Laptop -Recently cleared my hard drive - Now can't get windows 7 system to work

[LuLu207]

Recently downloaded program onto a dvd and cleared my hard drive.  Now can't get windows 7 system to work.  Have read suggestions on how to download to dvd (I have product key number) but can't seem to get to the right place to have it download.  I am working on Desktop attempting to download the windows 7 that I need and then insert the dvd into the laptop.  Every time I turn the laptop on it keeps telling me "no bootable device".  It is reading the dvd and there is nothing there, and I can't get it to read anything else.  Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.  I thought if I could get the Windows 7 back on the laptop I could sell it, as I no longer need it - that's why I wiped the hard drive clean

[ub6424]

Hello @LuLu207 

Sorry to hear that you are having problems ... and I would like to help you.

(1) Download ISO

See section <Download the Windows 7 SP1 ISO Directly From Microsoft’s Website>

https://www.howtogeek.com/186775/how-to-download-windows-7-8-and-8.1-installation-media-legally/

(2) Install windows 7

- insert windows 7 dvd

- shutdown and start your notebook

- constantly press and release ESC key then enter F9 boot menu to select your <dvd drive> to boot

(3) After windows 7 setup is finished get your HP drivers here:

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-pavilion-dv6-6c00-entertainment-notebook-pc-seri...

(4) How to Update Windows 7 All at Once with Microsoft’s Convenience Rollup

https://www.howtogeek.com/255435/how-to-update-windows-7-all-at-once-with-microsofts-convenience-rol...

(5) Sell your notebook

[ronpar65]

Try these. Put installation disc in Laptop. turn it off. when it restarts press the f12 right after you see your display turn on, hold the F12 button down for say 5 seconds, then release a screen should appear asking you where you want to boot from. If not restart, look at bottom of screen to see if it tells you a boot option, restart, and hold down that key for 5 sec. after you see display startup.  If all else fails is to boot into Bios by selecting F10 key at startup after display starts, and select booting order, make sure DVD drive is selected at top of boot list. after doing so select F10 to save and reboot. You can also Try holding down the f4 button at start up sometime that shows the booting option. It is hard to say which one yours is, they are so many different options on laptops these days and over the years. Lastly this disc you are trying to boot windows install from, is it a manufacture one, our one you made? If one You made there is a chance there was a flaw somewhere while copying it, if that is the case then you will never get it to work. If that is the case, If you want to sell it, You may have to put a Linux OS on it, they are free. Linux Mint, is one of the best. You can download a copy from here_____  https://mirrors.ukfast.co.uk/sites/linuxmint.com/isos/stable/20.3/linuxmint-20.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso    ____________  You have to create a disc image either DVD, or USB, to install it. Hope this helps.

[LuLu207]

Ronpar65 - Thank you for responding to my concern.  I am not sure I detailed my situation correctly.  Let me start here.

It's my HP laptop, about 12 years old, has a dvd drawer

1)  I download free software to wipe my hard drive clean.  It worked great - after numerous attempts

2) And now when I turn on Laptop the Windows 7 software system is not popping up.  Of course I probably erased that from the laptop as well....oops

3) I have the Product Code - it is on the bottom of the laptop.  When I bought the laptop, I don't recall getting a disc to boot up the computer, believe it was already installed.

4) I have a desk top computer with a dvd drawer - that I was hoping I could download what I need onto the disc and then take the disc to the laptop and it would do it's thing and work.

Does this make sense?  Where do I turn now?

Thank you

[ub6424]

Hello @LuLu207 

as I wrote before, see:

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-System-and-Recovery/Laptop-Recently-cleared-my-hard...

Short version:

- download iso

- burn iso

- insert dvd

- boot computer from dvd (boot menu F9)

- install windows

- use windows code (rear of notebook)

- install additional driver and updates

- done

[ronpar65]

LULU, it seems from  what you are telling me, is that you wiped your hard drive, in doing so you also wiped it clean? In doing so, you no longer have a windows 7 operating system backup. There is downloads of Windows 7 online, you can download, but the legality of doing so even though they tell you it a legit download one, one has to ask themselves if it is worth the risk of legal problems? Microsoft, is/was the only legal place to do so.  I went to Microsoft, they use to let you download a copy from them, but support for Windows 7 has ended, and they will no longer let you download it. If only you had a Windows 8, you would be set! Windows 7 just as Windows Vista, and Windows XP has seen there better days, they do have a free Windows 10 download, but to use it, you would have to have had Windows 10 download on that PC you are trying put 7 back on, and I don't think you did have did you? There was another suggestion posted on here, not sure if it leads to where I was talking about above, with Windows 7 no longer supported or not, but if it is being downloaded from Microsoft, it will be a dead end. If it was me, I would just go to Linux mint and download there free Operating system from them. Linux Mint 20.3 UNa  Cinnamon Edition. You can get it from here._____  https://mirrors.ukfast.co.uk/sites/linuxmint.com/isos/stable/20.3/linuxmint-20.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso  ______   download it to your pc/laptop, then

use a disk image writer to put it on a USB or DVD.  USB installs os faster though. You can get an ISO writer from here___  https://sourceforge.net/projects/usbwriter/   

Once you Use the image writer to install the Linux OS to either a USB Drive, Or DVD, attach the Linux os to your Laptop, turn on Laptop and it should boot straight to Linux Mint boot up.  if not restart and when screen first comes on, click the f12 button, when it starts it will have options. Just click enter. It will then boot into Live Linux, on screen it will have the option to install OS. Linux uses two different passwords for more security. when you are setting it up, write them down, the person you sell it to will need them to login.

sorry I can't be more help. Regards! Best of luck!!!

[ub6424]

Hello @LuLu207 

Please report your results