Clean Windows 7 Install How-To for the Series 9?

Hello,

Have any of you stumbled across a set of instructions for installing Windows 7 from scratch on the 900X3A? I created the full backup of my SSD and made a couple of attempts at clean installation, but I haven't figured out the proper sequence.

Anyone seen a clean set of procedures?

Thanks

 

boot from usb and install ?

 

FYI,

The Samsung backup and recovery software doesn't backup the hidden 20GB recovery partition. I guess they expect everyone to leave it alone, forever.

Seems like an oversight to me. When I create a factory disk set, I expect the backup to backup everything needed to re-create the factory 1st boot experience.

Samsung's process doesn't.

 

To backup the recovery partition I use the free Paragon Backup & Recovery 2011 Free Hard Drive Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery (Advanced) Free Edition - Full Features & System Requirements. It allows you to boot the system from a Linux CD that it creates

 

hello, i'm triying to clean install windows 7 on my series 9 but i can't, i boot from usb and windows starts coping files, but in one moment installation stops and i receive an error message.
whats happening?
thanks

 

@BorjaZD What's the error message?

 

I'm currently busy installing a clean windows 7 on the thing and had some difficulties getting started.

I used two major ways to start installing windows. First, I used my plain old usb fabricated windows installer (which I've used on a lot of other computers with succes). If I use the right hand usb port The BIOS does see my sandisk, but it will not boot it. So you're probably guessing the stick is wrongly configured right? So did I, so I burned an windows image to a DVD, and used samsungs original DVD drive which I got with the samsung 900x3a. Wrong. Still won't boot.

So I decided to try the left (usb 3.0 port). Windows setup starts loading files, asks me where I live, what currency format I want and which keyboard method I want to use (I really like United states-international). When I click next I i can click on Install now. When I do that setup loads and then immediately says: Setup is missing a required driver. It allows me to search for drivers, but I have no clue where to find it (I'm guessing it's my usb3.0 driver it's missing). So, me being someone who almost neverer posts on forums but does do a lot google-ing start to do that. Nobody seems to know the problem or the resolve. Until I hit one message, saying you should switch usb ports during installation.

So that was my resolve. I boot up over the left usb 3.0 port. As soon as I see the keyboard input method screen I switch the usb drive to the right usb 2.0 port. All issues resolved

 

Just wanted to chime in and thank you for this.

 

Kudos to you tha_lux :-D

 

I'm curious...
What are all of you doing with the partitions? Deleting all of them for one large drive? Keeping the hibernation partition, recovery partition, or both?
Thanks!

 

Thanks for this

I had moments of panic when trying the same on my Series 9 15". Of course the USBs are reversed on the 15" so 2x 3.0 are right and 2.0 is left, fine, no problem there. But just swapping the stick did not resolve.

I found this article: A required CD/DVD device driver is missing, usb installation - Microsoft Answers

From it I deduced that I had to X out of the search-for-drivers dialog, which took me back to the Installation start screen. From there I plugged the stick into 2.0 port and clicked Install to start over, and everything worked normally from that point on. Whew.

 

I created one large C drive and eliminated the recovery partition on my S9 np900x3a-bo2. My Windows Experience for the SSD disk bumped up a little: 7.4 to 7.6. Now the C drive has 194GB free of 238GB.

 

Hey Guys,

I got a used version of this series 9 from cowboom.com. It came with no OS installed but with a Key for windows 7. I have been trying to install it from a bootable USB for 2 days with no luck. It recognizes the USB stick, says it starts loading Windows files, but then gets stuck on the "starting windows" screen. I'm going crazy trying to figure out whats wrong. I created a USB from the recovery CD that came with it, and then used an ISO I downloaded online with still no luck. Anyone have any ideas?

 

I can't even boot from usb, the only device that it's found is the drive...

What can I do? :/

 

Disable Samsung Fast Boot in Easy Settings or the BIOS.

John

 

Which is the actual setting in BIOS for this?

 

It's the Fast BIOS mode option.



John

 

Thanks for the post - I too had the same problem and just spent hours looking for the answer and trying different media and boot orders.
That did it!

:hi2:

 

This works, thank you very much. I've been looking around, different windows deployment kits, reluctantly.
You made my day!:hi2:

 

I would note that this newer thread is also relevant to the Series 9.

John

 

Actually the guides on the first page of that tread do not apply to Series 9. But starting here (page 4) is a clean install guide for for Win7 that should cover both Series 5, 7 and 9 (just updated yesterday) and subsequent discussion with Series 9 users.