How I fixed a bricked Windows 7 PC w/o optical drive
A friend brought me his laptop with bricked Windows 7 and/or BCD, means laptop didn't start anymore. Asked me to fix it, if possible. Also told me, he has no Windows 7-Setup DVD, or similar, never had it.
Important: This road-map only is valid, if the PC can boot into USB-device (USB 2.0)
1.
Checked laptop's boot options: USB-device was enumerated
2.
Downloaded an official Windows 7 distribution
3.
Made a minimalistic Windows PE based on this official Windows 7 distribution
4.
Copied content of this Windows PE onto cheap 1GB USB-stick (USB 2.0), which was still around
5.
Copied content of the downloaded official Windows 7 distribution (not the ISO!) on a second USB-stick (USB 2.0, 4+ GB) my friend brought
6.
Bootet laptop into USB-stick which holds the Windows PE
7.
Ran utility DISKPART (part of Windows PE) to re-partition and re-format the HDD; only 1 new partition created and formatted (NTFS)
8.
Created on drive C: a folder named [Windows_7_Setup]
9.
Copied into this folder complete content of second USB-stick, which holds the downloaded official Windows 7 distribution (878 files in total)
10.
Removed second USB-stick, which holds the downloaded official Windows 7 distribution
11.
Started in C:\[Windows_7_Setup] executable Setup.exe
Windows 7 did a clean install:
Copying files
Extracting files
Installing features
Installing updates
Completing installation
Appropriate WiFi-driver was automatically installed.
That was all. Very time consuming. Half a day dies there. But my friend's laptop now has a fully working Windows 7 installed.
May be other method(s) is/are more efficient. I don't care ...
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how did you activate it if it was a downloaded job?
https://www.facebook.com/philquad68
Seems an awfully long convoluted way of doing something that really is a less than 2hr repair.
I get these landing on my doorstep at least once a week.
A $30.00 USB DVD, Clonzilla and a sysprep image - done.
In hindsight I should have posted my Facebook status as: "I've blown the head gasket on my 1997 XR3i" rather than "I've just buggered a 14 year old escort".
The police still haven't seen the funny side, my lap top's been confiscated and the wife has gone off to her mum's.
1. I'm not a friend of pirated software copies or using any cracks to convert a Windows 7 (30-days-evaluation copy) into a legal genuine OS.Originally Posted by Philquad
2. Knowing that
a) my friends laptop is fully working,
b) a valid product key can be found on the Windows 7 installation disk holder, advised my friend to buy a legal copy of Windows 7 - available for less than $ 50 AUD
a) that wasn't what i asked
b) i didn't think microsoft sold any real "keys" all the real keys come with the software?
im only fukin with ya joey, chill out
https://www.facebook.com/philquad68
I have windows 7 on a usb stick and often use it to re-install 7 on various machines. (All with legal keys). Instructions are . Far less complex than the instructions above.
Jeez, I don't know how, but you managed to turn a really simple process into a very complex one :P
As said, there was no Windows 7 setup DVD/ISO present, thus also no legal product-key available. And the worst thing of all, friend's laptop only accepted the 1GB USB-stick as bootable device, not the 8GB USB-stick, for what reasons ever.
I always google the model to see if there is a boot partition with the os image and then try the correct key sequence on startup
Where about can you buy a legal windows 7 product key for less than $50?
For example and also ...
Last edited by jwoegerbauer; 06-08-14 at 06:49 PM.
i cant read duchin hiver
does that include the install disk?
Last edited by Philquad; 06-08-14 at 06:21 PM.
https://www.facebook.com/philquad68
Shop #1 offers both DVD and download
Shop #2 (page is in English) offers download only
MVP Community Moderator MCC: Content Creator
Hi,
You do not buy Product Keys by themselves.
You buy the complete package; DVD, packaging/wrapping, Product Key/License.
If you see a website selling Product Keys only, they are normally pirated/stolen and often MSDN Subscription Product Keys being sold illegally.
Last edited by Philquad; 07-08-14 at 10:52 AM.
https://www.facebook.com/philquad68
They probably just send you an activator, haha
I put linux on it!
__________________________________________________ __
Statistically, if you wait long enough, everything will happen!
To keep you updated:
Ordered Windows 7 Home Premium came in a box with installation DVD and product-key sticker on DVD's case.
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