HP Notebook model 4-1315dx - Can't install Windows 7

[G-RAY2]

Got a HP notebook that came with HORRIBLE Windows 8.  The OS became corrupted so I decided to go back to Windows 7 Home.  Problem is - the computer won't let me.  When I try to install from a CD it tells that there are no drivers for the hard drive.  So I found the drivers and put them on a USB stick.  It then showed be all the drives on the system - but it said that I could not install to any of them.  I tried it again today and now it won't accept the hard disk drivers that worked yesterday!!  And now it won't boot to Window 8.

I want to wipe the disk and install Windows 7 Home, but I'm at a loss as to how to do it.  I tried Hiren's CD and Partition Magic to clean the drive and prepare it for installation.  Still nothing.  I'm not a newbie - I've recovered lost partitions and wiped and reinstalled thousands of systems.  This one is killing me.  Any ideas?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

I can't find any info on that model.

This is the closest one I could find based on the info you posted...

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03151852

Is this the one you are trying to install W7 on?

If it isn't, please post the product number of the notebook.

Use this guide to find that information...please do not post the serial number.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00033108

[G-RAY2]

Thank you for responding.  I'm looking on the back of notebook.  I see:

Product: D1A99UA#ABA

Rev: 1894-120

Model: 4-1215dx

Dang!!!  I misspelled the model number!  So sorry.  I've corrected it in the Subject line.  Many apologies.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

That makes more sense to me because looking at the specs for the other model, W7 should have had no problems installing.

The model you are working on has a 3rd gen Intel core processor and may have the drive controller set to RAID due to some hybrid drives that need that drive controller configuration.  It also has USB 3 ports which you can't use to install W7.

So...see if this works.

Put the Intel storage controller drivers that I zipped up and attached below onto a USB flash drive.  Just copy the drivers inside the folder to the flash drive, not the folder.

If you are using a W7 USB installation flash drive, install it from the notebook's one USB 2 port.

Boot from the W7 installer.

Use the diskpart utility>clean disk command to make sure the disk is clean when you go to install W7.

Watch this video...I know you are not getting that error, but it is an easy way to clean the disk on W7 - W10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4Z38pD1Gt0

When you get to the part where you can install the drive controller driver, click on the Load Driver option.

Browse to the USB flash drive with the storage controller drivers on it.

If you check the box, it will only include the compatible driver.

Click Next, and hopefully, W7 will install.

[G-RAY2]

Thank you.  I will try this evening and let you know.

Stay safe out there.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

You do the same.

I wanted to add that when you clean the disk from the W7 installer, I think you press the shift + F10 keys to get to the command prompt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=nymMWop7bPw&feature=emb_logo

[G-RAY2]

Thank you for your help.  This last weekend I was able to follow your instruction to the letter.  Everything worked!!

I was ecstatic.  I installed Office and my apps (hours).  Things looked great.  I began doing the Windows 7 updates.  Of course this was constantly update/reboot, update/reboot over and over again for hours.  All of a sudden I'm back to "No boot device available."

I tried the Windows 7 Repair from the Install disk.  It shows the entire disk is now Free Space.  Everything is gone.

When I try to install to that free space I get,"Windows cannot be installed to this disk.  The selected disk is of the GPT partition style."  I never changed the partition style from your instructions.  Everything was fine.

I'm at a loss.    How did the disk get to GPT from NTFS?  How do I get it back?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't know how that happened unless you installed W7 from the UEFI boot source and not the legacy one.

If you boot from a UEFI boot source the disk gets formatted in GPT.

If you boot from a legacy boot source, the disk gets formatted MBR.

Go into the BIOS and make sure Legacy mode is enabled and secure boot is disabled.

See this link for the settings to change...

https://www.support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03736054/

Then boot from the legacy USB flash drive from the USB 2 port.

Repeat those instructions again to clean the disk.