About to install Windows 7, but have a few questions first

[Tripper11]

So I finally got my copy of Windows 7 for my kids laptop. Quick question before I install.
See this link for issue that made me end up getting Win7 - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=242x30515

Since windows doesn't load anyway, is there anything I need to do before I beging the install? Or will the install format the corrupted version and give me a nice clean new install?
Also, because of my messing around with trying to recover the original Vista(with no luck) I have the laptop set to boot from CD/DVD Rom Drive....I assume that will be needed to install from the DVD Drive and then will I need to switch it back or will it default to a normal setting for booting after install?
Does that make sense?

Also,
Do I install the 64 bit version or 32?
The CPU is an AMD Turion 64X2 Mobile Technology
CPU Speed is 2.00 GHz
Total Memory is 3072M??

Thanks!

[BlueJazz]

1. Well>

64 bit is fine...and better.
7 can/will format the drive.
booting (DVD) is set in the bios..not the operating system.

IF Windows 7 locks up at the 62 % stage...tell us and we'll tell you what to do. :)
.

[Tripper11]

2. ok cool..thanks for your help!

I'll get cracking.

Also, while this is happening, what's up with the 62%??

[Tripper11]

3. well that didn't take long

Started the install...got a set.exe - Corrput Disk error message
The file system structure on the disk is corrput and unusable. PLease run the Chdsk utility on the volume C:. wtf??

And then behind that one, I have a "Windows cannot install required files. Make sure all files required for installation are available, and restart the installation. Error code: 0x80070571"

[BlueJazz]

4. Sounds like you may have some bad sectors on the drive.

I.E: sometimes a hard drive will develop places on the disk (s) that are unusable.

Ummm..how old is your hard drive?
If it's more than about 3000 hours, you might want to get another drive.

(opinions on this are varied) :)


also, you can go here and get a good partition fixer/looker/checker. :)

It's Free.

http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html

[Tripper11]

5. Hmmm..ok...

Someone over at pcpitstop.com where I solicit advice says it's a bad hard drive.
Crap crap crap! Why can't life be simple sometimes?

[BlueJazz]

6. Is there a Compusa close by?....Their drives are fairly inexpensive.

[Tripper11]

7. Do they even exist? Our shut down a couple years ago.

I have bestbuy and fry's and of course the local haunts....

[BlueJazz]

8. Our area has 2 of them. anyway, I suggest Western Digital drives.

Their guarantee is rock solid and easy to use.

Oh..that's something I forgot..is your computer 3 years old or younger??

You might be able to get one for free ???

[Tripper11]

10. It is under 3 years...

How can I get one for free?

[struggle4progress]

11. What's the warranty?

[BlueJazz]

12. The manufacturer usually guarantees them for 3 years.

take out the hard drive and look on the label.
there should be a date of manufacture.
go to the manufacturer's (Western Digital,Seagate..etc) site and find the warranty section.

If you'll take out the hard drive and tell me what's on it I'll look it up for you.

What brand of computer and model is it and I'll tell you how to get the drive...if you don't know how.


On Edit: or you can just search the web for something like "Sony model D530 remove hard drive"
There's lot of sites to tell you how to do it..it's easy. :)

[Tripper11]

13. Here you go....

The laptop is a Toshiba Satellite L355D-S7025
Model # PSLE0U-01000R

the drive is a Toshiba Disk Drive - MK2546GSX
other markings below Disk drive # - HDD2D90 B UK01 T

I appreciate the help...

[BlueJazz]

14. go hear and enter the serial number. Sounds like your drive is under Warranty..

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/support/jsp/globalEntitlement.jsp#SearchResults

It's a 250 gig drive...which should be fairly new. :)

[struggle4progress]

9. Hard drives are usually easy to replace. If you're not in a big hurry, you might get one cheaper

by shopping around online

[pokerfan]

15. Google Products is a great source for comparing prices

http://www.google.com/products?q=hard+drive&aq=f

As an instant gratification sort, I usually wind up buying local but it's good to know whether you're getting a fair price or not.

[Tripper11]

16. It's under warranty..bought at Best Buy along with their warranty

It's with the Geeks now...they are running their diagnositics and said they would let me know what's up.

[Tripper11]

17. Drive went south on me....

they're replacing it, free of charge.