General Windows 7 Upgrade Guide for HP Laptops

[CherylG]

@SoulTour

Validity:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp40501-41000/sp40721.exe

Digital Persona Fingerprint Software:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp43501-44000/sp43882.exe

ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection:

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp45501/sp45501.exe

[SoulTour]

@CherylG

Thanks a lot for your help. you've been really been very helpfull to me.

[Rakhmad]

@souldtour

Do the drivers works? Please test it.

Your report you help others

[johnnytech]

Hi Cheryl:

A deceased friend has left me his Pavilion dv7 1285DX that has no recovery discs (discs were made and lost) and wish to upgrade to Win7. I'm looking to get an OEM Upgrade disc and have seen what appears to be conflicting advice on how to best perform this upgrade.

My questions are:

1) Is a Custom/Clean Install the best route to take?

2) Will Upgrade disc be OK for Clean Install and what is the correct procedure to follow?

2) You mentioned Upgrade Install is OK but HPQuickLaunch should be removed first and updated version installed later. If I use this method,are you referring to HP QuickLaunch Buttons in Add-Remove?

3) Will the SwSetup software from my C in Vista be OK with Win7 (I read that it is but also read in your forum that I should  download Win7 software/drivers from HP)

Thank you in advance; I've been reading and enjoying your many responses and the depth of your knowledge.

[CherylG]

1.Many owners prefer to do a Custom/Clean install.It is user choice.You could always just do the Upgrade first and if not happy with it,boot from the 7 dvd again and clean install.

2.An upgrade disk can be used to clean install.Here is a tutorial on how to do a clean install of W7 where you delete everything on the hard drive and then 7 will create its own partition.

3.Yes, in Control Panel, uninstall HP Quick Launch before upgrading.(unless you go with clean install,no need)

4.Most of the drivers in Swsetup will be fine to use in 7, except HP Quick Launch of course. You can get all 7 drivers from your models driver page,too. Here You can also order a Vista Recovery Disk set from there for around $20.

You're welcome. I'm glad to hear you are finding the forum and my posts useful.:)

[johnnytech]

Thank you, Cheryl!

Moving ahead with confidence.

[nadat]

Hi,

I'm very hoping that someone would help me out with my problem as below.

I have two HP DV4-1431US laptops. They were both pre-built with Vista Home Premium 64 bit and in Windows 7 Upgrade Program. When the free Windows 7 Upgrade Program started, I ordered the upgrade kits for these but did not upgrade may laptops at that time. Now, I lost all the upgrade kits except the Product Keys (I copied and put these keys in my PC). I contacted HP Support but they seem not to help. Now, as experts on the HP Windows 7 Upgrade matters, would you please advise me if any alternate ways to get my laptops upgraded? It would be great if someone who has the discs can upload the images somewhere so that I can download them.

Many thanks!

Br,

Dat

[Rakhmad]

If you have a legit product key upgrade, you can borrow retail Windows 7 DVD installer or buy it here, the one that HP supplied is the same as the retail one. As long as you chose the correct version i.e Vista Home Premium 64-bit to Win7 Home Premium 64-bit, the online activation should work.

[nadat]

Thank Rakhmad a lot... I think I know what to do now. Some more concerns: will my laptop look like the HP pavilion laptop with Windows 7 pre-built? Since I'm using retail version, the HP OEM logos/wallpapers/themes/etc would not come along, right? Can I use the SwSetup folder which is included in my friend's Windows 7 pre-built HP laptop to install for my laptop and would this include the HP OEM logos/wallpapers/themes/etc?

Best Regards,

Dat Nguyen

[Rakhmad]

Not sure, however it can be done. There is a tool to do it since the release of Vista, use google if you wish to use it.

The process can be done manually.

Download the attachment below extract it to a folder

copy files in OOBE folder to C:\windows\system32\oobe\\info\        -->  create that folder if it does not available

run req.reg by double clicks it, click yes when asked.

For the theme better copy it from your friend since it would not the same theme for every model.