Making a Clean Install is a lengthy process, should I persist?

[kcav]

Have solid notebook, HP Elitebook E6460p; when I run Win 7 64-bit strange behaviors arise, such as the “Not Responding” error message; decided to make a Clean Install to eradicate potential headaches from lingering bloatware; discovered making a Clean Installation aint no fun, it is a lengthy process. Should I persist?

Have run HP SoftPaq Download Manager to identify necessary drivers, and found two dozen files needed to be installed; four drivers have downloaded but did not install:

• Corel WinDVD to Blu-ray(BD) Player Software version  10.0.5.898
• Embedded Security for HP Protect Tools    6.0.300.2731 A 1 
• HP Battery Check   4.3.22 A 1
• Roxio MyDVD Business 2010 Update 12.1.74.13 A 2

After running Event Viewer one error and one warning were reported:

• Error - Source: Microsoft-Windows-Shared Access NAT Event ID: 31004. The DNS proxy agent was unable to allocate 0 bytes of memory. This may indicate that the system is low on virtual memory, or that the memory manager has encountered an internal error.
• Warning - Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-PnP Warning 219. The driver \Driver\WUDFRd failed to load for the device USB\Vid_03f0&Pid_371d&MI_03\7&947970b&1&03.

After running Belarc Advisor three Security Updates were reported missing:

• EOL-Adobe Flash Player 21.0.0.242 Plugin 64-bit
• EOL-Adobe Flash Player 21.0.0.242 Plugin 32-bit
• CPUJan 2017-2881727 Oracle Java SE Critical Patch Update for Java 8.0.910.14 64-bit

Would logging onto Microsoft’s Download Center, downloading an iso file for Win 7 Pro 64-bit, burning it to a DVD,  then installing Windows, inserting my product ID and then updating Windows solve any of these problems?

KCav

[WAWood]

@kcav

Another way to do the driver installs is to install HP Support Assistant (HPSA) and let it find and download the drivers for you:  http://www8.hp.com/us/en/campaigns/hpsupportassistant/hpsupport.html#.VhKKXD720-V

Also, using an ISO from MS is NOT going to work because that will be a Retail version, and the product key that came with your PC is only for the HP OEM version.  So while you can force an install with that version, it will not activate and you will have to purchase a retail license to do that.

[kcav]

Thank you for replying to my post.  I did not know that the product key that came with my PC would not work with a retail version of Windows installed on the same hard drive in the same PC.  Are you sure?

What if I made an image file of my System partition with the HP OEM version of Win 7 Pro 64-bit running on it, could I install the image file in a different PC?

KCav

[WAWood]

@kcav

The product key has nothing to do with the hard drive; instead, it is based on the version of Windows.  The ISOs you downloaded from MS is a Retail version; your PC came with an HP OEM version.  For Win7, the product keys are specific to each version.

Now, with Win8.1 and Win10, the ISOs downloaded from MS can usually be used with OEM keys, but that is not true of the Win7 downloads.

As to the second -- NO.  While you COULD certainly migrate that image to a different PC, it would not activate -- as OEM versions are tied to the specific PC on which there were preloaded and are not transferrable to another PC -- unlike Retail versions, which can be transferred.

[kcav]

I didn't know that the product keys for my HP OEM Win 7 are tied to the specific PC they were installed in.     Is the same true for Office 2007?

How can I make a Clean Install without purchasing a Retail Product Key?  Can an installation file for HP OEM Win 7 Pro be downloded from HP website and installed in my HP Elitebook 8460p?

KCav

[WAWood]

@kcav

For OEM PCs, the Windows product key is always tied to the specific PC.

But the Office key is yours -- and can be transferred as needed.  Here is a link to some product key apps that should be able to retrieve the Office key so you can make a record of it:  https://www.lifewire.com/free-product-key-finder-programs-2625119

To do a reinstall using OEM media, you would need to use HP Recovery Media.  IF you use anything else, when done, it will not activate because it won't work with the HP OEM product key.

HP does not provide any downloads for Recovery Media; instead, you have to order the disks from HP.

Good Luck

[kcav]

Thank WA, clear and concise be on it right away.

KCav

[mdklassen]

> After running Belarc Advisor three Security Updates were reported missing:

• EOL-Adobe Flash Player 21.0.0.242 Plugin 64-bit
• EOL-Adobe Flash Player 21.0.0.242 Plugin 32-bit
• CPUJan 2017-2881727 Oracle Java SE Critical Patch Update for Java 8.0.910.14 64-bit

Yes, these are "security" issues.

Uninstall Flash Player (version 21) and then install the latest (version 24 -- at the time of writing this).

Uninstall Java SE, and consider whether you need to install the current version.

Obviously, Flash and Java are updated every month.  So, being "out-of-date" is unavoidable.

[mdklassen]

> Can an installation file for HP OEM Win 7 Pro be downloded from HP website and installed in my HP Elitebook 8460p?

I looked at:  http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/swd/public/readIndex?sp4ts.oid=5056901

but did not find any way to place an order with HP to order a "System Recovery Set", to reinstall the original HP-modified version of Windows 7 onto that model.

Some "Other Person" has suggested www.ComputerSurgeons.com as a site where one might be able to purchase that "set" for some computers.

[kcav]

Thanks for the tip - waiting to hear from Computer Surgons - I have 2 HP 8460p notebooks - would like to do a clean install Win 7 Pro 64-bit. 

KCav