Vista Fresh Install IS possible W/out purchasing CD!!!!!!

Well, I was trying to figure out a way to get a fresh install of Vista rather than the crappy reformat disc that they send w/ all their bull crap extra software; And I wanted to do it without purchasing another copy, or downloading a copy from a torrent.

So, I used the Windows Anytime Upgrade CD to install a fresh, clean version of Vista on my HP DV2000t. It worked flawlessly. I deleted HPs recovery partition, and formatted and then installed Vista Bran-Spanking New!!!

Anyone else tried this yet?

 

Yep. That's how I did it! Saved so much time.

 

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but does this mean you had to pay for the key to upgrade to a higher version of Windows than you already had? Or will they send you a disk for the version you already have?

 

The Disk should have come with all of the various other materials shipped with your laptop. Its in a thin DVD sized case titled Windows Anytime Upgrade.

And no, you have to pay for NOTHING. Just pop in the disk, restart, and follow the prompts. Don't forget to format the target drive. Then when it's all up and running, activate it using the product key on the bottom of your lappy.


chiaro scuruo (SP?) huh? We have an artist on our hands, and I only know because I am taking an Art Appreciation class.

 

So this "Windows Anytime Upgrade" dvd allows you to install a CLEAN, FRESH, Vista partition? Or it allows you to upgrade from XP?

Also, have you tried to activate it yet?

 

Ahh...I don't actually have my computer yet, but I'll keep an eye out for the disc when the system arrives...

 

Yes, CLEAN, FRESH, HP bloatware free, Vista Partition. However, as a side note, it also allows you to upgrade from XP, or from a lower version of Vista to a higher...

Yes, I have activated it and it works fine. I did all of this within the last two hours...

Steps are as Follows-

1. Insert the Anytime Upgrade Disc and restart the comp.
2. From the next screen choose Install Windows.
3. Don't enter your product key yet, choose to continue install.
4. Delete HP recovery partition, combine with main partition, and reformat the new partition. Continue with the install.
5. Choose to custom install windows (Don't Choose the Upgrade Option!!!!
6. It will proceed to install a fresh copy.
7. Once it's up and running, it should have already recognized almost all of your current hardware. I needed only to install my Audio, and Video drivers from HP's website.
8. Activate your copy of windows: Right click computer in the start menu > Choose properties > Choose activate windows from bottom of window > Insert product key from the bottom of your laptop.


Notes- The order of 4 and 5 may be reversed, I can't exactly remember.

For some reason I had to activate my copy over the phone, but you should be able to activate it over the internet.

 

It's kind of like the Vista upgrade workaround that allows people who upgraded from XP to install a fresh copy of Vista on their machine.

 

This is a great abridged version of Paul Thurrott's in-depth guide to using the anytime upgrade CD to do a clean vista install. If you want the complete guidelines, following this link -> http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_upgrade_clean.asp

I wish I took an art class this quarter... I'm taking humanities, math, chem, and econ. Yep... fun stuff. I do draw, but I'm no way near good. Chiaroscuro is a form developed by the virtuoso, Leonardo da Vinci. It's a technique that uses dark and light shadings, instead of focusing on colors. I like drawing with pencils since it's affordable and people can interact with the art piece by "coloring it" themselves with their imagination to fit their style/mood.

 

Guys search the forum, this topic is covered.

 

Well, to be honest, I had searched for something like this and I came up with nothing. Everyone's only response to a reinstall of windows for us was to use HP's recovery disk, or buy a new copy.

 

bigsurf75 has a point. Before responding to this post, I've heard of others saying that a fresh install was possible with the upgrade anytime dvd. BUT it was hidden inside a thread which was not concerned about fresh install. This thread however, might be useful for those who DO want a fresh install and want to know how it's done. Just my 2 cents...

 

This sounds interesting. I have a few questions. It was mentioned that this upgrade disc lets you upgrade to any version of Vista. Why not install Vista Ultimate?

During the installation of fresh Vista, you have to destroy the recovery partition, right? What happens if something goes wrong later and you want to do a recovery?

If I want a clean Vista, couldn't I just uninstall all the stuff I don't want?

After installing this fresh Vista, does your laptop run faster and do you gain a lot of space?

Is it possible to remove Internet explorer, Window Media Player, and window Media Center during the installation of fresh Vista?

Thank you.

 

davidt1:

1). When you use the DVD, you either enter the product key from your pre-installed Vista edition or choose to not enter a product key. Only when you don't enter one will you be allowed to choose which edition to install. In that case, it's only a trial installation for 30 days (extendable to 120 days). So you'll need to buy an Ultimate Key in the end if you didn't have one to start with.

2). You don't "need" to delete the recovery partition during a clean install. You can leave it on the HDD. But if you made those recovery disks that HP told you to, it's basically the same thing so you don't really need the recovery partition.

3). You could uninstall most of the bloatware, but not all of it. Plus, uninstalled programs leave behind files, folders, and registry keys that won't be used any longer and will slow the system. To get rid of those, you'd need heavy-duty cleaning software. It's easier to just start with a clean slate.

4). Yes, for me the jump in performance was very noticeable. My machine went from 20 seconds to pull up My Computer to less than 2 seconds. Before, I was using 1.5GB RAM idling, now I usually max out at 1GB with 5 tabs of firefox, itunes playing, 3 explorer windows open, windows sidebar, and Adobe acrobat. So it's a big difference. But it's probably not the same in every instance. As for space, the answer is no. You won't gain "a lot" of space since the bloatware isn't big to begin with (compared to my 160GB HDD), but it's really the performance at issue here. Also, you get to partition your HDD however you want when doing a clean install.

5). No, it's not possible to remove IE, WMP, and WMC during installation. If you don't want WMC, then don't install Home Premium or Ultimate and go with Business (or Home Basic if that's what you really desire). In Windows XP, there was an option in the control panel to uninstall unneeded windows components. There should be one in Vista also, I just haven't found it in the new menu system yet.

Hope this helps.

PS: backup your SWsetup folder in C to DVD or external HDD before doing a clean install. That folder contains all the drivers that came with your computer, it'll save you a lot of headache after the clean install.

 

I'm sorry, I'm REALLY confused. I want this Vista Anytime Upgrade CD, but none came with my machine. I bought it with Vista already installed, but shouldn't I still get the Anytime Upgrade DVD anyway, in case I want to move up to Ultimate? Do I have to get it off the HP recovery partition somehow?

I bought my laptop before March 15, so I should be eligible to order the CD, but it just won't let me on the site. When I enter my product key, it doesn't match, because it's looking for an XP key...

Do you think the downloads from Bittorrent are just as good for the anytime upgrade? I mean, I guess there is nothing illegal about distribution torrent versions of Vista, as long as they don't pirate keys in the distro... Or maybe there is a way to download it from MS?

Please help... I want the DVD so I can do a clean install too

 

Davidt1- SBR answere all of your questions very accurately with one exception, there is no need to backup the SWsetup file. Vista will already recognize all of your hardware with the exception of your Audio and Video. However, it's best to download and install the most recent versions of these anyway. Whether it be from latopvideo2go.com or hp.com- whichever you are more comfortable with.

Mark, I'm not sure why you didn't get the disc with your laptop. I considered going the torrent method, however the anytime upgrade cd was readily available (for me). And, far easier than finding a torrent with a copy that actually WORKED, and then going through the process of making a bootable CD. I would reccomend finding a Vista DVD that you could borrow. If not, contact HP about the anytime upgrade DVD, it should be free as it is actually a marketing ploy used by microsoft to get you to spend more money. I fooled em, hah.

 

Thank you, everyone. I did it. Wow!!! It is faster now. So what will happen if I don't validate/register my copy of Vista? Will it stop working after 30 days? How many times can you do a fresh install? I am just curious.

Another nice bonus of this fresh install is that one of my games that weren't working before is now working. Thank you, people.

 

Well, what happened, was at Best Buy, when I bought the laptop, it was open box, but the salesperson said that HP, and some other manufacturers, don't give you a DVD for your OS any more because it's built into the recoveyr partition now, and you're supposed to just make the backup DVDs from there, if you ever need to reinstall.

Do you think there is any truth to this?

I could call HP and say, I never got one, but also, I could also say...my recovery partition is broken/gone and I don't have backups, could you please send me the original Vista DVD... Do you think they would oblige, and if so, I wonder if I would have to pay for it?

I really wouldn't mind the original copy, because the OS ate so much of my HD on the HP install, and plus that damn recovery partition. I wouldn't mind doing a full reinstall before I do too much to my system, and then it just becomes a pain.

On another note, the HP rep said that since I had a Turion laptop, I was entitled to the 64-bit version if I wanted it. He said I could either get it free, or just pay for the CD. Any truth to that?

 

I bought my laptop straight from HP.com and it did not come with the originial vista DVD. If you order the recovery discs, it's a copy of the recovery partition in your computer. I don't think HP provides the original OS dvd/cds anymore, however, they do include an upgrade anytime DVD, which is what most of us used to install a fresh copy of vista

 

I don't think Microsoft lets you activate Vista online any more. I had to speak to a person in order to activate it. I forgot to copy the validation numbers the activation guy gave me. I was not thinking. Will they let me activate it again, and how many times, should I need to do another fresh install in the future?

 

Yes, the will let you activate it again. So long as you only have that copy of Vista installed on ONE machine at once. You can do a fresh install as many times are your heart desires, but you can only have one copy of windows running on ONE machine at any given time without having to purchase another key, or getting into hacking the piss out of it.


Mark, I would see what HP and/or bestbuy could do for you. Call them both, if one doesn't work move to the next. First ask for an original DVD, and if that doesn't work, tell you you where thinking of upgrading to 64 bit vista ultimate and you want the Upgrade Anytime dvd. See what happens. Whats the worst that can happen, they say no?

 

Thanks for posting the instruction. This is what I'm looking for and it should have its own thread. I always want to install a fresh OS and then save the image so I can restore it next time.

 

Huh, I Never thought of doing that. Fresh OS image... What a great idea.

Next time I reinstal Vista, I'll have to remember to do a fresh OS Image.

 

Hey guys, i've had my laptop for a few days. I've already transferred my music and pictures over to it. And i've also setup my wireless network. But i haven't done a whole lot past that.

Exactly what do i need to do(as far as backups and EVERYTHING prior to) before doing this fresh install?

Will the recovery disks i made as soon as i got the computer be able to save my ass if i screw something up?

What exactly is the "bloatware" that gets removed whenever i do this? I know it speeds up the computer, but what does it get rid of?

Will i still have all of the hp connection wizards and welcome systems and so forth?

Sorry for all the questions, just trying to learn EXACTLY what i'm doing before i do it. This kind of stuff kinda freaks me out sometime, especially with this laptop being such a big investment for me.

 

Yea, your gonna lose al the HP connection wizards and welcome systems and all the HP bull crap software. You probably don't know it, but all of the extra software that HP includes to help you out, doesn't exactly help. With the exception of the quicklaunch buttons, Vista has software features that do the same things all the HP software does. The benefit? Windows does it better, and with fewer processes, meaning better performance and less memorey being consumed for you.


You will need to back up your music and pics, but just put those back onto whatever you took them off of (external HDD, Burn DVDs, etc.). Your wireless network will be a piece of cake to setup once your reinstall anyway, Vista practically does it for you.

If you bought the restore DVD from HP, don't worry about the restore partition or making those discs. If you didn't, well then make those discs.

You really can't do anything to screw up your computer (investment...) by doing this. It's all done using a windows GUI, meaning no command prompt and no ability to make your screen go permanently blank. Just put in the disc, reboot and follow the previously posted instructions. Vioola!


The Bloatware removed is every piece of software marked "HP", as well as the other icons that were on your desktop, and the various trial editions of the software that came on your PC as well.


And I promise you, don't be afraid to delete the HP connection wizard etc etc, they are useless and no good. If you have enough computer experience to find this forum, and post this question, then you have enough to not need HP's software.

 

Also back up your SWsetup folder if you want to use the softwares included with you computer. Thank you, SBR, for mentioning this. This folder has all the drivers needed to run your computer and useful softwares such Roxio Creator, Ms works, etc.

 

After my fresh Vista installation, I generated a system health report in:

control panel > system and maintenance > performance information and tools > advanced tools > generate a system health report

It reported 4 "device drivers not installed" errors. I checked my back-up SWsetup folder and found a folder called "Misc2" which has what looks like card reader drivers. I installed those, ran health system report again. Now I have only one "device drivers not installed" error. The report does not tell you what the device is. The SWsetup folder does not tell you clearly what the folders are for either. I have no idea what driver is missing. Have you generated this system health report? If you did, did you have any "device drivers not installed" errors, and how did you fix it?

So far I have learned that you need to install the following after a fresh Vista install:

1. Audio driver
2. graphic card driver
3. MMC/SD/XD card reader drivers
4. another device

Help me find the last one please. I know it's in the SWsetup folder, but I don't what to look for. Thank you.

 

Ok just a few more questions regarding this stuff....

Can i reinstall the quicklaunch buttons etc.. whenever i do this?

I already made the disks that it told me to as soon as i booted the computer(recovery disks).

What about the HP "Welcome center" and all that stuff? Is that not needed in some way or another? Can i reinstall them later if i find out i liked it?

What about my free trials for microsoft office etc?

So if i back up that folder, i can reinstall all of the Roxio Creators and muVee producers and all that stuff? Are there any guides to doing that or are the installation wizards for all of them right there in that folder?


I really appreciate the help guys. I've been tinkering around with computers for a little while and i'm trying to advance my knowledge of it all. I'm only 17 if that gives me any break, lol.

 

davidt1, it may be the quickplay buttons. In any case, you can find more info about the device by going into the device manager (control panel->system and maintenance->device manager->view hardware and device) and clicking on the details tab of the device. The Hardware ID will give you a clue...

 

go here- http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html?pageDisplay=drivers

Type in your model number, enter your operating system, and download the automatic HP driver finder thing. (forgot the name)

It will inspect the system and install all the neccesarry drivers.

 

I don't think this hp update thing is reliable. I started using it when I first got the laptop. It always told me my computer is up-to-date. There is no need to update.

But I looked at their drivers list and found newer versions of what is on my laptop. I ran hp update just now and it said the same thing, "No update is needed." I appreciate your help.

 

No the HP Update thing is not reliable at all. Your best bet is through the Hardware IDs.

If it's the Quickplay Buttons then the hardware ID is: ACPI/HPQ0006

If you have that showing up as unknown device, that means you need to download the QL driver.

 

Thank you so much. You folks are amazing. That's what was missing, the quickplay buttons. No more unknown device. SBR, thank you for pointing me to the right driver. The quickplay buttons hardware ID, for all I knew, could have been Bill Gate's secret Vista activation code.

 

I was referring to the wrong program. A program I downloaded off that site, I thought actually scanned your computer for missing hardware drivers, and automaticaly downloaded and installed them for you.

It looked like that's what it was doing to. I had the same problem as you davidt1, four unkown devices. After installing that prog., turned out all four were recognized. However, I just realized as well that it was only the quickplay buttons driver.

So, I stand corrected. However, I would like to make clear that I was not referring to the HP update program included with the factory software. I know that thing sucks, as do all factory included hardware updates and I would never use one.

So, aren't ch'ya still glad I found out a way to install a fresh OS???? Do I at least get some rep for that lol?

 

I did it, too. With an Ultimate key, you can install Ultimate Edition instead of Home Premium.

 

but you still have to buy the ultimate key....

 

Still working on that activation thing.
timer reset, timer reset. When will it end ??

 

If you have a valid key, you can just call microsoft and activate over the phone. It's very easy and takes just a little longer than over the internet. And it's guaranteed to work for all OEM keys.

 

Where do i find my product key that comes with the computer if i wanna do the reinstall of home premium?

 

You just need to use a keyfinder utility or the Belarc Advisor.
Try this one. You just have to unzip it and run. Works on Vista, no problem.

Keyfinder v2.0 Beta 2½

 

Sheez... I don't know about the Vista update stuff. Is it really worth doing a fresh non-branded HP install?

I had previous not had a Windows Anytime Update CD because I got my laptop openbox, but Best Buy has said they will give one to me if I bring in my receipt. Is it really worth the speed increase? I mean, I have tried so many different drivers and stuff since the original Vista install, now at least I know which versions use, and I could go straight for them instead of having tried all these multiple copies. But will it really make a difference? I dunno, it just seems like a lot of hassle and work to do this when I'm not even sure how much increase in speed I'll get.

It's not a problem, documents-wise, I mean -- most of my stuff is on a NAS anyway, so copying files over and stuff would be pretty simple. I DUNNO WHAT TO DO!!! I've deleted all the bloatware already. This would be like, a 1-2 day project. Is it worth it!?

 

I have an OEM key for Ultimate which installs Ultimate just fine on my notebook, but I don't think Microsoft is going to activate it over the phone if I call. They are going to ask me for the number on the bottom of the notebook which is not for Ultimate, but for Home Premium.

Screw Home Premium ...

 

Neat little software. Thank you.

 

Hmm... whats this keyfinder software do exactly? Will it allow me to activate an Ultimate install on a Home Premium machine?

 

No, it will just tell you the Key Hp used when they originally install your XP or Vista. It even has a print feature, so you can have a copy of the key if want to install from scratch. Hp does not tell you the key they used with your preinstall, but you can find it for yourself.

They key will be different than the one on the bottom of the notebook.
You will have two keys which will activate. Save the one on the notebook for a rainy day or sell it, ha.. ha..

 

This sounds great. I will be ordering a dv6000t tonight and this is perfect for getting rid of all that Bloat.

Just a quick question. For those of you who ordered a customized model from HP, do you get the upgrade CD no matter what? Or do i have to make sure to by the recovery DVD's as well, or not buy them for that matter. Thanks for the help.

 

I got the recovery DVDs and it came with the Anytime Upgrade CD.

Hmm, So there are two keys that work for Vista aye?

 

Just do it, lol.

It's enough of an increase to make so many other ppl do it. I can assure you, you'll like it.

 

Ok, did anyone NOT get the recovery DVD's and still get the Upgrade CD. I'd rather do this as long as I get the Upgrade CD cuz I can make the backups myself.

 

Hello guys. very unnecessary (.iso) - vista Hp recovery disk for dv9000 or windows vista anytime upgrade!!! please!!!!!!!!!!! fanks