Installing new ssd, need an os to dl Win7

[Miner64]

Yes, that's correct, blue screen after the Winxp disk started loading. I made three different disks but that's not to say I introduced the same error on each one.

I'm going to change the bios on the Dell to boot from 😧 and see if that works from the disk I'm using. If it doesn't, I'll down load a new copy and put it to disk.

I just don't understand the blank screen after the splash. I would think it should display a non-system disk error just as if there were no hard or floppy disks and no usb drive.

I'll get back to you in a bit. Thanks again.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

OK, then if the XP disk worked, the logical explanation would be that there is a problem with how you are making the W7 installation disk.

So...Here is a foolproof way to make a bootable W7 DVD that is all but 100% guaranteed to work.

Download and install this free DVD burning software.

https://www.cdburnerxp.se/en/download

After you install CD Burner XP, run it and the main window will open, giving you 6 menus.

You want the Burn ISO Image option.

Then a window will open asking you to select the ISO image to burn, so locate the W7 ISO file you downloaded from the Heidoc site.

Next to the target device, there will be a burn speed drop down menu.  Select the lowest possible speed to burn the file that you can.  That ensures a good burn.

Then just click on Burn disk leaving the default settings as they are.

[Miner64]

Hi Paul,

Well, I downloaded a new copy of both the tool and the iso to the Dell that's running Win10. I then proceeded to fight with win10 for 20 minutes since I don't use it but finally got the tool to load the iso onto both disk and usb. It worked, or I should say it's working. It read the dvd and is in the process of expanding the windows files. Obviously the data was corrupt within one of the programs. This one took longer to transfer to the dvd.

Now my concern is the key working with this copy. I downloaded the Home Premium sp1. I know you had said Home Pro but there wasn't one. I figured this was the cheaper version of what was available. I acutally have another key from the Dell that I upgraded from 7 to 10. It was a free upgrade so I thought I'd take advantage of it. Big Mistake.

I'm not sure what to do if the key doesn't work but at least I'm not buying another ssd.

I'll let you know when this is complete. Can't tell you how much I appreciate your help. This box would be in the trash without it.

[vmpresta]

did you get the machine working with the win 7 oem iso?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Well, at least you know the SSD is OK and the PC is OK.

Doesn't it have a blue W7 Pro COA sticker on the top front of the case above the silver sticker with the model number and serial number on it?

That is why I suggested you DL the W7 Pro ISO file.  99% of the 8200 Elite's came with a W7 Pro COA on the case.

If you have a W7 Home Premium product key, then that should work just fine on the ISO file you downloaded.

[Miner64]

I should have looked more closely at the sticker. It's Windows Pro OA. No C. Of course the key doesn't work so I'm looking for options other than having to purchase a the program as long as I have a key that says someone paid for it originally. This came from the City of New Orleans and sold through a place called the property room for $20. I had read that it was a good, fast computer that was easy to upgrade. I actually thought about buying two or three but I had to find out what was involved with this first one.

Now I'm working on finding drivers. Video isn't bad at 1024x768 but I have to dig up disks for the lan card so I can log on to the 'net to get drivers for the lan card. I already purchased a wireless keyboard and mouse but all drivers now arrive via the 'net. I have several hard wire keyboards and mice since I knew wireless wasn't going to fly. I still have to wait for a new dongle for the key board and mouse since the one I had taped to the mouse was eaten by a cat and I'm not sifting anything for it.

I have never worked with an iso before, having purchased the factory programs and though it may not have appeared like it, the machine I'm typing on now is one I built in 2008 or 9, can't remember for sure. I have never shut it off other than to change periferals and it's run flawlessly, albiet slowly, all that time. There has been an idea tossed around that the expansion and contraction from being on and off does more damage than just leaving it on. Of course, eventually the power consumption exceeds to cost of a new mother board or other periferal and the machine is obsolete just weeks, days, after it's constructed.  I think the HP is going to replace it except it runs faster than the Dell 7010. It's a 32 bit machine so software is getting hard to find but the good thing is DDR2 memory is dirt cheap. It's just a shame that some manufacturers of mother boards, like Gigabyte, didn't think anyone would ever need more than 4 gigs ram or terrabyte hard drives. I learned basic on a Commodore 64 since there were few if any pre-written programs. 51/2 in really 'floppy' drives were just a step below a cassette tape recorder for data storage. I sold mine two years ago for more than I bought it for. That's funny now.

Your assistance was invaluable in keeping this box free of target bulls eyes. Failures of software just doensn't happen enough to make that the first item to be checked off but obviously, one of the programs had an error. I'm on a farm so delivery is by Hughes satellite. They're reliable but not very fast though it sure looks fast when they advertize 25 Mbps and don't go into details like the difference between Mbps and MBps. 3 and change doesn't look so fast.

I've rambled on a bit while waiting for a Windows person to arrive at chat.

Other than maybe having to purchase a key I'm at a point that I think I can make some non fatal changes but I do have one more question; if I have to purchase a program disk is it safe to simply install over what's in there or will it even let me do that? While I have the option, would it be wise to format and partition the drive since now it sees only one huge partition. I've never not partitioned a hard drive but again, this is my first ssd.

Thank you again for your help. I don't see any place to kudo your advice. I did it on another post and apparently that's all that can be done. Maybe I'll come up with a question that I can start another thread with and do it there. Be well.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.

Good to read that you got Windows to install.

So, I am not quite clear on what you wrote about W7 and the key.

If you have a W7 Pro key on the PC's case, go back to Heidoc and download the W7 Pro ISO file and install W7 pro.

The W7 Pro key should work with that.

Here is the link to the W7 x64 driver page.  DL the drivers onto another PC, copy them to a flash drive and you should be good to go.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-compaq-8200-elite-convertible-minitower-pc/50379...

You need the Intel ethernet driver.

Yes, these are good PC's.  I bought one new in 2011, and then I bought one off eBay in used condition 2 years ago.

Both of them are running W10 pro.

And yes if you have to order the installation media from HP, just install over the current setup.

The disks will automatically format the hard drive.  I think there are 4 to a set.

You have to boot from disk one, then it will ask you to insert disk 2, and so on.

The only thing is that the recovery disks will not work on any hard drive smaller than the smallest one that was offered on that model, which was 160 GB according to the quickspecs.

https://www.bw-pc.uni-freiburg.de/dateien/bw-pc-3.2/quickspecs/version21

[Miner64]

Things were going pretty well and then I decided to start back on the computer. Actually, I got Win7 Pro to run without a problem but as I expected, the key wasn't valid. I would have been surprised if it had been and that's not really an issue. The bigger problem that devleped was my 32 gig thumb drive was no longer recognized by any of my computers. won't show up under Computer but does show up under Device Manager but with zero space and no media. It's apparently a very common problem as I went through at least 25 suggestions to correct it, none with any success. I just haven't been to town to pick up another one to trasfer drivers. It's crippling to be without internet service on that machine.

Should I expect more options on the video when I'm able to get drivers? Now there are two options for resolution and if that's all there is I'll get an Nvidia or higher end card. I don't game on these machines but I prefer graphix that's close to or exceeding hd.

I've got to see if I have another usb around here somewhere or I'm stalled until Wednesday.

Any suggestions on the usb would be appreciated but I'll bet it won't be something I haven't tried yet. Something about the iso loaded on to it. Strange. Thanks.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Yes, I've had a usb flash drive go out on me before.

Usually once they die, there is no recovering them.

I put a nVidia GT 730 video card in my 8200 Elite and it works great.

I don't think a newer graphics card would work in the 8200 Elite because the newer cards require a newer BIOS revision than our PC's come with.

[Miner64]

Just finally got back to this install of win7 and I figured out why the computer refused to boot from the usb port and rolled on to the dvd; Microsoft doesn't have usb/pci drivers in their iso programs.  I dl'd the package of drivers from the page you linked me to and it too failed to install completely. I did dl the individual file for the network hardware and fortunatly it worked right off. I've run the chipset for hp 8200 elite with win7 and still can't get the usb/pci to work. The usb does have power. I'm running a search for the drivers over the net again but  it doesn't appear to be finding any thing. Fortunately I have several ps2 mice and keyboards.

I ran sp50888 chipset as well as the sp59222 driver package. Any suggestions on usb or pic drivers?

Have a great Thanksgiving

Thanks