Trying to install Win 7 into new SSD as primary! Going crazy! I need your help

Okay, so I bought a HP Envy 17 3200 series, as well as a 16gb of ram (already installed) and Samsung 830 128gb SSD (The caddy also from new models).

Here are my steps in that I tried but failed miserably.

1. I Backed up all my stuff into a external hard drive (seagate 750gb)

2. I created a System repair disk so I can install Win 7

3. I opened it up, disconnected battery, installed the SSD as a primary drive and placed the 750gn HDD into the 2nd bay.

4. Turned it on and was asked to add a boot from CD or DVD drive

5. I inserted the System repair disk and then I did every step that was said here
How To Restore Windows 7 from a System Image - How-To Geek

Then after I finished that it restarted and I had the same screen again. The one that asks you for a boot from CD or DVD drive.

But I was never asked in the begginging for Win 7 like others have mentioned or that I have seen what am I doing wrong please help! I've been trying to do this for about 4 days

 

How did you create the HP restore disc, is it on USB or a DVD? Is it an actual restore disc rather than the typical Windows 7 Repair disc?

 

I clicked on Create a system repair disc and created the disk. An yes its in a Disk. The backup's in the external hard drive.

Hows do I know if its a "actual restore disk"?

 

The HP Restore disc is created using HP's utility in windows. A "System Repair" disc will reinstall important Windows files and provide a command console.

I'm not sure which disc you made, but when you boot to it there should be an HP start screen which lets you choose what you want to do (restore, minimal restore, repair etc.).

 

Okay thank you, now how do I do a HP restore disk with HP utility's?

 

If You havent formatted the other HDD, move it again to the first bay, boot up, and search for the HP system restore, if you did format, you have few options:

Get a windows Home P. disk and do a clean install, or buy from HP the recovery disks.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

As the person above me replied, you can boot from the original drive and search for the recovery disk utility (just search in the Start Menu) and create one there. FYI the image is about 18GB and requires something like 6 DVDs. I prefer to install it on a 32GB USB stick.

If you've already formatted, but left the recovery partition in tact you can restore the original drive by running recovery from there. You may even be able to run recovery and restore onto your SSD, but I'm not sure if it allows you to select the drive or defaults to the one in the primary slot.

Recovery disk should always be created ASAP =\

 

@ruy9--it could be as simple as going into bios and making sure the laptop is set to boot from the SSD and not from the CD/DVD drive. Otherwise you can get locked into that endless "boot from CD/DVD drive" prompt. I had your same situation a while back (not with the Envy but on my desktop after a failed attempt to dual boot Windows 8) and had to restore the system using a system image and system repair disc--thankfully I had the good sense to make them before I tried the dual-boot thing. Just to let you know, it worked like a champ--I pretty much used the instructions from "How to Geek" as you did. It formatted my SSD and reinstalled eveything just like it was before I started messing with the system.

If I hit the "boot from CD/DVD" prompt it would just start repeating the install process or just sit there waiting for me to do something. Some MB will go ahead and boot from the primary drive if you don't hit the prompt, others will not. After going to bios and telling it to boot from the SSD it worked just fine.

As others suggested, you might find the recovery stuff on your original HD if you didn't already format it. With the new SSD it might be a good idea and try for at least a minimal install if you have the recovery discs or access to a Windows 7 CD. If not, I can tell you that the restore using a system image did work exactly as described for me and my desktop. Hope the same is true for the Envy. I had the image saved on an external HD like you did. Set the bios to boot from CD/DVD and inserted the system repair disc and followed the instructions. Can't see why installing it to a new SSD would be much different than reinstalling it to an "old" SSD (with formatting) as I did. Hope you can get some relief from the madness.

 

So, I haven't formatted the 750gb for certain reasons such as I don't trust myself enough to erase everything before its done lol. And by the way I already did the system restore. So how do I setup my ssd in bios?

By the way I already did the system restore its in a seagate external hard drive. After that was done I was asked to make a system recovery disk which I did. When I hook up the external hard drive it still asks me for me to insert a boot drive or whatever it asks. So, I insert the disk and then Im asked what language like it does on how to geek not the windows 7 like this one How to Repair Windows 7 Installation I cant get that to appear. What am I doing wrong?

More info. When it gives me the options startup repair system restore, system image recovery, Windows memory diagnostics, command prompt, and Hp recovery manager, I click on system restore and it gives me error "To use System Restore, you must specify which Windows installation to Restore.

Restart this computer, select an operating system and then select system restore."

 

My restore from system image went so smoothly because I simply made an image of my existing SSD then restored it back to the same SSD. You are coming from a 750 GB HDD to an SSD--not so simple I think. Doesn't sound like you have burned the recovery discs yet for the Envy. If not you should do that before anything gets messed up. As JSHidaka mentioned, put the original HDD that came with the Envy back into the first bay, boot up and enter "recovery" or "restore" into the Windows search box. That should lead you to the HP tool to burn the recovery discs. You can make only one copy of them. It takes about 3-4 DVDs and maybe 30 minutes. They allow the Envy to be restored back to the way it came from HP in case something happens and you aren't able to boot or use the laptop. As pongalong mentioned, they are a much different thing than the "repair disc".

It could be possible to install Windows (either full or minimal) from the recovery discs to the SSD as others have mentioned. In my readings the suggestions are that it is better to do a clean install (minimal or full) of Windows to the SSD so that partitions/alignments work out properly and the SSD functions to its best ability. Using system image for a restore/install is possible but likely not the best way. When you do decide to try and load Windows to the SSD, just put the SSD into the laptop--don't connect any other HDD inside the machine until you are sure Windows has gotten installed and is working properly. Then you can install the other hardware into the machine.

I expect there are several ways to accomplish what you are after but the "clean" install seems to be recommended over trying to use a system image--especially when going from HDD to SSD. Just a suggestion, since I have the Envy 14 (and my desktop) why not post your question in the Envy 17 32xx forum also just in case things have changed with the newer models. Have an idea you are not the only one coming from HDD to SSD. For now I would continue using the original HDD until your questions have been answered and you have a clear path to accomplish your goal. Would be a shame to mess up the new Envy and a new SSD!

 

Try HP Recovery Manager. The boot screen should look similar to the attached image except the options are different.

 

How do I use HP Recovery Manager? Do I have to do that in the HDD? or the way it already is?

 

It's one of the options you listed in your previous post. If you need more assistance you'll have to give us details clearly. I'm getting confused as to what you've actually done.

 

Okay I tried to do the hp recovery manager, but it doesn't let me click on any of the options; such as microsoft system restore, system recovery or the minimal recovery . What am I doing wrong?

 

Sounds to me like you can't click on any of those options because you probably deleted the recovery partition... Post a picture of My Computer...

 

This is what I think the state of your laptop is:

Primary HDD: Samsung SSD (blank drive)
Secondary HDD: Original as shipped by HP
Recovery Disk: Accessed by external optical drive

Your options:
1. Boot from recovery disk. You will be presented with HP Recovery Manager options.


2. If you failed to create a true recovery disk.
2a. If you have not formatted the secondary HDD, boot into Windows and search "recovery" in the Start Menu to create a recovery disk.
2b. If you have formatted, or already created a disk but it does not work, contact HP and have them send you a disk.


3. Boot from Secondary HDD.
3a. If you have not formatted the primary partition you will be able to boot into Windows
3b. If you have not formatted the recovery partition you MAY be able to boot into HP recovery manager.
3b1. If you manage to boot into recovery here, then you MAY be able to do a restore to your SSD although I'm not sure if you are able to select the destination of recovery.