Can not reinstall OEM windows onto new SSD - laptop came without OS disk

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sxz

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Topic # 115546 29-Mar-2013 10:06

This is driving me nuts.

Just bought an awesome new Laptop.

Just bought an SSD for my new Laptop.

My Laptop does not come with a Windows 8 DVD. Or a Windows 8 Activation code (although appears genuine in all other respects). I understand the code is held in the firmware so I shouldn't need to enter it anyway. I have (as a back up) used software to detect the code. Laptop does not come with Recovery Disk, I have thus far been unable to make one.

1. Intel SSD came with cloning software. Wont work because of my Dynamic Disk.
2. Tried other software. Appears to work, but new SSD has problems with boot file so wont boot.
3. Have tried downloading a Windows 8 ISO and making USB Boot version, wont boot from USB.
4. I don't have any blank DVDs to try the ISO with, and it is Easter, everything is closed.

F windows - give me a damn DVD why don't you!

Any smart ideas to get my new SSD up and running?

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Reply # 789124 29-Mar-2013 10:13

If your machine is EFI, and your using one of the automated tools to create bootable key, it is likely formatting it ntfs which won't work with EFI

Try making the USB key fat32 when making it bootable

freitasm

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Reply # 789125 29-Mar-2013 10:15

Perhaps if you told us what laptop brand and model then it could be easier for others to help?

As for the SSD boot. To best use a SSD you need AHCI turned on. If the laptop had AHCI turned off in BIOS and the Windows installation was not using AHCI, at best you will have a slow SSD and at worst you will be killing your new SSD.

Also if you change AHCI without changing the Windows drivers then it won't boot. Just creating an image from one drive to another may not be the best idea.

"F windows - give me a damn DVD why don't you! "

This is nothing to do with Windows or Microsoft. Blame the manufacturer that is too cheap to provide you with a $5 CD loaded with a recovery image, or too stupid to not include a recovery partition on the HDD.

Now, most good brands include a recovery partition - I don't remember having a HP, Dell or Lenovo laptop without one for years.

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sxz

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Reply # 789142 29-Mar-2013 10:49

Thanks for your help.

HP DV7

Yes there is a recovery partition, but I can't see how that will help when I swap the disks out?

nathan

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Reply # 789146 29-Mar-2013 10:51

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sxz: Thanks for your help.

HP DV7

Yes there is a recovery partition, but I can't see how that will help when I swap the disks out?

Run create recovery partition utility from the control panel, it backs it up to USB key, you boot USB key on new machine

Did the fat32 formatted bootable usb key with win8 install on it work?

sxz

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Reply # 789147 29-Mar-2013 10:53

nathan: If your machine is EFI, and your using one of the automated tools to create bootable key, it is likely formatting it ntfs which won't work with EFI

Try making the USB key fat32 when making it bootable

The Windows USB tool to make windows bootable formats it automatically as NTFS. I tried formatting it as Fat32 but I now see it was automatically changed to NTFS. NOt sure how to get around this...

CYaBro

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Reply # 789150 29-Mar-2013 10:57

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sxz: Thanks for your help.

HP DV7

Yes there is a recovery partition, but I can't see how that will help when I swap the disks out?

You need to actually create your own recovery media before swapping out the HDD with the SSD.
There will be a program installed on the laptop that will do this for you.
You also get prompts reminding you to create the recovery media.
If you don't have any blank DVDs you'll need to get some, usually you need 4 or 5.
Once you have made those you can swap the drives and then boot off the first DVD and do the recovery.

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nathan

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Reply # 789154 29-Mar-2013 11:01

sxz:
nathan: If your machine is EFI, and your using one of the automated tools to create bootable key, it is likely formatting it ntfs which won't work with EFI

Try making the USB key fat32 when making it bootable

The Windows USB tool to make windows bootable formats it automatically as NTFS. I tried formatting it as Fat32 but I now see it was automatically changed to NTFS. NOt sure how to get around this...

You need to do it yourself

Elevated CMD prompt

diskpart
list disk (find USB key insert ino next line)
select disk #
clean
create partition primary
format fs=fat32 quick
active
assign
list volume
exit

Mount win8 iso, copy everything onto key

Done

freitasm

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Reply # 789156 29-Mar-2013 11:02

CYaBro:
sxz: Thanks for your help.

HP DV7

Yes there is a recovery partition, but I can't see how that will help when I swap the disks out?

You need to actually create your own recovery media before swapping out the HDD with the SSD.
There will be a program installed on the laptop that will do this for you.
You also get prompts reminding you to create the recovery media.
If you don't have any blank DVDs you'll need to get some, usually you need 4 or 5.
Once you have made those you can swap the drives and then boot off the first DVD and do the recovery.

The HP program to create recovery media will create either DVD or USB.

You don't need to format the USB, just stick it into any port and the program will do it.

This is not the Windows 7 USB Media Tool. This is a custom program by HP to create a bootable USB from the recovery partition. You boot from the HDD, run the HP Recovery Builder and it will create a USB key with everything you need to install on a replacement storage (HDD or SSD).

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Reply # 789157 29-Mar-2013 11:02

CYaBro:
sxz: Thanks for your help.

HP DV7

Yes there is a recovery partition, but I can't see how that will help when I swap the disks out?

You need to actually create your own recovery media before swapping out the HDD with the SSD.
There will be a program installed on the laptop that will do this for you.
You also get prompts reminding you to create the recovery media.
If you don't have any blank DVDs you'll need to get some, usually you need 4 or 5.
Once you have made those you can swap the drives and then boot off the first DVD and do the recovery.

Or 1 USB key ;)

freitasm

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Reply # 789158 29-Mar-2013 11:03

I think we have two streams here folks.

One (nathan) telling the OP how to create an install USB from the Windows ISO download.

The other (myself and CYaBro) telling the OP to create an install USB from the HP Recovery Builder.

The HP Recovery Builder is what you want to reinstall the original OS. The ISO download is no good for you at the moment.

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Reply # 789160 29-Mar-2013 11:05

freitasm:
CYaBro:
sxz: Thanks for your help.

HP DV7

Yes there is a recovery partition, but I can't see how that will help when I swap the disks out?

You need to actually create your own recovery media before swapping out the HDD with the SSD.
There will be a program installed on the laptop that will do this for you.
You also get prompts reminding you to create the recovery media.
If you don't have any blank DVDs you'll need to get some, usually you need 4 or 5.
Once you have made those you can swap the drives and then boot off the first DVD and do the recovery.

The HP program to create recovery media will create either DVD or USB.

You don't need to format the USB, just stick it into any port and the program will do it.

This is not the Windows 7 USB Media Tool. This is a custom program by HP to create a bootable USB from the recovery partition. You boot from the HDD, run the HP Recovery Builder and it will create a USB key with everything you need to install on a replacement storage (HDD or SSD).

"Create a recovery drive" is built into the control panel of every Windows 8 and Windows RT machine

freitasm

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Reply # 789178 29-Mar-2013 11:29

nathan: "Create a recovery drive" is built into the control panel of every Windows 8 and Windows RT machine

Sure is. You can use it to restore the HDD image on a new HDD/SSD. But it is not the tool used to create a bootable USB from a ISO download. It creates a bootable device for diagnostics/repair only from the existing system.

So you have two options:

(a) create a HP Recovery media (USB drive with Windows 8 install files
(b) create a Windows 8 recovery

Using the HP Recovery Manager means you need one large USB key (8GB should be enough) to create a boot device that will install a fresh Windows 8 environment on your new HDD/SSD that will look exactly like it was when you bought it. Here is a video with all the instructions on how to create the HP Recovery Media on Windows 8.

Everyone should have this media anyway, in case your HDD dies and you replace it with an empty one.

Now, if you want to simply transfer the image from one drive to another (not simply reinstall on another) then let's tell the OP how to use the Windows 8 recovery option if he can't find the HP Recovery Media or he wants to create a full image backup.

1. Create the media

The Windows 8 recovery requires TWO media: one to have the image and one to boot. On Windows 8 Home Screen type "Windows 7 Recovery" (yes, really) and in settings you will find this:

Click that and create a full disk image on an external drive:

Click "Create a system image" and continue with this:

This is a full image of your HDD. You will need an external drive that is at least the same size of the storage used (if you are using 40GB then you need at least 40GB).

2. Create a Recovery USB

Again on Windows 8 Home Screen type "Recovery drive":

Click "Create a recovery drive". Insert a USB key (a small one will do, only uses a few megabytes really) and continue:

You can now use this USB key to boot your computer and restore the image on other HDD.

You need an external HDD with enough storage to copy your entire drive. This is ok though if you want to move data and installed programs.

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Reply # 789180 29-Mar-2013 11:32

FWIW the Windows 8 Create Recovery Drive control panel works fine with 1 key, the same key is bootable and holds the image it applies

sxz

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Reply # 789281 29-Mar-2013 14:59

Chees for all the replies guys. Unfortunately off on holiday now so will need to try again next week.

Will post updates

nathan

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Reply # 789287 29-Mar-2013 15:10

freitasm:
nathan: "Create a recovery drive" is built into the control panel of every Windows 8 and Windows RT machine

Sure is. You can use it to restore the HDD image on a new HDD/SSD. But it is not the tool used to create a bootable USB from a ISO download. It creates a bootable device for diagnostics/repair only from the existing system.

The Windows 8 recovery requires TWO media: one to have the image and one to boot.

Using the HP Recovery Manager on the other hand means you only need one large USB key (8GB) to create a boot device that will install a fresh Windows 8 environment on your new HDD/SSD. Here is a video with all the instructions on how to create the HP Recovery Media on Windows 8.

personally even if you create a recovery image to restore your PC back to factory defaults, and yes its handy to have that around if you have a hardware problem and tier 1 helpdesk monkey asks you to restore to defaults, keep that key locked away in your desk drawer in case

I would be inclined do a clean Windows 8 install rather than use the OEM which is likely to be full of unnecessary crapware/trialware and bloat

Those diskpart instructions will create you a bootable USB key that will work on EFI & BIOS systems, it sounds like this HP machine is EFI based

YMMV

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