Cannot Create system Image... and other hard drive woes

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ianjthor

Reputable
Jan 27, 2016
5
0
4,510
(ASUS N61JQ Windows 7 Home premium)
disc 0 has a C drive (win) and D Drive... it also has a 'healthy primary partition' with no drive letter.

I have been unable to create a system image due to errors. I cannot access the 14.65GB 'healthy primary partition' to search for recovery files.

I have also installed an SSD using a HD caddy, 240GB. I would like to fresh factory style install onto SSD and Label it as C. Then have the standard disc (Currently disc 0) used as a back-up/storage drive.

Issues: ASUS does not support recovery discs for this model anymore. The tool they recommend does not work for this either. MS will not give me a Win7 download and directs me to ASUS. I'm going in circles.

The goal is to fresh install on the SSD to factory. How do I get there?

Thanks for any help.


EDIT: I still need to find a way to make a fresh install onto SSD. I have used the program 'Find and Mount' to assign a drive letter to the primary healthy partition. It is Formatted to Fat 32 and appears to be empty,
 
Solution
Boogieman_WD
If you have the OS product key, that's awesome! Just make a bootable USB flash drive with the same version of Windows and you should have no issues installing it. This link might be helpful: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool
Just one piece of advice - please make sure that you have the HDD disconnected from the laptop during the Windows installation, so that you avoid any conflicts between the 2 operating systems.
As for the drivers, you should be able to find drivers for your hardware on the laptop manufacturer's website. Other than that you should also be able to find them on the particular component manufacturer's website (e.g. the GPU manufacturer's website).
About the HDD, yes, you should be...
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

Judicious
Jul 31, 2014
6,050
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Hi there, ianjthor.

Well you could try migrating your OS to the SSD, by following this tutorial: http://lifehacker.com/5837543/how-to-migrate-to-a-solid-state-drive-without-reinstalling-windows
Other than that, a fresh install is always recommended, but you'd have to download the exact same version of the OS the laptop came with and install it on the SSD. Then you should use the same product key. There's usually a sticker on the bottom of the laptop with the key. If there's no such key, perhaps the laptop manufacturer can assist you with an OEM key for their product.

Hope that helps. Please let me know how it goes.
Boogieman_WD
 
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I

ianjthor

Reputable
Jan 27, 2016
5
0
4,510


I downloaded a version of Win 7 Home Premium last night, I have the OS key so that should work. I also found a site with, what I hope to be, all of the drivers I'll need. I haven't tried to do this before so I'm hoping it all runs smoothly.

1. Install new OS onto SSD
2. Run OS and HOPEFULLy be able to pull driver files from the existing HD.

Do you know if that will be possible? Will I be able to see and access the old Drive when I am running the OS off the SSD? Or will it be an unavailable partition? Also, what the hell is that blank healthy partition for? It seemed to be empty which makes no sense to me.

Thank you for your response.
 
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

Judicious
Jul 31, 2014
6,050
2
35,960
If you have the OS product key, that's awesome! Just make a bootable USB flash drive with the same version of Windows and you should have no issues installing it. This link might be helpful: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool
Just one piece of advice - please make sure that you have the HDD disconnected from the laptop during the Windows installation, so that you avoid any conflicts between the 2 operating systems.
As for the drivers, you should be able to find drivers for your hardware on the laptop manufacturer's website. Other than that you should also be able to find them on the particular component manufacturer's website (e.g. the GPU manufacturer's website).
About the HDD, yes, you should be able to access that drive. Just make sure that you're booting from the SSD and that the installation of Windows was successful. Once you've done that, connect the HDD.
 
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