• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Need help trying to reformat laptop

Stg-Flame

Stg-Flame

Diamond Member
First off, this is my buddy's laptop and I'm just going by what he told me he did. He's not too tech savvy and made some recovery disks (three of them) that cannot be read upon startup. It appears he already formatted the drive since it goes through the Starting Windows, then it brings me to a window of "Setup is preparing your device for first time use", then to the Welcome screen where it gives an error sound and brings up the message: Install Windows: Windows could not complete the installation. To install Windows on this computer, restart the installation."

He said he lost the installation disk a long time ago, but he has a backup Windows 7 disc that also cannot be read. Upon restarting the laptop, HP gives me a battery alert: "The system has detected the storage capacity of the battery stated below to be very low. For optimal performance, this battery may need to be replaced. Primary Internal Batter (601)"

I can still access the BIOS and system diagnostics, but I've never really dealt with this issue before.

Any information is greatly appreciated.

Edit: I should have added the Diagnostic Log gives about 20 results of 0601.

Edit 2: Unless I'm mistaken, it's looking like he's going to be buying a new OS installation disc unless someone here knows how I can repair this thing without reinstalling the OS.
 
Last edited:
Is there still a recovery partition? If so there should be a way to re-image by accessing that partition.

He should be able to order recovery media from whoever made the laptop. It's usually fairly cheap. Another option would be to get a Windows DVD from Microsoft software recovery site if the laptop has a retail license. If you can find an OEM version of the Windows 7 DVD that would work as well.

For the battery issue, it should be fine when plugged in but he made need to buy a new battery if the old one won't hold a charge.
 
I just replaced a HDD in my sisters presario laptop yesterday. Thankfully her drive wasn't totally gone yet and I was able to burn recovery images. It had 561 reallocated sectors according to smart data.
 
Stg-Flame said:
Edit 2: Unless I'm mistaken, it's looking like he's going to be buying a new OS installation disc unless someone here knows how I can repair this thing without reinstalling the OS.
Click to expand...

You should be able to download an ISO of the correct version of Windows from Microsoft, and reinstall it using the serial number of the sticker that's attached to the laptop. There will probably be drivers missing from the basic windows installation that are bundled with the laptop. Just download them from the laptop manufacturer's website and install them. This is usually preferable to restoring using the manufacturer's disks, since it avoids all the crapware and bundleware.

On the downside, he'll have to reinstall that totally awesome stripper screensaver on his own.
 
dave_the_nerd said:
You should be able to download an ISO of the correct version of Windows from Microsoft, and reinstall it using the serial number of the sticker that's attached to the laptop. There will probably be drivers missing from the basic windows installation that are bundled with the laptop. Just download them from the laptop manufacturer's website and install them. This is usually preferable to restoring using the manufacturer's disks, since it avoids all the crapware and bundleware.
Click to expand...

Will the ISO downloaded from microsoft automatically partition and format the drive the way the manufacturer originally sent it?
 
rchunter said:
Will the ISO downloaded from microsoft automatically partition and format the drive the way the manufacturer originally sent it?
Click to expand...
No, that's the whole point - the way the manufacturer set it up is evil.

The generic installer is your recovery media. Or you can save a clone of the drive somewhere after you've got it the way you want it.
 
dave_the_nerd said:
No, that's the whole point - the way the manufacturer set it up is evil.

The generic installer is your recovery media. Or you can save a clone of the drive somewhere after you've got it the way you want it.
Click to expand...


I initially tried installing a copy of windows ultimate I had around and it wouldn't even let me partition or format the drive. Not even as a single partition.
I was able to burn the Compaq recovery discs and no problem. It automatically set 3 different partitions.
Also compaq recovery discs let me install a minimized version without most of the unnecessary crap.
 
dave_the_nerd said:
You should be able to download an ISO of the correct version of Windows from Microsoft, and reinstall it using the serial number of the sticker that's attached to the laptop. There will probably be drivers missing from the basic windows installation that are bundled with the laptop. Just download them from the laptop manufacturer's website and install them. This is usually preferable to restoring using the manufacturer's disks, since it avoids all the [URL=" and bundleware.[/URL]

On the downside, he'll have to reinstall that totally awesome stripper screensaver on his own.
Click to expand...

I didn't know this was possible. I'll give this a try.

When I do download the ISO, I can just use my PC to burn it onto a blank disc, then set the laptop boot order to CD ROM first, correct?
 
Stg-Flame said:
I didn't know this was possible. I'll give this a try.

When I do download the ISO, I can just use my PC to burn it onto a blank disc, then set the laptop boot order to CD ROM first, correct?
Click to expand...

Yup.

Alternatively, if you have a spare thumb drive, you can download something called the "Windows USB/DVD Download Tool' and write the ISO to a thumb drive instead. Most thumb drives are a lot faster than most DVD drives, so the install will be quicker.
 
One of the great pitfalls in reinstalling a laptop OS is not having all the required laptop drivers and proprietary features. These are OEM specific, and can be downloaded from the laptop's OEM website. Laptops are not standard in that respect.
 
I'll give it a try and see how it goes. I have a feeling I'm going to hit a wall somewhere along the way, so I'll most likely be posting back here again soon.
 
"Even though you have that product key, our ISO will still not work because it cant cater to OEM Windows
6:27 pm"

Basically, this was all this guy said and then tried to tell me if I upgraded to Win 8.1 that I could get blah blah blah support and free nonsense. I honestly felt like I was just in a sales call rather than a support chat.

He also said Windows 7 is no longer sold anywhere, but it's still $100 at Newegg, so it looks like I'll just have him buy a new OS and do a fresh install since Microsoft wasn't any help.

Any other ideas? I'm willing to try anything at this point.
 
Yeah, contact the laptop maker and try and get a recovery disk from them. They will usually ship replacement disks out for $25 dollars or so.... Beats buying windows for 100.
 
Stg-Flame said:
"Even though you have that product key, our ISO will still not work because it cant cater to OEM Windows
6:27 pm"

Basically, this was all this guy said and then tried to tell me if I upgraded to Win 8.1 that I could get blah blah blah support and free nonsense. I honestly felt like I was just in a sales call rather than a support chat.

He also said Windows 7 is no longer sold anywhere, but it's still $100 at Newegg, so it looks like I'll just have him buy a new OS and do a fresh install since Microsoft wasn't any help.

Any other ideas? I'm willing to try anything at this point.
Click to expand...

I've totally done it before. Give it a try anyway.
 
OEMs are required to provide you with a copy of restore disks, because they sell you the COA, all you have to do is call them and they will charge a small shipping fee of like $10 and send a full set.
1-800-hpinvent
 
Thanks. Geek squad is trying to charge him 150 to repair the laptop or I could just order a new OS and spend 100.
 
on the bottom is the COA number you can download the iso with the COA number. Conversely you can find someone with an HP win7 disc and use their disc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top