I need a fresh clean installation of Windows 7

[assafrahav]

I have been going over this issue with HP for the past several days and am basically being told the same thing - go buy new licenses (80 in my case). HP don't seem to comprehend that this isn't a solution, even if I were willing to pay again for the same license. HP's position that I should have to accept their preinstalled nonsense it absurd, this is absolutely unacceptable in an enterprise environment.

My requirements are very simple:

1. The ability to perform a clean install, and by "clean" I mean CLEAN. Using the HP recovery disk and then uninstalling the excess software is utterly unacceptable
2. Not being required to input a serial number
3. Not being required to perform an online activation

These requirements are fundamental to an enterprise, and I feel that I am entitled to them by the mere fact that I had purchased OEM licenses from the vendor. Attempting to force an image on me is like selling me a car with the radio stations preset, and explaining to me why the dealer’s station selection is superior to mine. Taking this approach with home users is possibly justifiable since most of them can’t perform a clean install anyway, but taking this approach with enterprise customers will only be successful in assuring they never buy HP again.

Let's go over my requirements:

1. This can be done with a retail/volume license, but why should I pay for the same software twice? A retail/volume media will not accept the OEM key so it would not be possible to reuse the HP keys.
2. Can only be achieved with an HP OEM media, using another vendor’s OEM media will require inputting the serial number manually.
3. Can only be achieved with an HP OEM media, using another vendor’s OEM media will require online activation.

I feel that the ability to perform a clean install is a fundamental entitlement due as a result of purchasing the license, but my point isn’t a legal one at all, it’s just plain sense. Giving me the OEM media costs HP and Microsoft nothing, whereas refusing to do so alienates a customer. Sticking to your refusal to provide the OEM media has no upside to you or Microsoft, only the assurance that I will permanently avoid HP in the future and give a more favorable consideration to Linux/Mac. I am truly perplexed by HP’s stance, the audacity to tell me that this is to my own advantage just demonstrates either complete ignorance or a case of inflated self-importance. Let me set you straight – we don’t want your assistance in creating an image! You feel like going to the trouble of creating an Image, good for you, but don’t refuse me the ability to create my own.

For the record the following software/trialware/junk is preinstalled on the image:

• Norton Security
• MSN
• Bing Toolbar
• Huddle
• Winzip
• Silverlight plugin
• Flash plugin
• PDF Complete
• MS Virtual PC
• Xobni
• A recovery partition
• A bunch of HP assistant/registration/update tools

[Paul_Tikkanen]

I hope you realize that this is a consumer to consumer forum, and there isn't anything any of us can do for you.

If you are just venting, then your frustrations are duly noted.

Our enterprise company which has who knows how many thousands of PC's nation-wide, buys an enteprise license, and then deploys our own image.

We did it with Dell's too when they had our business.

If you want a W7 HP OEM installation disk, then requisition an HP business notebook with the Windows 7 operating system you want, order a recovery disk set, use the operating system disk which will install on any HP PC that has the architecture to run the OS, build and deploy your images.

You do not need to enter a product key with the notebook OS recovery disk if it is installed on any HP PC that would have come with a Windows 7 Pro OEM license, and it has absolutely no bloatware on it. It is pure plain W7.

I used a W7 Pro x64 bit OS notebook recovery disk from an Elitebook 6930p, and installed W7 on my HP 8200 Elite CMT with no issues whatsoever, and then just installed the desktop drivers I needed.

You can do it with XP and Vista disks for HP business notebooks as well.

[assafrahav]

Mostly venting , I've already told everything I wrote here to three different HP reps.

It blows my mind just how adamant they are about not providing me with a 0.25$ disc, and that they stick to the opinion that it's all in my best interest. It's extremely frustrating knowing they are preventing me from deploying these systems simply due to being childish and/or ignorant.

Paul_Tikkanen wrote:

If you want a W7 HP OEM installation disk, then requisition an HP business notebook with the Windows 7 operating system you want, order a recovery disk set, use the operating system disk which will install on any HP PC that has the architecture to run the OS, build and deploy your images.

I was under the impression that the Elite 8200 was a business model. Is it just a question of how it is purchased or is it about the specific model which is purchased? Is it a matter of laptop vs. desktop?

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[Paul_Tikkanen]

Unfortunately, the method I suggested will only work with an HP Business Notebook with a W7 Pro recovery disk onto an HP desktop of any kind with an W7 Pro license.

I mean you could use the HP Business notebook recovery disk on any HP PC that came, say with W7 Home Premium, but that would be illegal since the licenses are for different versions of Windows.

But if your PC's have windows 7 Pro licenses, no matter what model, then you would be able to use the recovery disk from an HP business notebook on them legally, and with no issues regarding activation, product keys, etc.

Even the HP business desktops come with bloatware and a recovery CD image, which is why I use the notebook recovery disk to reinstall the OS with a fresh, clean version of W7 Pro.

The only PC's that come with a Dell-type OS reinstallation disk are the HP business notebooks.

The nice thing about Dell is all of their reinstallation disks are like that, be it the Home versions of Windows or the Pro/Ultimate etc, versions of Windows.

The 8200 Elite is a business desktop.

Below are the links to the current mainstream business notebooks currently for sale by HP:

http://shopping1.hp.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/WW-USSMBPublicStore-Site/en_US/-/USD/ViewStand...

http://shopping1.hp.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/WW-USSMBPublicStore-Site/en_US/-/USD/ViewStand...

I only buy HP business PC's for my personal use.  They can't be beat.

[TheOldMan]

I have to assume Paul is telling the truth about the particular notebook Recovery Disk but if you are the administrator for 80 desktop computers, the is another way to do this.  A retail install disk of Windows 7 for the version all of the machines came with will install a clean version of Windows 7 just fine, as long as you make the effort to find all the drivers.  Of course one could backup all the drivers from the OEM install, save them to a DVD or network drive and then install them after the clean install.  I have found this little software will back them up just dandy and them install them for you when needed: http://majorgeeks.com/Double_Driver_d4802.html

Also if "Not being required to input a serial number" and "Not being required to perform an online activation" are needed then a couple of extra steps are needed but doable.  Google "saving windows 7 activation files" and put them on the drivers DVD.  I assume the procedure is not permitted in this forum, but it is very simple.

The retail ISO for Windows 7 is easily available from Digital River.

[flaw600]

This is honesylt the preferred method of getting a clean install, which is to say, get a Win7 install disc. Still, if that's still too much work, assuming that ssaid business bought the same comps, as has been suggested vefore, uninstall everythinhg from one computer and then simply make an image of the hard disc and then clone them to the other PCs.

Also, this is the wrong support forum for business problems, so if you want to vent, go vent in the business forum.

[shailendra1993]

You can download a fresh copy of windows from Microsoft but be sure to download exact OS which came with the machine

[assafrahav]

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TheOldMan wrote:

I have to assume Paul is telling the truth about the particular notebook Recovery Disk but if you are the administrator for 80 desktop computers, the is another way to do this.  A retail install disk of Windows 7 for the version all of the machines came with will install a clean version of Windows 7 just fine, as long as you make the effort to find all the drivers.  Of course one could backup all the drivers from the OEM install, save them to a DVD or network drive and then install them after the clean install.  I have found this little software will back them up just dandy and them install them for you when needed: http://majorgeeks.com/Double_Driver_d4802.html

Also if "Not being required to input a serial number" and "Not being required to perform an online activation" are needed then a couple of extra steps are needed but doable.  Google "saving windows 7 activation files" and put them on the drivers DVD.  I assume the procedure is not permitted in this forum, but it is very simple.

The retail ISO for Windows 7 is easily available from Digital River.

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The drivers are easy enough, that really isn't a concern.

I'll check out the possibility of backing up the activation files, thanks!

[assafrahav]

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flaw600 wrote:
This is honesylt the preferred method of getting a clean install, which is to say, get a Win7 install disc. Still, if that's still too much work, assuming that ssaid business bought the same comps, as has been suggested vefore, uninstall everythinhg from one computer and then simply make an image of the hard disc and then clone them to the other PCs.

Also, this is the wrong support forum for business problems, so if you want to vent, go vent in the business forum.

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Uninstalling everything from a system is not the same as a clean install. The amount of junk HP put on there is mind boggling. I realize it only needs to be done once, I am not objecting to the effort but to the result.

About it being the wrong forum, I landed here through a Google search and it seemed relevant to my situation. Sorry about that.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

This little program is probably what you need to back up and restore the OEM key...

http://directedge.us/content/abr-activation-backup-and-restore

Paul