Reloading Op system and Software on G71-340US

[Dennis308]

I'm new to the forum.  My Hard drive fried on my G71-340US 64 bit Notebook.  Can't find recovery disk.  I have replaced the hard drive and need to reload the Windows 7 64-bit operating system and original software.  The HP support website has two recovery programs listed, SP45602 and SP45415.  SP45415 is a much larger file.  Does anyone know which is the correct one?  Do I burn it to a CD and select the CD drive for boot-up while in BIOS mode?  Thanks for any help you can offer.  Dennis

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Neither of those contains Windows 7 recovery files. If you do not have a restore disk made when the laptop was new, odds are HP does not have it since they no longer stock Windows 7 recovery disks. You can perhaps find them for purchase at 

http://computersurgeons.com/    or

https://restoredisks.com/

You can also find relatively inexpensive legal downloads of retail Windows 7 from some of the big software online vendors. Your OEM Key Code will not work with a retail copy so you would need the disk image and a Key Code. If you can get an OEM image you can use your Key Code which I hope is still legible for you. 

Windows 7 is a bit of a sticky issue. Microsoft made OEM Windows 7 restore disk images available for download until about 2 years ago when they pulled the site. It was called digital river. There are "mirrors" still available which host copies of the old downloads but there is some security risk in using them. 

If it is Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit English with SP1 OEM it is known as X17-58997.iso which might make it easier to search for on the internet. We cannot provide you a direct link for fear or making Microsoft angry, which you do not want. 

Post back with any more questions. 

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

[Dennis308]

Your response was right on target.  Repalced my hard drive with one in-kind, ordered the recovery disks from Computer surgeons, and everything worked like a charm.  Updating windows 7 was another matter.  

Tried to use download site at microsoft.com but could not use due to outdated internet explorer. Tried to update internet explorer but needed Service Pack 1.    Used Widows Update in control panel but needed to get Windows Update "update".  Did this, got Service Pack 1 through Windows Update.   I noticed in the list of windows updates to choose from, the list included Windows SP1 Convenience Roll-up.  My review on internet indicated I needed Service Pack 1 before I could use the Convenience Roll-up to do the updating of windows for me.  Downloaded Service Pack 1, Restart, went back to Control Panel Widows Update and now the SP1 Convenience Roll-up was no longer in the list.  At this point, I gave up and slugged through the list of updates, downloading, restarting, and looking for more updates.

Enough venting.  I feel better now.

Dennis