Hello all,
I have been trying, for a day or so, to install Windows 7 on a VAIO VGN NR21M which has Win Vista pre-installed. Despite my efforts I always fail at the final hurdle. In this case, final restart.
The issue I have is with VAIO Recovery Centre starting after the final restart of the Windows 7 installation.
During the installation process everything is fine. I enter user name, computer name, set up and connect to my home network, enter time zone, and set the language, and everything else it asks of me.
After the final restart and the computer begins to boot, I am taken to VAIO Recovery Centre where my only option is to re-install Vista from a copy already on my harddrive, hidden in a seperate partition. Presumably a feature of most forward thinking laptop manufacturers.
Is there a way to disable the start-up/boot-up VAIO Recovery Centre feature?
If not, how does anyone install Windows 7 without being given the the only option of re-installing Vista?
Something must detect that the C: drive no longer contains Vista which then loads the VAIO/Vista re-install, but what it is, and where one turns it off, is a mystery to me.
Things I've Tried Already:
1. Run the Win 7 Compatability tool.
2. Installing Service Pack 1.
3. Installing Win7 using the DVD to 'upgrade' from the Vista desktop with all my progs and settings in place.
4. A 'clean' install of Win 7 from Vista desktop with all my progs and settings in place.
5. An 'upgrade' install via boot from DVD
6. A clean install via boot from DVD
7. Clean install of Vista + SP1 then 3. 4. 5. 6. again.
8. Different Win 7 .iso file
9. Two different DVDs burnt at lowest speed from .iso using CDBurnerXP and InfraRecorder.
Things I'm Considering:
1. Formatting both C: and the hidden Vista partition then boot from DVD.
I dont want to try that because should it fail then I am left with a laptop that has no OS on it due to the fact that the 'recovery/install disk' that would have come with my laptop is actually on that hidden partition.
Funnily/Irritatingly I get to the final reboot of Win 7 install when I boot from DVD where-as from Vista I don't even get to input details.
If someone could tell me what I'm doing wrong I'll be forever grateful 🙂
Any further info required please let me know
Thanks!
