[chac]

Guys

I wiped my laptop as it was running slow and locking up but half way through the wipe the laptop shutdown and now when I try to retart it; its goes through the 'Set up is preparing you computer for first use' but then get a message 'Windows could not complete this installation. To install Windows on this computer, restart the installation.

When I restart the computer and use F12, I am prompted to use the installion disk, which I do not have and the windows key on the base of the computer has rubbed off, so is there any way I can get this key from the computer in its current state or will I need to buy a new copy of Windows?

Thanks in advance

Edited by chac, 23 January 2015 - 01:22 PM.

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What do you mean by wiped/ Did you format during a reinstall or were you using the built-in Recovery to restore to factory new state?

 

What is the make and full model number of the laptop?

[Ztruker]

What do you mean by wiped/ Did you format during a reinstall or were you using the built-in Recovery to restore to factory new state?

 

What is the make and full model number of the laptop?

[chac]

Thanks for the reply

The laptop has been formated to completely wipe it

It is a Sony Vaio SVS1311F3EW

[Ztruker]

How did you format it? What program or process did oyu use.

 

 

You could try using DBAN to wipe the drive.

[chac]

I did this some months back but if remember correctly it was through F12 on startup, return drive to factory settings, now I am going in circles with the laptop telling me it is staring Windows, to then get the message 'Windows could not complete the installation'

[Ztruker]

You can try running chkdsk /p from a Recovery Console then format the boot partition (not the recovery partition) the try F12 again.

 You are going to have to get into BIOS Setup on your computer to set the CD/DVD drive as the first bootable device, so you can then boot your XP CD, unless it provides the ability to press a Fn key at boot time to bring up the boot selection menu. If it does, use that.

How you do this varies with each manufacturer. Normally you press F1, F2, F10 or Del when you see the manufacturers logo. Often there is a clue somewhere on the screen when you boot normally telling you what key to press. Some computers (most newer ones) have a key you can press (often F12) to bring up the Boot Menu from where you can select the CD/DVD drive to boot from.

If you don't have an XP CD, download and run ARCDC by Artellos. It will download the required files from the Microsoft Web site and create a .iso file. It will also offer to burn the iso image to a CD for you. If you don't do it then, there is a good freeware burner called ImgBurn which will do it at a later time. If you're unsure how to do this, you can follow the tutorial here: How to Burn an ISO File.

The above can be done from any computer with internet access.

On the problem computer, boot the CD and at the first opportunity, enter R to start the Recovery Console.

Next, choose which XP installation you want to login to. Normally this will be 1.
Lastly you will be asked for the Administrator password. Just press the Enter key as the Administrator does not have a password (unless you gave it one, then you would enter it).

From the command prompt, type: chkdsk /r and press Enter.
Allow it to complete undisturbed. It can take an hour or more depending on the size of the hard drive.

 

Next, enter diskpart, then list vol.

Look under the Ltr column to see what drive letter has been assigned to your boot drive. It may or may not be C so make sure.

Enter exit to leave diskpart.

 

Enter format x:   (where x: is the drive letter for the boot partition).

 

Once that completes, remove the CD and reboot then use F12, see if it works this time. If not, you can try ordering a recovery disc from web sites like restorediscs.com or see if you can locate one on Ebay.

[chac]

Thanks again for the reply

I managed to borrow a Windows 7 disk from a friend

Have went into F2 on startup to change Boot priority to Internal Optical Disc Drive.

Inserted the Windows 7 disc and restarted but the disk drive just seems to be ticking over, the Vaio screen sticks until the disc is removed and then goes to 'Windows is configuring for first setup' this is where it stops

If I go into the Windows boot manager
, I get the option to choose the operating system (Windows 7) or press tab to enter the Windows Memory Diagnostic

But get no option to boot from CD

Edited by chac, 03 February 2015 - 02:41 PM.

[Ztruker]

Maybe the disc you borrowed is no good? I gave you info for creating a XP Recovery Disc before, no idea why as you have Windows 7. Sorry about that.

 

Try this: You can download a legal copy with SP1 integrated from here:   

Windows 7 Direct Download Links  

Make sure you get the same version you have, Home Premium, Pro or Ultimate and 32 or 64 bit. Note that Basic or Starter is not available.

I recommend using ImgBurn at 4X speed (or the slowest available) to create the DVD from the downloaded .iso file. Just be careful during the install not to accidentally install some of the bundled junk that comes with it. Always take The Custom Install option.  

You can do this on any Windows computer capable of burning a DVD.  

YOU MUST HAVE A VALID KEY TO INSTALL THIS .ISO.
The one on the COA sticker on your computer will work. 
If you are just using the Recovery Console you do not need a key.

You can also create a bootable USB Flash drive (4GB or larger) to install Windows 7 from.

• Download and run Universal USB Installer  Easy as 1 2 3
• Select Windows 7 from the first drop down list, all the way to the bottom
• Select the downloaded Windows 7 iso file
• Select your USB flash drive
• Click Create

How to run chkdsk or System File Checker (SFC) from the Recovery Console

• Boot your Vista or Windows 7 installation DVD
• When you see "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD", press Enter.
• At the "Install Windows" screen, click on Repair your computer at lower left
• At the System Recovery Options screen, make note of the drive letter assigned to your boot drive (normally C: ) and click Next
• At the Chose a Recovery Tool window, click on Command Prompt. You will be sitting at X:\Sources directory.

Run chkdsk

• If you did not note the drive letter of your boot disk, you can enter bcdedit and look at the osdevice line to see what it is.
• For chkdsk, type chkdsk c: /r and press Enter (use the letter from above if not C: ).
• Let it run to completion undisturbed.

Next, enter diskpart, then list vol.

Look under the Ltr column to see what drive letter has been assigned to your boot drive. It may or may not be C so make sure.

Enter exit to leave diskpart.

 

Enter format x:   (where x: is the drive letter for the boot partition).

 

Once that completes, remove the CD and reboot then use F12, see if it works this time. If not, you can try ordering a recovery disc from web sites like restorediscs.com or see if you can locate one on Ebay.

[Plastic Nev]

Whichever way you go to reinstall Windows if you have to go to that, I see a major problem as you did say the product code or key has been wiped or rubbed off on the label. So are you sure that sticker is the correct one? Sometimes the real and correct label is inside the battery compartment, have you removed the battery to check? worth a look just in case.

Without that key code you will not be able to activate Windows once you have reinstalled it.

 

The only chance of saving things is if you can get the system to repair Windows using the disk as Ztruker mentions above with the repair console. If that method seems to fail or you have problems with it, to save me some typing, here is a full tutorial regarding doing a windows 7 repair.

 

http://www.sevenforu...ir-install.html

 

If the previous format you performed has removed too much information and a repair is not possible, you might as well find a genuine seller of Windows 7 who still has disks for sale. You may not be able to buy direct from Microsoft as they recently announced they have discontinued all sales of Windows 7.

 

Nev.

Edited by Plastic Nev, 09 February 2015 - 03:57 PM.

[chac]

Thanks for the reply guys

I have gotten a hold of a genuine Windows XP Inc. the key, but by the looks of it the format has also removed the CD driver as neither the Win 7 or XP disk work (both ware fine on my business PC), I will be following Ztruckers advice on installing via USB