Clean Vista install WITH NO ACTIVATION

Thanks - I wanted to see if I could pick one up over the weekend. I ended up ordering it.

 

You're guide seems to be excellent. I can't wait to get my notebook to try it out.

Can you make a list of all the drivers located in that folder so that it will be easier for all the members, including me, to find them?

I have question regarding the system restore discs. Do the HP notebooks come with explicit instructions on how to make them?

Thanks.

 

The driver locations change over time. HP manages their file distribution using a system that stores each driver in a folder like c:\swsetup\sp12345. Every new driver version gets a new number, so that list will get out of date pretty quickly. You should be comfortable enough dealing with system installs that tracking this stuff down shouldn't be a problem. If you're not comfortable, it's not difficult and can be a learning experience. If all else fails, you can use the recovery discs, which is why I make such a big deal about making them.

Yes, there are instructions on making the restore discs.

 

All drivers have a general file extension, correct? For example, the extension for an application is ".exe", the extension for an mp3 file is ".mp3", etc. Technically, couldn't I just search the folder for the file extension and get a list of all the drivers?

 

They can be standard, but also can not. There's no real way to tell. If you go through each directory, there is a .CVA file (i think). If you open that in notepad there will be clues in there about what is in the file.

 

How many drivers are we talking about here? I can think of audio, video, fingerprint reader, webcam... what else?

 

I suggest you familiarize yourself with the HP driver download pages. Everything is listed there. Go to this page, click on "Download drivers", and type in the model number of the laptop you have.

 

All the drivers seem to be online then, no? The fingerprint one you mentioned is online..

 

The drivers are online, but the other software is not. The fingerprint reader has a driver and client software. You cannot get the software online. Other things like quickplay, roxio, norton, etc... you cannot download from HP but you may want them after you do the clean install.

I think all of this will become more apparent when you get your machine and sit down and start doing the procedure.

 

I believe you are right! Thanks for all the information you've shared so far. I'll update everyone when I get my new notebook and if I have any trouble.

 

Due to my impatience I kept looking for an anytime upgrade disc while compusa mailed mine out. I came across a downloadable version on amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=275528401&pf_rd_i=303119011

 

Just wanted to give some of you a heads up about making a system recovery disk. My recovery tool could not VERIFY that the disk had been burned properly. After some time and trouble with 4 techs in India, they finally confessed that this happens frequently. They overnighted a disk to me however.

As someone who was skeptical of the need for a clean install, I find it another reason to "start fresh", as who knows what else is frigged up with the factory install.

 

Yesterday I posted about downloading the anytime upgrade discs from Amazon. On their website they list it as a Electronic Software Download and under availability it says Availability: Available for download now. Ships from and sold by. BUT that is not the case it is only a DVD for ship in other words the web page is wrong. I tried to purchase it 2x figuring it was user error on my part and I missed a checkbox or something BUT I could not find the download link. After speaking to multiple reps they admitted that the webpage is wrong BUT they could not refund my money because the software was non refundable.... Isn't that crazy their mistake and I eat the cost.

Just thought I would forewarn anyone, who might try the same thing.


Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=275528401&pf_rd_i=303119011

 

I would post a comment to the page telling people that. You can do the reviews and stuff towards the bottom of the page.

 

That's a good idea; I was so mad that the first thing I did was call my cc company.

 

`````````````My Disc is the System Recovery DVD that came with the DV6500tse. Can I also do this clean install using this disk. Other ? is their anyway to open the files on this Disc that are in the *.wim file extension. Thanks in Advance. Also Want to thank you and all the others in these forums who are so helpful sharing you vast knowledge in this field. Many have spent days going through Vista, WinXp and the new hardware available creating these howto's. We all appreciate you effort and time.

 

I am still waiting on my discs to be delivered. I am getting impatient waiting for them since I have had my laptop for a week now. Does anyone in the Nassau (or western suffolk) are of New York have the anytime upgrade disc I could borrow?

 

No, you can't do a clean install using the system recovery discs. The WIM files are encrypted (as far as I can tell), so there's no way around it. You need either an Anytime Upgrade disc or a retail install disc.

 

I have 2 extra anytime upgrade disks if anyone needs please PM me.

 

Great Guide, worked flawlessly on Vistax64.

I was very carefull only to install the needed drivers (letting windows update handle most of it), and got back a huge amounts of both diskspace and RAM. The machine boots a *lot* faster, and my webcam issues went away.

I had to order the Anytime disk from CompUSA for $5.

Interestingly, I had done a "remove" of the bloatware while I waited on the disk. Even after combing though the system, I went form 38% ram utilization down to 26% after the clean install. Thats a lot of ram to get back on a 4gig system!

There is no substitute for a clean install!!!! None!

Thanks,

Joe

 

I have neither been able to find my activation certificate using your utility nor through manually searching through my computer (no OEMCert folder, no oem-cert.xrm-ms file). I believe I need the certificate to proceed with the whole clean install process...anyone know what I should do?

 

Is the version of Vista you have installed an OEM version? (Was it already installed when you bought the computer?) This utility only works for OEM preinstalled versions of Vista.

 

Guys if someone need the fingerprint VeriSoft software after clean VISTA installation, here is the link: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...softwareitem=ob-49006-1&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

 

i already have Vista Ultimate installed. anyone know if i can use the anytime update CD to just reinstall my Vista Ultimate?

 

The Anytime Upgrade DVD is just a regular install CD, so yes.

 

thanks for this guide, orev. the backup of the OEM cert worked. now i just have to wait for the DVD from CompUSA.

 

Is it possible to use this guide to re-reinstall? I did some things to mess up the registry and want to use this guide again, but I'm concerned because I've already downloaded Windows upgrades (and thus installed the MS validation checker). I don't want to reinstall Vista, only to find that I have to call Microsoft to activate or to find that I can't get any updates. Thanks

 

Sure it will work. Just do it all over again. MS validation checker? If you used this guide for a version of Vista that you already purchased and owned, you have a valid version and that would be confirmed by MS validation checker.

 

One of my notebooks (HP dv9260 ) has Vista Ultimate, so I assume I can use the Windows backup and restore feature to create images (one after the full install with the activation, drivers etc. then one more after all the usual production software is installed).

On my other notebook (Everex) though, there is Vista Home premium. My understanding is that Home premium does not have that feature. I tried to use my older V2i protector to see if it would work, but unfortunately it is not compatible with Vista.

Anyway, do you have any ideas? Unfortunately Symantec bought Powerquest and eliminated my trusty DriveImage. I am a little uneasy about installing Ghost (I am in general ...uncomfortable with anything with the Norton name on it...) but I also understand that I may not have a choice in the matter.

I appreciate any input.

etambassis

 

try Acronis True Image. it's ranked up there with Norton Ghost maybe even better. i use acronis and i'm about to do a restore tomorrow to a previous image because i think i caught some spyware over the weekend.

 

Does it save images directly on a file NAS server on LAN?

etambassis

 

i know acronis can backup to server if you map it as a drive. not sure about directly to a server such as \\servername\share since i haven't fully explored it and only been using it for a week. you can check for yourself by downloading a featured trial version for 30 days.

 

Just reading the guide after getting a dv9548, had a few questions. I'm looking to get rid of the crap on here now, but I don't think I care much about the activation (Should I? I'm not really sure what it entails, to be honest.). That being the case, could I just use my computer's key, and activate by phone (assuming that's not terribly difficult)?

In either event, thanks for the guide. It should prove quite useful for getting rid of the AOL offers and the like.

Sorry if this has been discussed. I'm in something of a hurry and can't really read the whole thread.

 

Yes, the main point of the guide is to avoid the activation. I don't like the idea that I will have to explain to MS every time I reinstall my computer. I like to tinker and I do that more often than many people. I figured that if I already have the activation on the system, I'd rather just back it up and restore it later. Using ABR is actually less hassle than dealing with regular activation.

 

This thread should get stickied.

 

Why don't you hit it with pcdecrapifier?
http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/download

It detects and removes:

QuickBooks Trial
NetZero Installers
Earthlink Setup Files
Corel Photo Album 6
Tiscali Internet
Wanadoo Europe Installer
Get High Speed Internet!
Internet Service Offers Launcher
Dell Search Assistant
Norton Ghost 10.0
Norton Symantec Live Update
MS Plus Photo Story 2LE
MS Plus Digital Media Installer
McAffee
Norton Internet Security
Google Desktop
Google Toolbar
AOL US
AOL UK
MusicMatch Jukebox
MusicMatch Music Services
Wild Tangent Games (Dell/HP Game Console)
Norton AntiVirus 2005
Norton Security Center
Norton AntiSpam
PC-cillin Internet Security 12
Corel Snapfire Plus SE
Yahoo! Music Jukebox
Vongo
Office 2003 Trial Assistant
Norton Protection Center
HP Rhapsody
ESPN Motion
Dell URL Assistant
Orange Internet
Digital Content Portal
Yahoo! Toolbar for Internet Explorer
Norton Internet Security
muvee autoProducer 5.0
AOL Install
Run Registry Entries
Desktop Icons
Startup Menu Items
Reset IE Home and Search Pages
Corel WordPerfect
Roxio RecordNow
Sonic DLA
Sonic Update Manager
Sonic RecordNow Audio
Sonic RecordNow Copy
Roxio MyDVD LE
Microsoft Office Standard Edition 2003
Quicken 2006
Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
Microsoft Office Activation Assistant 2007
Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo XI
Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 14
Roxio Express Labeler

how is that ??

 

PCDecrapifier works, but there's no beating the absolute, 100% confident feeling that you have a computer without any pre-installed software on it.

 

I have tx1120us 12.1" notebook and I am not very fond of Vista. I installed Windows MCE 2005 (same as XP Pro) and it was successful up to the point. I researched from many forums for the right XP drivers for this laptop and NVIDIA chipset and video drivers just won't install. Chipset drivers MUST be installed in order for wired Ethernet to work so I can connect to the internet and run Windows Update but no success. After several hours of trying, I finally gave up. Many people had equal difficulty as I had for this particular laptop. Some people claim success but I am skeptical. I am very computer savy so I should be able to have same success as some people but no go.

I followed this clean Vista installation guide and the instruction from the original post was perfectly clear. I had no trouble and the laptop is now 100% free of bloatwares. The only "extra" I install was MS Works from c:\SWSetup.

I can't really tell if this clean install runs faster than factory install. I should have run some tests before clean install to test for before and after speeds. The Experience Index remained the same. This laptop has 1.8 GHz with 2 GB RAM. The Experience Index is 3.0 which I think is pretty good for this little laptop.

Thanks for a nice guide. I bookmarked this thread.

Peter

 

I also have the tx1220us, and one thing I am unsure about is Windows Journal.

Since it has the touch-screen, journal is pretty much a necessity. Is this included in the Vista install, or in the SWSetup? I didn't see anyplace online to download the program, and would hate to lose it.

 

It's part of Vista. Vista already has tablet functionality. All you have to do is recalibrate the touchscreen. I was very impressed on how well and easy Vista installation went.

Peter

 

Journal is included with Vista. If you do a clean install, you'll have it again. I have it here and I don't have a Tablet PC.

 

Great, I think I am going to give it a shot, since I have had the notebook for only 3 days, I will wipe it before I load too much on it.

After creating the back-up, how do I remove the partition? I don't think that was covered in the first post. Or should I just leave it, because it is only 4% of the HD.

 

You can remove the partition as part of the Vista install process. It's step number 14 in the guide

 

I kept the recovery partition. If I need more space in the future, I believe I can remove it and extend the C:\ drive partition without reformating the whole drive. I think Vista has some nice tools to do that.

Peter

 

Maybe add this to this guide: Defrag hard disk after clean installing Vista, drivers and other software. The hard disk seems to be pretty badly fragmented after clean install because it took almost two hours to defrag.

I timed the boot up: From turning on the power switch to displaying Windows Desktop (after all icons are displayed in startup tray), it took about 70 seconds. Is this good? I am not sure the definition of boot up time. From turning on power switch to beginning of displaying Welcome screen, it took about 55-57 seconds.

I also timed the shutdown time: 25 seconds. I think that's good.

I do not have any Internet security or anti-virus program running. These software may increase both boot up and shutdown times.

Peter

 

i'm thinking about doing this on my dv6500t. could somebody list all of the essentials drivers and softwares i might need to download after i completed the clean install?

 

What software did you use to defrag?

As for bootup time goes, I'm not sure that a few seconds will be noticeable in real world usage. The main purpose of a clean install is so that you know what went into the system and what didn't. The factory images have stuff that could interfere with other things you're trying to do, and you'd never know it.

 

Check the HP support page, type in your model number for software and drivers downloads, and look at that list. That's pretty much all of it. You just have to know what video driver you need, as they have both. It might be a good idea to print or write this information out before you do the clean install (take a look in the devices control panel), in case you have questions about specific model numbers later. I hear that Belarc Advisor is a good tool for this.

 

Windows Vista Disk Defragmenter.