MezzutOzil
asked on
Why can't I setup Windows 7 on this HP laptop?
The laptop is HP Pavilian DV4-1138TX bought 2 year+ ago. The default OS is Windows Vista. Now, I wanted to upgrade to Windows 7, and I wanted to have a setup from the scratch. I put in the Windows 7 CD, make sure the first boot device is DVD, but, at the end failed to boot up from DVD. During bootup, I pressed ESC and choose F1 for System Information, and I saw the following info:
Notebook model: HP Pavilian dv4 Notebook PC
Product Number: FZxxxPA#ABx
System Board ID: 30FB
Processor type : Intel Core 2 Duo CPU
Processor speed: 2000Mhz
Total Memory: 4096 MB
Bios version: F.12
Serial number: CND84307HF
Factory Installed OS: Vista
Could it be hardcorded to use VIsta? The hard disk also prebuild with Vista recovery partition, would this another problem? How can I able to setup WIndows 7 from the scratch?
Thanks for your help.
Notebook model: HP Pavilian dv4 Notebook PC
Product Number: FZxxxPA#ABx
System Board ID: 30FB
Processor type : Intel Core 2 Duo CPU
Processor speed: 2000Mhz
Total Memory: 4096 MB
Bios version: F.12
Serial number: CND84307HF
Factory Installed OS: Vista
Could it be hardcorded to use VIsta? The hard disk also prebuild with Vista recovery partition, would this another problem? How can I able to setup WIndows 7 from the scratch?
Thanks for your help.
Make sure the version of windows is for the correct architecture ie 64 or 32 bit
Can you post the error you receive upon trying to boot to the windows 7 disk?
Can you post the error you receive upon trying to boot to the windows 7 disk?
ASKER
There wasn't any error prompted, just can't boot up from the win7 CD. Confirmed wasn't CD bootup problem.
If you are willing, try a fresh hard drive (no existing partitions) . .... Thinkpads_User
is this a dvd from microsoft packaging or one you made from an iso download? If it is from a downloaded iso, i would try to re-download it
Or if you have a spare USB stick, follow the instructions below to create a Bootable USB Windows 7 Media:
http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7vista-from-usb-drive-detailed-100-working-guide/
That way the installation also is a lot faster than from DVD.
One thing I'd just like to mention before you start, make sure you have made the Recovery Media, so you can restore the PC back to factory defaults if you ever want to sell it (at least if your Windows 7 version isn't OEM, if it is OEM, that isn't necessary as it wouldn't run on other hardware anyway). There is usually a utility included that allows you to create such media, as most PC's don't come with installation media, but only have a recovery partition.
http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7vista-from-usb-drive-detailed-100-working-guide/
That way the installation also is a lot faster than from DVD.
One thing I'd just like to mention before you start, make sure you have made the Recovery Media, so you can restore the PC back to factory defaults if you ever want to sell it (at least if your Windows 7 version isn't OEM, if it is OEM, that isn't necessary as it wouldn't run on other hardware anyway). There is usually a utility included that allows you to create such media, as most PC's don't come with installation media, but only have a recovery partition.
"There wasn't any error prompted, just can't boot up from the win7 CD. Confirmed wasn't CD bootup problem."
How did you confirm is wasn't a CD bootup problem?
Incidentally it'd be a DVD not a CD. If your optical disc drive doesn't read DVDs you will not be able to boot from the Windows 7 DVD...
How did you confirm is wasn't a CD bootup problem?
Incidentally it'd be a DVD not a CD. If your optical disc drive doesn't read DVDs you will not be able to boot from the Windows 7 DVD...
First try booting the windows 7 dvd in another machine.
Then try booting the HP machine with something else like knoppix.
This way you will find out if the media is an issue or the CD\DVD drive.
IF its the media and your vista machine still boots and you are using a burnt ISO image try burning it on the hp`vista machine.
Otherwise try creating a bootable usb disk.
Then try booting the HP machine with something else like knoppix.
This way you will find out if the media is an issue or the CD\DVD drive.
IF its the media and your vista machine still boots and you are using a burnt ISO image try burning it on the hp`vista machine.
Otherwise try creating a bootable usb disk.
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it looks like a bad install DVD to me
Note provided you are keeping the same "bitness" 32 or 64 you can just copy the "I386" folder (or the 64-bit equivalent) onto the machine and run setup from within the old OS.
Correction :
** I really doubt that the problem is with the DVD drive, DVD itself or the Boot order settings in BIOS.
I meant to say, I think that the problem is with the DVD drive, DVD itself or the Boot order settings in BIOS.
** I really doubt that the problem is with the DVD drive, DVD itself or the Boot order settings in BIOS.
I meant to say, I think that the problem is with the DVD drive, DVD itself or the Boot order settings in BIOS.
ASKER
Ok, it works now
What was wrong with my solution which came a day earlier than the accepted one, but was the same?
The specs look fine and (largely) anything that runs Vista should run Windows 7.
I would proceed as follows:
1. See if (even if reinstalling Vista) you can upgraded BIOS and Chipset and try again loading WIndows 7.
2. Windows 7 wants to create its own system partition and hence may be confilciting with the Vista partition. Either be wiling to kill all the partitiions including the Vista partition and try again, or, as I did, get a new hard drive and put Windows 7 on that. Take the opportunity to get a larger hard drive.
... Thinkpads_User