Clean Vista install WITH NO ACTIVATION

[jgiordano]

The FAQ on the main page has links to where you can order them from compusa.

Thanks - I wanted to see if I could pick one up over the weekend. I ended up ordering it.

[ATR90]

Glad you are excited about using my guide. No, the drivers are not labeled clearly. You'll have to poke around in each folder to figure it out. I usually download them from HP, but there's some stuff you can't get online, like the fingerprint software, etc.. BTW: the drivers are not in the backup partition, they are in the c:\swsetup folder that you need to save before you do the reinstall.

Quickplay on vista does not work that way. It must boot into Vista (as of this writing, HP may change that in the future), so that's not a concern right now. You will need the quickplay stuff in SWsetup to install it, as you can't download it anywhere.

You're guide seems to be excellent. I can't wait to get my notebook to try it out.

Can you make a list of all the drivers located in that folder so that it will be easier for all the members, including me, to find them?

I have question regarding the system restore discs. Do the HP notebooks come with explicit instructions on how to make them?

Thanks.

[orev]

You're guide seems to be excellent. I can't wait to get my notebook to try it out.

Can you make a list of all the drivers located in that folder so that it will be easier for all the members, including me, to find them?

I have question regarding the system restore discs. Do the HP notebooks come with explicit instructions on how to make them?

Thanks.

The driver locations change over time. HP manages their file distribution using a system that stores each driver in a folder like c:\swsetup\sp12345. Every new driver version gets a new number, so that list will get out of date pretty quickly. You should be comfortable enough dealing with system installs that tracking this stuff down shouldn't be a problem. If you're not comfortable, it's not difficult and can be a learning experience. If all else fails, you can use the recovery discs, which is why I make such a big deal about making them.

Yes, there are instructions on making the restore discs.

[ATR90]

The driver locations change over time. HP manages their file distribution using a system that stores each driver in a folder like c:\swsetup\sp12345. Every new driver version gets a new number, so that list will get out of date pretty quickly. You should be comfortable enough dealing with system installs that tracking this stuff down shouldn't be a problem. If you're not comfortable, it's not difficult and can be a learning experience. If all else fails, you can use the recovery discs, which is why I make such a big deal about making them.

Yes, there are instructions on making the restore discs.

All drivers have a general file extension, correct? For example, the extension for an application is ".exe", the extension for an mp3 file is ".mp3", etc. Technically, couldn't I just search the folder for the file extension and get a list of all the drivers?

[orev]

All drivers have a general file extension, correct? For example, the extension for an application is ".exe", the extension for an mp3 file is ".mp3", etc. Technically, couldn't I just search the folder for the file extension and get a list of all the drivers?

They can be standard, but also can not. There's no real way to tell. If you go through each directory, there is a .CVA file (i think). If you open that in notepad there will be clues in there about what is in the file.

[ATR90]

They can be standard, but also can not. There's no real way to tell. If you go through each directory, there is a .CVA file (i think). If you open that in notepad there will be clues in there about what is in the file.

How many drivers are we talking about here? I can think of audio, video, fingerprint reader, webcam... what else?

[orev]

How many drivers are we talking about here? I can think of audio, video, fingerprint reader, webcam... what else?

I suggest you familiarize yourself with the HP driver download pages. Everything is listed there. Go to this page, click on "Download drivers", and type in the model number of the laptop you have.

[ATR90]

I suggest you familiarize yourself with the HP driver download pages. Everything is listed there. Go to this page, click on "Download drivers", and type in the model number of the laptop you have.

All the drivers seem to be online then, no? The fingerprint one you mentioned is online..

[orev]

The drivers are online, but the other software is not. The fingerprint reader has a driver and client software. You cannot get the software online. Other things like quickplay, roxio, norton, etc... you cannot download from HP but you may want them after you do the clean install.

I think all of this will become more apparent when you get your machine and sit down and start doing the procedure.

[ATR90]

I think all of this will become more apparent when you get your machine and sit down and start doing the procedure.

I believe you are right! Thanks for all the information you've shared so far. I'll update everyone when I get my new notebook and if I have any trouble.