanks.

Thankfully I had an OEM version of Vista from an old Medion machine, and following your guide helped me to install it without a problem, it's activated and I'm using it now. This now also means I have an actual clean installation disk (thanks to vlite), and not a bloat filled partition.

I made an account just to thank you.

 

Will an image file of the Vista installation disk downloaded using Bittorent serve the same purpose as a real physical retail Vista disk? If it is possible, what extra steps do I need to perform the clean install?

I'm not advocating software piracy here (I have an original license for my laptop), it's just that I have no conceivable way of obtaining the physical disk where I live, since I have not found any stores where I live that sells an Anytime Upgrade Vista disk; the only Vista disk that comes close is the one that comes with a license. Plus, I don't have a credit card hence, I can't buy the disk through the Internet. Another thing: nobody who I've asked possessed a Vista disk or is unwilling to lend it to me, AND no OEMcert folder or Vista installation files exists on my laptop. So....going back to my original question(s)...

 

Any Vista image will do, however discussion of things like bittorrent are not allowed on this site.

 

I'm glad it worked out for you and that I was able to help.

 

Thanks orev! I followed your procedure to extract the key, then installed Vista OS after replacing my HDD's..... faster everything, no bloatware. And I learned some new things doing it.

To anyone hesitant, it has to be easy if I can do it. Follow the instruction. It works!

 

This is my first time installing an operating system on any computer, so pardon my paranoid questions....

1) After restoring the computer using recovery disks or a backup made using Acronis TrueImage, will my computer still be activated?

2) Are the HP Pavilion dv5 series notebooks compatible with 64-bit edition Vista? (specifically, mine is dv5-1102tx)

3) Let's say I accidentally install 64-bit Vista on an incompatible computer; will there be any error messages that stops the installation process?

4) Because my Vista edition right now is 32-bit, does that mean that all the drivers in the SwSetup folder will be unusable once I upgrade to 64-bit Vista?

5) Just to clarify, a "bootable" CD/DVD is a CD/DVD that will autorun once you insert it into a CD/DVD drive, right?

6) Do I need to make a bootable CD/DVD for the drivers from the SwSetup folder or will just copying the folder to a USB flash drive/external hard disk drive do?

7) Will the drivers for a USB flash drive/external HDD install by itself when I insert it into the USB port like it's suppose to, after a clean install?

8) If I obtain an image file of the Vista installation CD (either 32 or 64-bit), I will need to burn it to a DVD and make it bootable, right?

9) Throughout this whole thread, people have been saying to use DVD+R disks to burn their recovery disks, since those same people say that DVD-R disks won't be allowed by the Recovery Disk manager. However, the manager on my laptop allowed DVD-R disks to be used and the whole process is successful, from reading the files to verifying them on the DVDs; is there something I'm missing here?

10) If I use a retail Vista installation disk with SP1 integrated (either 32 or 64 bit), will there be any changes to the steps I need to take to perform the clean install?

That's basically all the questions I have for now...Big thanks to anybody who can help me

 

Recovery disks and Acronis trueimage are completely different things. But if you use either of them, your computer will be activated.

It depends on the CPU in the system, but any computer newer than a year or two should have a 64-bit CPU.

The installation will detect this right away and you will not be able to install

It depends. Drivers have to made specifically for 32-bit or 64-bit, however, many recent drivers will detect for you and install the correct driver. Some don't though, so the best thing to do if you're switching to 64-bit is to go to the HP web site and download the 64-bit drivers before you start that install.

You'll still want to save the SWsetup folder, as it does have other software in there that you cannot download from HP.

No. A bootable CD is one that is specially set up so the computer will boot an operating system from the CD if there is a CD in the drive. Autorun is something that works after the operating system has already started.

No. You just need to copy them to something external. You could burn a DVD, use an external flash drive or external hard drive.

Yes.

No. An ISO file of Vista will already be bootable after you burn it to a DVD. Just make sure you burn it to the DVD correctly, using a tool like "ISO Recorder"

Maybe HP has changed it now. They used to only allow +R because it is a format they have an interest in. They might have received enough complaints about it that they stopped forcing people to use +R.

If you were able to complete the process of making the Recovery Discs, then you should be fine.

There is no difference if installing with SP1 integrated.

 

I am using vista business now....Can i do this and install vista ultimate without activation using the ABR from vista business?....

 

No, vista business key will only activate vista business.

 

hey orev. i did a clean install using your guide a long time ago and i can see it's still the most (if not one of the most) useful guide out there. just wanna really thank you for this guide and for trying to answer every question thrown at you. thanks a lot man.

 

Hey sir Orev, does ABR had a version for w7? thank you.

 

There is currently no OEM version of W7, so no ABR version. W7 is just an update to Vista, and the licensing code is not changing that I know of, so I think it should still work. However, I will only be able to know when W7 starts shipping.

 

Hi all,

Nice to see that many members are trying towards one goal of cleaning up HP crap/bloatware from their laptops.

Here is my case. I'll appreciate if anyone can help me in that.
1) I have formatted whole hard disk, so I don't have recovery partition. I have noted OEM product key as well as laptop
2) I have DELL provided OEM windows vista home premium 64bit dvd with me. OS in my HP laptop is also same.
3) I have HP recovery disk set.

Can I use Dell's DVD to install and genuine product key to activate? I'll be grateful If anyone can give some reference/steps for doing that?

Thanks in advance.
Bulletguy.

 

In the guide there is a discussion on how to modify a Dell disc to allow you to install any version of Vista (as long as you have the license). It sounds like you did not use ABR to backup before formatting the drive, but you can still install, you just cannot skip activation.

After you modify the Dell disc, you can install from it and type in the license key on the bottom of the laptop (Vista sticker). Then you will have to activate by phone, and you'll have a fully working system.