The HP Laptop Out-Of-The-Box Guide 2.0 for Windows 7

whats your thoughts on this could you backup and restore to a new ssd drive this away

http://searchdatabackup.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid187_gci1371497,00.html#

 

The Product Key on the bottom of my laptop isn't working what should I do?

 

I have an Envy15 Beat coming soon and was looking over this guide. My plan is to up the OS to Win 7 ultimate x64, which I already own, first thing. Any advice on the best way to do things in case I have any problems with the toy and need to reset it? Should I first make a recovery set, then clean out all the apps I won't need and then run the Anytime upgrade?

Also sorry for sounding like a noob but I keep running into refrences to IOS, one of which is what lead me to this thread actually, could someone plese enlighten me as to what IOS is?

Sincere thanks from a Noob

 

^ save the swsetup folder from your hard drive before you reinstall windows.

secondly, also do this before reinstalling windows - go to the HP site and download all drivers for your unit. after you install win 7, go one by one installing the drivers you downloaded until all the devices in device manager show up as recognized. you will probably not need EVERYTHING you download but it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

Anyone know if I would be able to use HP Power Assistant from the Elitebooks and Probooks with the HP Envy 15? Looks like a good peice of software in addition to BatteryCare

 

Humm, silly me I'm not familiar with either app. I have an Envy 15 on its way so what does BatteryCare do?

 

So I used the program that was linked to save my cert & key and after reinstalling windows I clicked restore after running the program. Do I need to restart for it to take affect or am I not doing something correctly?

 

It's asking me for a product key after I hit restore. I thought the point of the oem key & cert was to avoid having to enter a product key? Does anyone know where I can get the product key on the Envy 15?

EDIT: I found the product key under the battery. It wouldn't let me activate it online with that key though, I had to call Microsoft.

 

Okay a couple things.

I'm thinking of going ahead and doing a nice new install of Win7 x64 Ultimate on my Envy 15 Gen 2 and wanted to run thru a checklist.

Steps I should perform.
1. Make a backup of the SW folder. Any other folders I need to backup? (Also has anyone wrote out a list of all the install files so I know which ones I want to run after fresh install?)

2. Create a set of restore disks, just incase.

3. Put my full edition of Win7 Ultimate on Flash drive as well as the drivers folder from the SW directory. (How do I manage to get the system to boot from the flash.)

4. Put the flash drive in the esata/usb port. Reboot and run the install. (Will it ask me then for drivers? I assume at that point if it does I'd point them to the backed up driver folder.)

Also do I want to save the restore and hptool partitions ? If I delete those partitions but I want to keep or reinstall the tools after a clean install which files do I need to run?

5. Then run installs from the SW folder for the things I want or need. Things I like/want would be USB 3., the onscreen stuff, maybe the Hulu deal and a few of the media apps. Which is why I asked about a list of all the installs stored in the SWfolder.

Does that pretty well sum it up?

 

I incorrectly read the instructions and assumed that I could install any version with my home premium key. So I installed Ultimate edition. 5 days later an activation reminder came up.

Now I'm stuck without being able to restore my activation and can't activate with the key I have.

Is there any other option besides reinstalling the OS that I can do ? Is there a way to 'downgrade' ultimate to home premium without loosing everything? Thanks for any suggestions.

 

I'm not sure if it will work but maybe you can launch anytime upgrade and use it to downgrad. Will post a link if I find an answer

 

Windows anytime upgrade is not available on Ultimate. Any suggestions?

Edit: Got it figured out, check out either of these two links:

http://www.unawave.de/installation/downgrade-en.html?lang=EN

http://tech.icrontic.com/articles/upgrade-the-windows-7-rc-to-retail

so far seems to work, only issue it said a keyboard filter may require a driver re-install , but other than that golden, thanks.

 

I asked over at another Win7 forum with a lot of helpful ppl. If and as soon as I get an answer I'll post back.

 

Just finished a clean install of Home Premium on my new DV6-2170us, and everything went perfectly! Followed this and the "LEGAL windows 7..." guide and just wanted to thank you guys for these great resources. This is my first laptop, so I will be visiting this site very frequently now that I know how full of useful information it is!

Thanks again for the great guide!!

 

Okay I have 3 questions concerning my replacement Envy 15. I am considering just doing a format & fresh install of Win7 X64 Ultimate from a 16 gig USB drive. I know that before I do it I want to backup the sw folder so I have all the drivers etc. I plan to copy the entire folder and sub-folder's onto the flash drive as well.

My 2 questions are:

1. How do I get the laptop to boot from the USB drive. With my Asus MB I can just hit f8 during boot and it gives me a boot drive option window.

2. Has anyone made a list of all the actual installs in the SW folders? I do want some of the features but others I can live without and it would be a big help to know what each exe is for during the reinstall.

3. If I leave the rescue partition can I restore the system to factory default by running the restore app out of my Win7 install or do I need to make disks?

Sincere Thanks

 

Thanks in advance for all the great advice in this thread Velocity!

Can anyone help:
I ordered the $19.00 "recovery disks" with my new DM3. Can I reinstall the OS from those and opt out of all of the bloatware and pick only the stuff I want?

I have a legal copy of Win7 home I bought to do a fresh install on my desktop. Can I use it on my DM3 or since it has already been activated will it be no good?

Thanks
Riz.

 

I can't answer the custom install via recovery question as I'm not familiar with the option those disks will give you. I know when I used the recovery partition on my first Envy I don't recall that it gave me any choice but to restore to factory default. Maybe someone else can answer better.

As to your second question, you can only install a bought copy of windows & key on one system at a time. If you used it then you need another key or uninstall it on the one system before you try to use it on the DM3 and to activate you may have to do the phone activation method since its on a different system.

 

Thanks. Rep'd

It was suggested in another thread to use the key HP provides with the machine for the fresh install with my Win7 disk. Would you happen to know where that key is and your opinion if it would work?

riz

 

It should conceivably work, as long as you install the same version of Win7 but no promises. In other words you can't use a Win7 Home key to enable Win7 Ultimate. The actual key is, IIRC, located under the main battery.

 

Erk.
Neva mind.
I own the 32 bit version...

Thanks anyways.

 

You can download a Win7 x64 version to burn to disk or thumb to install legally and use your key with it, at least with one of my other systems I was able to. I don't have the link handy but someone else I'm sure does or I'll try to find it for you

 

That would be great if that worked. I'd be willing to try when it gets here.

Do you think the 3 links in velocity's first post in this thread is the same thing? I think it's the win64.

Thanks for your help!

 

Those links should be fine. Grab the Win7 x64 version. The post you mention talks about making the the install disc AIO, All-in-one, which is fine. Just make sure when you do the actual install that you pick the one that your key is for. Seem to recall someone else misunderstood and tried to use their Home Premium key but selected Win 7 Ultimate since it showed as an option which wouldn't activate with their key.

Once you dl and follow the instructions if you want to do a faster install put the files on a USB Thumb drive. I find its much faster that way and if you use an 8 gig thumb you can also copy the SwSetup folder from off your laptop before you do the wipe so you have all the drivers and apps handy. Here is the MS TechNet article I have used with great success since early win7 beta days. It even has a vid you can watch in case it helps:

Use a USB Key to Install Windows 7—Even on a Netbook or
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd535816.aspx

If you go the USB route make sure you use the combo USB/eSATA port, the one closest to the headphone jack, as its the only one by default thats USB 2.0 on an i7 Envy. The other 2 ports will complain about wanting a USB 3.0 driver.

Hope it helps, Cheers

 

Thanks ^^^ !
It's a DM3/SU9300.
If I ever have kids - I have to name one after you!!

Big help.

 

(Serious Facepalm ) Dumb me, have Envys on the mind. Not sure with your computer if under the battery is where your key is or not. Definitly check before you do anything.

 

This thread is so helpful, Thanks.

 

Just wanted to say that I updated my Computer Optimization Guide today so please check that out

Link in my sig

 

I just updated my new HP DM3/9300 with fresh Win7 install following the instruction in this post. No HP Bloatware on my system!!!

For the record, I used the instructions here to install Win7 to a thumb drive, Downloaded Win7, created an ISO and did the install all with the help of this site. I had never done this before, I always used a disk.

If I can do it, you can too!!!!!!!!!!

Velocity - you are the MAN! Thanks so much for this. My new system runs great!
Bratboy - thanks for your help as well!!!!

 

Hey guys, I need quick help. I backed up my activation of Win7 and later clean installed a new Win7 (same version, same 32bit before and after) and tried to restore the activation using win7activator from the w7a file that I got from backup, but in system properties, it still shows 30 days left to activate. Am I missing something? How do I activate my windows using the backed up activation?

 

You can use 7zip to extract the backup file created by w7a, and then you should have the files to follow this tutorial:
http://dobeweb.com/2009/how-to-install-windows-7-certificate-and-key.html

 

Your welcome

 

Dumb question. I wasn't thinking and using a spare key I had with the Anytime upgrade option & upgraded my OS to Ultimate,before thinking about making my recovery disks. Can I still run the start menu link to create a set or will I need to contact HP now? I did make a backup of my SW folder so at least I have that tucked away.

 

Nice guide.. It's very nice how you can just download a Windows 7 iso and burn it to a USB! Download + install to USB took less than 1h30.. impressive.

 

Update: Added two finger scrolling info to drivers section of OP

 

I have a DM3-1020EA (comes with usb cd drive)

I have;
Created Recovery Discs & made backup ISO's
Backup'd swsetup.
Downloaded ISO x64 & removed EI.

1. In the BIOS boot options include USB CD Drives. THis is new to me and there no hidden things to expect?

HP laptops come with the F11 key on start to go into recovery partition and recover your laptop/pc.

2. Is the F11 BIOS or MBR? If MBR, how do backup and re-enstate the F11 function after a clean install?

3. I came across another backup software for the keys on another forum called ABR here . Anyone used this? as I'll backup the keys with both just in case.

 

Related, plz help .... http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=472271

 

1. No
2. The recovery partition will still work (the F11 is part of bios), unless you delete that partition (but there is really no need to keep it once you have created recovery dvds)
3. ABR does not work for windows 7

 

I used ABR and it's working, they have a win7 beta out.
The other forums was from a similar guide on here for i processor laptops.

If you have to use the recovery disc, will the recovery partition be remade?

 

I just bought an HP notebook and got it with the recovery disks shipped to me with the notebook. I'm assuming that with these disks I won't need to make my own recovery disks.

Oh, I am definitely going to "Anytime Upgrade" it to Windows 7 Ultimate. I have a key for Ultimate and that's one of the ten first things I'm going to do to the notebook along with disabling that stupid HP advisor app that sits at the top of the screen.

 

can't go wrong with backups

burn them anyway.

 

cool, i didnt see the update

 

so if I have the win 7 disc from step 1.1 and I follow step 2 then all of the bloatware that came on my computer is completely gone after the new install?
if this is the case then can i install just certain chosen programs from my recovery disk if I decide I want to use them and can't get them elsewhere?

also do i need to delete any of the files from my computer made when creating the disks in step 1.1 (after making disks or usb of course) or will these disappear with the clean install too?

sorry if these questions are dumb, I am a newbie....but everything I've done so far has gone perfectly fine

 

1. Yes, the bloatware will be completely gone, along with anything else on the drive.

2. Yes, you can reinstall select programs

3. Everything will be erased during installation (make sure at the partition select window you erase the partition and make a new one, otherwise everything old gets thrown into the Windows.old folder in your new install)

 

thanks, this place is awesome and really helpful.

I hope everything else goes off without a hitch. Will update when done

 

Alright so I chose custom (advanced) for install, then the next window asks me where I want to install windows
total free
Partition 1: SYSTEM ( G: ) 199MB 165MB System
Partition 2: ( C: ) 451.8GB 416.3GB Primary
Partition 3: Recovery ( D: ) 13.7GB 2.3GB Primary
Partition 4: HP_TOOLS ( E: ) 103MB 92MB Primary

options to refresh, load driver
says to make changes to partition restart windows from install disk

where do I go from here?? I wanna make sure I select/erase/make the right partition

haha starting to think that if I have these types of questions then maybe i should be doing this by myself...but it seems simple enough

 

if you made recovery discs, erase all of the partitions, otherwise, erase only partitions 1 and 2 (the installer will recreate the first partition anyway)

 

thanks for the reply but i'm not sure it fully answers my question...
I have made recovery disks/backed up everything i need to
I guess im just confused because i dont know when/how to delete the partitions

maybe this noob should just quit now

*edit* sorry i think i found what i need to know, thanks again for the other info *edit*

 

Yeah clean install done perfectly thanks to this and other places across the web.

Now I just need to get my wireless connection back, install updates/drivers and I should be good to go.

 

Just a quick questions regarding the backup disk. Does the HP backup utility (which is what I assume you use) have an option to create and iso for later burning? Or is it sort of a burn-straight-to-disk deal?

 

you have to burn directly to dvd, but then immediately rip the dvds as isos with a program like imgburn and keep the isos on an external Hdd