Bought used Dell laptop, how to re-install windows for a clean setup?

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  1.    #21

    Sure you can save it although if it's triggered by F8 it won't retain the hotkey at boot since that menu is reinstalled with Windows.

    But we have ways to add it to a Dual Boot menu from Windows if needed. Boot Recovery Partition using EasyBCD

    You can also make your REcovery disks as explained here to have a backup method for Recovery: Dell Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings

    Most owners like the Clean Reinstall and use a WIn7 backup image in place of Recovery going forward.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 889
    Windows 7 64 & Ubuntu 64
    Thread Starter
       #22

    Man it was almost done & of course had an error before it finished. It took over 2 hours just to cancel itself I'm so pissed.

    I have the win7 OEM cd for my computer, can I just use that to reinstall the software, but using the laptop code to activate the win7?
      My Computer


  3. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #23

    JohnnyScience said:

    I have the win7 OEM cd for my computer, can I just use that to reinstall the software, but using the laptop code to activate the win7?
    Is this a Dell CD? Dell do provide clean install DVDs and if this is one of them then I would think you can use it and get a nice clean system.
    If you or anyone else wants to be extra cautious when making these types of changes then you can image every partition of your PC with free Macrium Reflect. This way you can do partition image restores an get back to where you started if things go wrong.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 889
    Windows 7 64 & Ubuntu 64
    Thread Starter
       #24

    It was actually my copy from digital river when win7 first came out. But I just looked at it & it was the Pro version, not the Home version. Lucky for me I let it download again last night before bed & I woke up to it being successfully finished today & am burning it to a dvd right now.

    Thanks again guys.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 889
    Windows 7 64 & Ubuntu 64
    Thread Starter
       #25

    Ok so I just inserted the new OEM win7 dvd I just burned & the installation just started & stopped right away asking for a drivers disk?

    I don't have any other disk, why would it be asking for this while just starting to install windows?

    It gives me the following options to install drivers:

    Recovery (C)
    OS (D)
    CD Drive (has windows OEM cd in now)
    Boot (x)

    I tried selecting all of them & none have any drivers for the install?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 889
    Windows 7 64 & Ubuntu 64
    Thread Starter
       #26

    Here is the drivers & download page for the model laptop:

    Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

    But I don't see a visably labeled "driver" file for me to download?

    Just Bios, Communication & Input sections.

    What do I need to download exactly to finish the windows install?
      My Computer

  7.    #27

    The drivers are all in the installer. When you're prompted for drivers like that during install it usually means there is a problem with the installer.

    What OEM DVD are you using? I thought you downloaded Win7 Home Premium x64 SP1 English Official ISO download and burned it to DVD using Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 889
    Windows 7 64 & Ubuntu 64
    Thread Starter
       #28

    Yes that is the OEM copy I downloaded & I used ISO Burn to burn it (already had it on my computer)

    I did rename the .iso before burning it, is that an issue you think? I renamed it win7Home64.iso
      My Computer

  9.    #29

    Why are you calling it an OEM copy? The downloads are all the same for retail and OEM.

    I don't know why you would change anything about the download before burning it to DVD. Do it again.

    Win7 Home Premium x64 SP1 English Official ISO download
    Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 5,795
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #30

    JohnnyScience said:
    I'm not selling it, I just bought it so I wanted to scrub it as good as possible & I thought that's what I did?
    That's the perfect reason NOT to restore Windows 7, but to follow the link and do a clean install. Most of us do this on an OEM system right away after purchase.

    JohnnyScience said:
    Ok do I really want to delete the factory OS partition? It's nice to have in a quick jiffy sometimes if you dont have the disk
    If you have the install media disc (that you can download and burn), you don't need to worry about the restore partition. You can always repair using the install media, and if your HDD fails, the restore partition is useless anyway.
      My Computer


 
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