Windows install DVD - how to create?

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#1636954 20-Sep-2016 23:25

Cheers, that's given me something to think about. Will wait until my next day off and will come back to this thread if I have any further queries. Thanks for all the suggestions.

quickymart

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#1652762 18-Oct-2016 11:18

Okay update...I successfully created a Vista install DVD using the steps outlined in this thread with Nero. Am currently in the process of reinstalling Vista. Will keep you updated. Fingers crossed - but it looks okay so far.

quickymart

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#1652770 18-Oct-2016 11:36

Nope, didn't like the ISO - it couldn't find some of the files?

Okay, it comes down to this. I have the original hard drive from my laptop, which has a partition named "Recovery". It has (what I believe) is the reinstall partition for Vista with the HP Factory settings.

I've connected my old hard drive using a cradle via USB but can't figure out how to make it find the partition (or point it to it to start the install). Is there any way I can set it to do this? If what I read above is right, I can't just make a install DVD using this image, right (although I'm happy to try).

gbwelly

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#1652789 18-Oct-2016 12:12

quickymart:

Nope, didn't like the ISO - it couldn't find some of the files?

Okay, it comes down to this. I have the original hard drive from my laptop, which has a partition named "Recovery". It has (what I believe) is the reinstall partition for Vista with the HP Factory settings.

I've connected my old hard drive using a cradle via USB but can't figure out how to make it find the partition (or point it to it to start the install). Is there any way I can set it to do this? If what I read above is right, I can't just make a install DVD using this image, right (although I'm happy to try).

Put the old drive back in the laptop. Put the SSD into the cradle. Use Maccrium reflect (Free) to clone the install to the SSD. Put the SSD into the laptop.

You might then want to run the HP recovery to refresh the install once it's happily booting off the SSD. Installing the SSD software utility would allow you to manually issue TRIM commands to the SSD once in a while for cleanup, as I don't think Vista supported TRIM.

gzt

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#1652808 18-Oct-2016 12:50

Agree, I'm guessing the HP recovery might be set up to perform restore operations on the same drive it boots from. Booting it from USB may be pointless or worse.

Tapping 'esc' at boot should give you a boot menu if you are keen to try it in spite of the potential.

Then older machines did not always support external HDD USB boot anyway...

quickymart

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#1653207 18-Oct-2016 23:19

gbwelly:

quickymart:

Nope, didn't like the ISO - it couldn't find some of the files?

Okay, it comes down to this. I have the original hard drive from my laptop, which has a partition named "Recovery". It has (what I believe) is the reinstall partition for Vista with the HP Factory settings.

I've connected my old hard drive using a cradle via USB but can't figure out how to make it find the partition (or point it to it to start the install). Is there any way I can set it to do this? If what I read above is right, I can't just make a install DVD using this image, right (although I'm happy to try).

Put the old drive back in the laptop. Put the SSD into the cradle. Use Maccrium reflect (Free) to clone the install to the SSD. Put the SSD into the laptop.

You might then want to run the HP recovery to refresh the install once it's happily booting off the SSD. Installing the SSD software utility would allow you to manually issue TRIM commands to the SSD once in a while for cleanup, as I don't think Vista supported TRIM.

Cheers, I've downloaded and installed Macrium Reflect and will swap out the hard drives when I get some free time. Cripes this is frustrating...

No doubt I'll be back later with help using Macrium - not sure what options I should be clicking on to clone the install.

gbwelly

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#1653248 19-Oct-2016 07:33

Last time I did this I was going from a larger HDD to a smaller SSD. I came back with this in another thread:

gbwelly:

Remove all partitions on the destination SSD.
Use the clone drive option and select the SSD as the destination drive.
It will produce an error because the destination drive is smaller.
My Win 10 install had 3 partitions: System Reserved, C:, and Recovery.
Select the destination partition representing the C: drive and configure the options for it, lowering the size to leave enough room for the recovery partition.
Clicking the clone drive option again now will throw the same error as before. The trick is to now use drag and drop on the last (recovery) partition to the area of free space you have created.
Off you go with the cloning.

A direct clone is fast, resizing makes the process quite slow (hours) so patience is important.

Samsung

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richms

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#1653487 19-Oct-2016 12:51

Shrink it on the source HDD and then clone that can be faster than doing it as you do it. In anycase it should only be a few hours assuming a USB 3 dock for the drive that it is cloned to.

Richard rich.ms

quickymart

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#1654578 19-Oct-2016 17:21

No, USB2.
My cradle supports three drives - could I plug them both into the cradle and clone that way?

richms

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#1654580 19-Oct-2016 17:28

I had an old 2.0 dock with a clone button on it. All it managed to do was make unreadable corrupt drives from ones that were working fine. Yours may be better. mine only had 2 slots on them.

Richard rich.ms

gbwelly

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#1654872 20-Oct-2016 07:43

quickymart: No, USB2.
My cradle supports three drives - could I plug them both into the cradle and clone that way?

Probably, but you'd require a flux capacitor and maintain a speed of 88 MPH.

cynnicallemon

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#1654876 20-Oct-2016 08:04

gbwelly:

quickymart: No, USB2.
My cradle supports three drives - could I plug them both into the cradle and clone that way?

Probably, but you'd require a flux capacitor and maintain a speed of 88 MPH.

Is that you Doc?

quickymart

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#1654940 20-Oct-2016 10:07

Lol...no seriously...I'll put it back in the old laptop and see what happens.
Is there a step-by-step process I can follow using Macrium online?

quickymart

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#1656434 23-Oct-2016 08:04

I decided to try the USB drive route and am picking up a 16GB one today.

Is there a step-by-step process I can follow online for the process @gbwelly outlined? I'd love to just get this sorted now, it's becoming a pain.

quickymart

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#1657144 24-Oct-2016 23:09

Oblivian:

Traditionally https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

And enter your key. But as its an OEM you'll need to find a source for the OEM Vista prem/home install media ISO that the key will then work for and make a USB with that or how you please

Righto, this is my plan to reinstall. Someone stop me if I've missed something here.

I purchased a 16GB flash drive over the weekend (yay for PB Tech's long weekend sale!) and have located the Windows key using Belarc.

This is what I'm planning to do:

(1) Install the original hard drive back into the laptop and remove the SSD

(2) Using the app above, create a new installation thingo on the USB drive

(3) Reinstall the SSD into the laptop (after formatting it)

(4) Reinstall Windows Vista using the USB drive

Does that sound right? Would that work?

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