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Question

Win 7 properly clean installed??

Mar 23, 2017 3:06PM PDT

I have an Asus notebook that came with Vista. I downloaded Windows 7 on USB and installed on C: Drive, where VistaOS was (still is? Still called VistaOS). I never did get the laptop to actually boot straight from the USB, like all the instructions said. After failing multiple times, changing BIOS boot order, etc, I finally just went in and opened the ISO file -in Vista-, and Windows 7 installer just popped up. I went with it, ran through all the steps, and it installed... I was told I HAD to do a clean install... sooo, is that what happened when I directed Win 7 to install on C? I never formatted, never repartitioned, etc. By the way, all the Asus stuff is gone and the damn thing doesn't know what to do with the fingerprint reader, built in camera, etc. I did back up externally before this process. Now how do I get that stuff back?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
You need to go to
Mar 23, 2017 3:32PM PDT

the Asus website and download all of their apps and new drivers otherwise nothing is going to work .

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Problem with that...
Mar 24, 2017 6:26AM PDT

...is everything I've downloaded after signing into Asus, under my registered device, my computer says it can't open the file, grrr...

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Answer
A Clean Install Of Windows 7 Will Format The Drive...
Mar 23, 2017 5:15PM PDT

...and in doing the format, it wipes all things from the C: drive automatically and installs Windows 7. Once Win7 is installed, in order for all notebook hardware to work correctly, you'll need to download and install all the appropriate drivers for that particular model. Motherboard/chipset driver, video driver, audio driver, ethernet driver, wireless driver, keypad, and all other items which are listed in the Device Manager.

Although it is possible there is still a separate D: recovery drive on the computer from which you can recover the computer back to it's original factory state with Vista, that's something you'll have to check for. As to your other "stuff", it is gone and you'll have to use your backups.

As to why the USB wouldn't boot, if you were able to access the USB drive and find the actual ISO file, then you didn't burn the original ISO file to the USB drive correctly. As such, it won't boot. You may have simply copied it to the drive instead of "burning an ISO image" to the drive.

Hope this helps.

Grif

Post was last edited on March 23, 2017 5:20 PM PDT

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Yep, backed up first
Mar 24, 2017 6:29AM PDT

Just can't reinstall! Keeps saying can't open files, or dang thing doesn't know what to do with the files. Total novice here!! Who thought just installing a new OS on a 8 year old laptop would be so problematic!

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Probably a dumb question
Mar 24, 2017 11:35AM PDT

but I have asked dumb questions before and I'm still alive..
Is your copy of Windows registered with Microsoft ?
I don't know if that would stop you from doing things but, there I asked it lol

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Have key
Mar 24, 2017 1:29PM PDT

I do have a product key, haven't entered it yet, I waited to make sure install was successful. It is running fine without it.

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that won't block the installs
Mar 24, 2017 3:42PM PDT

until activation would lock up the computer. It's supposed to allow the computer to be completely setup before 30 days expire in which to enter the Product Key.

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Unclear Here... Your First Post Said It DID Install
Mar 24, 2017 12:07PM PDT

So... do you have Windows 7 operating system installed on your system, or not?

What "keeps saying can't open files"? And when does it say it?

And yes, installing a different operating system to an old computer isn't for the faint of heart.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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ASUS drivers and utilities
Mar 24, 2017 1:38PM PDT

Windows 7 is definitely installed, and running fine. It's the ASUS device drivers and utilities I am speaking of. I've gone onto the ASUS website, where I originally registered the laptop when I bought it. I signed in, accessed my registered laptop, and am attempting to download updated drivers and utilities for my model laptop. The files download, and once downloaded onto my computer, do not have an option to install- right click, or otherwise. When I try to open them (the downloaded files from ASUS), the dialogue box that pops up says it doesn't know what program to use to open the file, and offers me a selection such as Notepad, Media, Picture Viewer, etc. or the Microsoft webpage to look online for a program.

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What Is The File Extension Of Those Files?
Mar 24, 2017 2:59PM PDT

Drivers come in a variety of types.. They can come as a .exe file which is self-installing. Some are ".inf" files which Right-click/install. And there are others. What is the file type you're seeing?

Grif

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Answer
W 7
Mar 24, 2017 10:12AM PDT

What is the complete model number of this laptop?

Where did you get this iso?
Provide a link.

Where you having problems with the machine before the install?

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Model number
Mar 24, 2017 1:48PM PDT

Asus M51A... notebook.

I have the link at home, it's a real copy of Windows 7.

The machine's problem was due to running Vista, which is losing Microsoft support in April, and incompatible with various other programs and applications I would like to use.

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Answer
Let me try to help you find, install a driver.
Mar 24, 2017 1:47PM PDT

If I can get one driver from Asus to install, maybe you can deal with the rest.

I can't find the EXACT MODEL so share with us the link to the drivers page on ASUS for me to take a look at.

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Asus driver page link
Mar 24, 2017 1:53PM PDT
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I don't see Windows 7 32 bit as an option.
Mar 24, 2017 2:28PM PDT

If you are trying a 32 bit Windows 7 I have to leave you to Asus to answer what to try next.

BUT, there's a very interesting note in the last BIOS. "BIOS 223
Set pre-allocated default memory size to 128M."

This is something important due to a change in Windows 7. So before we move forward, is the BIOS current?

You can have me check into that with a Web Speccy report. Read https://www.piriform.com/docs/speccy/using-speccy/publishing-a-speccy-profile-to-the-web as to how.

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In Addition, Those ASUS Files Are .Zip Files
Mar 24, 2017 3:06PM PDT

You'll need to unzip them, then run the files inside. There are a number of unzipping tools, one of which Windows 7 already has, but for your benefit, the link below has a free one that many use.

7Zip (Download the 16.04 32bit .exe version at the link below.)
http://www.7-zip.org/download.html

Install it, then unzip the various ASUS downloads. But recognize that I also see no 32 bit downloads on that page.

Hope this helps.

Grif

Post was last edited on March 24, 2017 3:06 PM PDT