How IT people perfrom reformats?

Derekuuda · 27 Jun 2012

Hi all,
I'm an IT Major at Boise State University and I often get a lot of people coming to me asking if I can reformat their PC for them. I was just wondering how most IT Professionals are able to reformat peoples PC's. Other then buying a new version of Microsoft Windows for every client, what service (if any) do IT professionals use? I know that Windows 7 Iso's are available online directly from microsoft, so theoretically if the person had their License sticker on their PC, you could reformat it using that. But as far as other software goes, (vista, office, XP, ect....) How do IT Pros do it?
I've heard about Technet, but am not sure if thats what it's purpose is for.

Any help would be much appreciated.

gregrocker · 27 Jun 2012

A lot of pro's use imaging, even a SysPrepped image which can start up on any hardware:

SysPrep to move HD to another computer
Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
System Image Recovery
Macrium - Image your system

I prefer premium Acronis True Image for cloning or imaging. You can use their free version if there is a WD or Seagate HD in the mix. The manual is on the WD/Seagate downloads page and easy to understand.

The basics for getting a baseline perfect reinstall are in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

pparks1 · 27 Jun 2012

If it were for a friend, I would use an ISO from my MSDN susbscription and their key from their machine.

If it were myself or at work, I use a sysprepped generalized image.

z3r010 · 27 Jun 2012

If it was me, I'd tell them I was far too busy and to take it to a shop

karlsnooks · 27 Jun 2012

Suggest that they:
Download PartitionWizaard to a CD, boot from the CD and use partition wizard to do the job.

Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online

Derekuuda · 27 Jun 2012

I think maybe some people are misunderstanding my question. I know how to reformat a PC. My question is more about what sources do IT Professionals use to obtain ISO's, registration keys, software, ect... I'm not even sure if their is such a service that even exists that Microsoft offers to IT Professionals. But I would imagine there is. I highly doubt that People that own PC repair shops go out and purchase a new copy of Windows XP, Vista, 7, Word, ect... everytime they reformat a customers PC.

richnrockville · 27 Jun 2012

z3r010 said:

If it was me, I'd tell them I was far too busy and to take it to a shop

But your a hard arse

Rich

karlsnooks · 27 Jun 2012

Derekuuda said:

I think maybe some people are misunderstanding my question. I know how to reformat a PC. My question is more about what sources do IT Professionals use to obtain ISO's, registration keys, software, ect... I'm not even sure if their is such a service that even exists that Microsoft offers to IT Professionals. But I would imagine there is. I highly doubt that People that own PC repair shops go out and purchase a new copy of Windows XP, Vista, 7, Word, ect... everytime they reformat a customers PC.

Excellent question.

The simple and straighforward answer:
their company pays for it,
they have a MSDN subscription,
they have a TechNet subscription ( i fiit in this category.),
or they download the ISO (if they already have a key) from Download Windows 7 ISO (Official 32-bit and 64-bit Direct Download Links) « My Digital Life

Win 7 is a much tighter setup than you had with XP. Win 8 is going to be even tighter.

Although the microsoft rule regarding installing of OEM version (which is cheaper) has not held up in Europe, that is another alternative.

We get a lots of questions here which are the result of a comute shop instgalling a version of Win 7 with a key that is already in use, which hasn't beeen validated, or which a crack has been applied to get by until Microsoft makes their periodical check if your version is valid.

When we detect that someone haas an illegal versioon of Win 7, then its Adios Amigo from SevenForums. For the record, If I could, I'd line all of the hackers up against the wall and give the machine gun a good workout.

karl

Derekuuda · 27 Jun 2012

Thanks for your response Karl.
So my next question is, as an up and coming IT Student. Do you think a Technet subscription would be a good investment? I fix alot of peoples PC's. I also have a MSDNAA account but, that is only used for my educational purposes.

karlsnooks · 27 Jun 2012

See no advantage. The keys you receive from Microsoft are not for sale and are only provided for your personal use in testing and the likes thereof.

The technet subscriptions enables me to 100% legally install more times on more computers than I need, but doing so save me money in the long run since I never install any software without a legal license. And that includes that I do not install hacked or illegal software that someone else has.