I need a windows 7 installation disk for a Pavilion dv6-3122. The hard drive was totally wiped out

[JulieBellen]

I have an old Pavilion dv6-3122 that we were going to get rid of.  The hard drive was wiped clean by a friend.  Now my 5 yeear old granddaughter needs a laptop for e-learning.  I did not realize it was TOTALLY wiped clean.  I cannot find the original retore disk.  How do I go about getting a new disk so I can get this laptop up and running again.  I don't know if it was 32-bit or 64-bit.  HELP!!!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

If you can read all 25 characters of the W7 product key on the notebook's case...

Below is the link to the W7 Home Premium 64 bit English (US) ISO file.

The link will be good for 24 hours from the time of this reply.

https://download.microsoft.com/download/E/A/8/EA804D86-C3DF-4719-9966-6A66C9306598/7601.24214.180801...

Use the Microsoft tool that I zipped up and attached below that you will need to transfer the ISO file to a DVD or USB flash drive so that it is bootable.

Since the ISO file is a retail file, and the product key on your PC's case is OEM, you may need to use the Microsoft automated phone activation system to activate the installation.

After W7 has completed installing, you can install the drivers and available software from your PC's support page.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/HP-Pavilion-dv6-Entertainment-Notebook-PC-series/42...

If you can't read all 25 characters of the W7 product key then you will have to order W7 recovery media from this vendor, since HP quit selling it directly many years ago...

http://www.computersurgeons.com/p-21852-windows-7-64b-recovery-kit-630609-002-for-hp-pavilion-entert...

[JulieBellen]

Thank you so much!!  Yes, I have the key from the original software so I will give it a try tonight yet!!!  I greatly appreciate your help!!!

[JulieBellen]

I hate to sound stupid but how do I get it to start installing.  I unzipped the file on a flash drive.  But when starting up the laptop now it says

BOOTMGR is missing

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart 

When I try this nothing happens.

I am not real computer savy unfortunately!  😞

[JulieBellen]

I think I figured it all out!!!  I will let you know for sure.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

You have to run the tool I zipped up and attached on another Windows PC with W7 or newer on it, as well as downloading the ISO file.

[JulieBellen]

After re-reading  your reply several times I got it figured out.  It was done downloading the files and I then received the following error: 

Status:  Files copied successfully.  However, we were unable to run bootsect to make the USB device bootable. 

How do I fix that issue???

Thank  you again so much!!!!!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Try it anyway.

Someone else had that issue and the installation media booted up anyway.

If not, you can:

Burn the ISO file to a DVD using your PC's burn ISO file option, or use the free Rufus utility instead to transfer the file to a USB flash drive.

https://rufus.ie/

[JulieBellen]

Paul, I hate to bother you again but I am stuck with the installation.  When it comes to the part where it is asking me where I want to install Windows, Disc 0 Unallocated Space comes up.  Showing 0 total size and 0 free space.  THe instructions I found said I should be able to just click Next.  However it is not letting me do that.  There is a message at the bottom that says Windows cannot be installed to this disk.  Then when I click show details here is what it says:  The selected partition requires at least 17173 MB free space.   Windows cannot be installed to this disk.  The computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk.  Ensure that the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu.    HELP!!

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Yes, that does not sound good.

You should be seeing almost 500 GB of unallocated space on the drive if it is the original one that came with your notebook.

So whoever wiped the disk did a number on it. 

The only suggestion I can offer would be to watch the video at the link below, and see if you can clean the disk during the W7 installation process.  If that doesn't work, you will probably have to buy a new hard drive.

This method will also work for W7.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=32&v=b5GXKPqcjME&feature=emb_logo