Windows 10 to Windows 7: a special case

a reply to: chr0naut

I'm doing this as I type. Thanks for the suggestion.

I have created the Windows 10 thumb drive installer and while that was happening I followed the command prompt suggestions that you made, just to see how that process turns out. Everything seems to be going well. The installer (disc) is "starting". I'll let everyone know what happens. Many thanks to all.

originally posted by: ipsedixit
a reply to: mysterioustranger

It crossed my mind. the computer is probably around 10 years old and ran flawlessly until the day the hard drive went kaflooey. Thanks.

You know all the updates and fixes to security and site flaws we've gotten for years and years? Which systems, o.s.'s, sites etc just build up wall after wall of protections..it just doesnt matter. And after awhile...the older systems just cant get thru all the newer tech-driven updates.

One member recently bought a smart tv, huge screen, 4k, H.D. etc, etc...and said something is wrong with it 'cause his older games and P.S.4's dont work right on it....I propose it wasnt the brand new t.v.

a reply to: mysterioustranger

Too true. lol.

a reply to: chr0naut

^^^^

Diskpart is probably the tool ya need. And, if you are only looking at the one hard drive, you don't need to worry about what can go wrong using it!

That said, caution while using diskpart is a very, very good habit to start right off the bat.

Windows 7, 8, and 10 can all be a bit wonky with partitions, especially with USB drives. Another good tool to know is Disk Management (which may be all you need in a lot of cases). Type in "partition" into the Start Menu search box ("Cortana").

A lot of tools are a bit buried in 10, I find using search to be an excellent way to find them.

a reply to: Templeton

True he could do that.

Though, at least IMO, it's better to install the operating system you intend to use. Rather than upgrading from windows 7. And it would be faster as well.

a reply to: mysterioustranger

Do you remember what issues specifically, or if they worked it out?

The folks of ATS can probably help

originally posted by: Serdgiam
a reply to: mysterioustranger

Do you remember what issues specifically, or if they worked it out?

The folks of ATS can probably help

I personally dont. Too many devices, systems, specific threats, upgrades, auto-fixes.ad infinitum.......

Make sure secure boot has been disabled in your bias setup screen.
a reply to: ipsedixit

a reply to: ipsedixit
If you downloaded the installation drivers for Windows 7 exe , that is just a self-extracting file to create a folder with the drives in it

2) If you got the "free upgrade" to Windows 10 , you registered and activated it through your email
Just go here:

Windows 10

ETA : Click the plus next to Using the tool to create installation media

Download and create the bootable media on another system
Boot with USB
Use the Win 10 to partition and format
Install
When you log in the first time , your Win 10 is auto magically activated
Enjoy

Thanks for all the responses. In trying to install Win 7 and Win 10 (from USB thumb drive) I have gotten error messages and requests for drivers. All the problems seem to point to an issue with the hard drive itself. I followed the suggestion about DISKPART in both installation attempts and was still road blocked.

Went down the rabbit hole in several forums. Went to the Western Digital website hunting for drivers (came up empty). Finally in a forum I found a discussion of my exact issue with the Win !0 thumb drive install. A WD support person from another thread was quoted. I think this might be the solution to the problem.

This response dealt with issues caused by the speed of the hard drive and suggested a jumper setting to reduce the speed of the drive from 6 gbs to 3gbs. At this point I am going to remove the drive from the computer, hunt around for a jumper clip and set the drive accordingly.



I will let you know what happens.

Didn't work.

I got the message, which I'd received earlier,

"We couldn't install Windows in the location you chose. (unalocated space). Check your media drive. Here's more info about what happened. 0x80300002"

From what I gather this refers to errors in the "partition table".

Moving right along, I hooked up the drive to another computer and went into DISK MANAGEMENT to try to format it. DM told me that it could not "initialize" the drive. Through DM I learned that the drive was working properly but that it had 32 bit drivers. I have a 64 bit machine. Now I am in the hunt for 64 bit drivers and finding them on the Western Digital website is no walk in the park. I downloaded the WD drive utilities app but when I started it, it told me to attach a "supported" WD drive. Caramba!!!!

The drive is a WD Blue 1tb WD10EZEX.

Suggestions, observations and appropriate links would be appreciated. Thanks.

a reply to: ipsedixit

I'm just following this as an interested bystander.
Why do you have to partition the HD?

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

When installing an OS on a new hard drive the installer will format the drive with the necessary partitions if they are not present. The installer(s) failed to do this.

a reply to: ipsedixit

The installer on the Win7 disc?
Could it be because of the wrong 32-bit drivers?

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Could be. I have decided to install Windows 10 on the machine and I have given up on the problem and sent an email to Western Digital in an attempt to get the 64 bit drivers. We'll see what happens. I'm done for the night.

a reply to: ipsedixit

It's been so long since I did a new HD....and don't remember much except I had no problems.
Actually, only did the one, and had a friend on the phone walk me though it.

Good luck!

a reply to: ipsedixit

Re-9install windows 10?
Just get the windows media creation tool from the ms website and download the correct iso.
You should be able to boot from flash drive (if safe boot is disabled)

The partition issue with windows 7 is most likely that the sata mode has been set to ACHI and not IDE in the BIOS.

Let me know if you have any trouble.
PS. Since you upgraded to Windows 10 in the past your computers hardware will be automatically detected and Windows 10 re-install should license itself without any intervention from the user.

originally posted by: ipsedixit
Moving right along, I hooked up the drive to another computer and went into DISK MANAGEMENT to try to format it. DM told me that it could not "initialize" the drive. Through DM I learned that the drive was working properly but that it had 32 bit drivers. I have a 64 bit machine. Now I am in the hunt for 64 bit drivers and finding them on the Western Digital website is no walk in the park. I downloaded the WD drive utilities app but when I started it, it told me to attach a "supported" WD drive. Caramba!!!!

The drive is a WD Blue 1tb WD10EZEX.

Suggestions, observations and appropriate links would be appreciated. Thanks.

Honestly sounds like the new drive is a dud. If it was parallel cables, I would understand that it could be them, but with SATA pretty much every thing travels across the same pair, meaning it would be either totally dead or working.

The drive seems to be identifying and not flagging an error, so perhaps it is a write amplifier or something. Still, i'd expect an error, so, weird.

Does the drive work in other systems?

a reply to: GreenGunther

I have done this, downloaded the media creation tool, Win 10 to USB flash drive, tried to install, couldn't do it. There is some problem with the hard drive. The installers can't seem to deal with the drive. I'm hoping that it is the 32 bit drivers and that Western Digital can point me to 64 bit drivers.

I downloaded their "Drive Utilities" wizard, connected the drive to another computer (USB) to see if there was some detectable problem and was prompted to attach a "supported" hard drive.

I tried to format the drive in MS's Disk Management utility and was told the drive could not be "initialized".

I'm at a loss. I know (from Disk Management), that the drive has 32 bit drivers. Does it need 64 bit drivers?