Re-Install Windows 7 with Locked boot order

[Enigma]

Re-Install Windows 7 with Locked boot order

Ok, so I had to test that theory. Stemming from my HP BIOS password reset project, I had a guy who's laptop wasn't supported, had a locked boot order (HDD Only) and was BIOS password protected (That he didnt have). His Win7 install was trashed, and wanted to re-install. But how? I suggested a method, and have tested it (twice, once and then following what I wrote here so I could take images), and documented the easy process, and it works, so I thought I'd share.



Here is what you'll need.

New/Used SATA HDD for installation
USB to 2.5" SATA Adapter
Windows Install Media (DVD)

Plug in SATA drive using USB adapter, you should see new hardware notification.

Partition the drive making one partition about 8GB, and then format the second partition.


Open a CMD prompt with administrative privileges.

Type Diskpart in the CMD to launch the partition utility

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diskpart

Then type

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list disk

Then select your new disk using select disk (mine is disk 2)

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select disk 2

Now list the partitions

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list partition

Select our install partition

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select partition 1

make it active

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active

Probably don't need this step, but this is how I did it, so I'm still including it

Format the partition

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format fs=NTFS quick

Assign it a drive letter

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assign

Find program BOOTSECT.EXE , usually in installation media

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E:\USB\Boot>bootsect.exe /nt60 E:

(E: is the Drive letter for Install Partition we just made)

Now copy over your install DVD contents to the install partition

Remove new SATA Drive, and install into laptop, Power on, and it should boot automatically to the installer partition, and let you re-install windows. Select our second Partition, and then just follow the prompts.

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There's another way.

1 - Put the HDD in another computer.
2 - Start the installation from a USB drive or DVD.
3 - When the computer reboots for the first time, shut it down.
4 - Put the HDD back in the first computer, boot and let it finish the installation.

AFAIK, the installation doesn't do any machine specific configurations before the first reboot.
Useful if you have no adapter. Works for me. Wouldn't try swapping between UEFI and non-UEFI machines tho.