Windows 7: Going to re format my laptop

Alright well,

Some of you know I got a brand new laptop about 4 months ago. I am going to wipe the hard drive, and re-install windows. That only thing is that Acer didn't give me a install disk, but i do have a windows 7 home premium disk when my dad got his computer, but i was wondering if the product key on the bottom of my laptop will work so i can install windows and start fresh.

plus this way will allow me to not have to deal with Acers default programs.

I highly recommend that you perform a Factory Restore instead of a Clean Install due to the potential loss of default drivers (as a for instance, on my system I could not replace a few as they are Acer's and their drivers site doesn't have it all). It is essentially the same thing as a "Clean Install" (the HDD gets reformatted), it just doesn't result in the total loss of Drivers or other media that are also preserved on the hidden backup partition.

As for Acer's "bloatware", you can merely uninstall all of that and disable other settings. That's the best method with OEM systems IMHO.

Here's how to do it without wasting many ISO disks: System Recovery Options

Either way, up to you... I myself prefer the Factory Restore because there's no hassles other than reinstalling my programs and getting rid of the bloatware, as opposed to hunting down Drivers and praying they're the right ones in addition to all the other crap involved with system restoration.

hi there
on the laptop in the programs is there not a program from acer to make a rescue disc or system disc of some kind? check there website out for advice http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/home what model is the laptop?

Well Acer has a program built in that it gives me the option to back up applications, and drivers. So could i just make a disk back up of these, and just re-install windows then just use the the windows install disk and then just install the drivers with that disk?

It can't hurt to make backups of anything and everything, but anytime I get my hands on an OEM system, whether it be for business (I use my own image) or personal, such as family and friends, the OEM install gets blown away, and I do a clean install from a plain vanilla disc, or flash drive, in this case. Your key on the laptop will work just fine, and drivers are usually pretty easy to get, either from the laptop manufacturer, or the hardware manufacturer...such as Intel.

this is good advice to follow

Hello mate, here's some interesting info you may find useful and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

After you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media; if you can find an exact Windows version that the PC shipped with you can do a clean install using the activation key on the COA sticker attached to the PC though it may require a robo-call to MS to sort the OEM batch-key.

How to Activate Windows 7 by Phone


If you can't find an exact same version, you could use the info in this tutorial to create an "all Versions" installer of any version Windows installer, to install using the same method I posted above.

Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create


After you have made backups of everything you care to save, the best method is to do a complete wipe (secure erase) of the entire Hard Disk Drive first, it over-writes everything, all the old Windows code including all the old drivers/programs, giving you the best possible space to install Windows to.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

How to get a purrfect factory OEM clean reinstall: re-install windows 7

If you have any "special" Acer features on your laptop, you will get a driver problem going with another installation disk. Those can be fixed, but it may be a pain.

Example: I have a HD screen on my Sony laptop. I wanted to "improve" the driver only to end up with a generic driver that made my screen so dark that I could not id anything on the screen anymore. Fortunately I had an image from the previous day to where I could go back.

Another example: I have a backlit keyboard. The settings for it are in "Sony only" registry keys. If I used another system disk, the backlit keyboard would not work.

Don't rely on backups... made that mistake and almost lost everything when my backup DVD-R's failed and the data got wiped. That's why I very strongly advise a Factory Restore over a totally fresh install of Windows because that will completely erase the hidden partition on which Acer has put the backup image on (to my knowledge there IS NOT a way to preserve this partition with a Clean Install and if you do that, there's no going back if your DVD-R's of the eRecovery backup disk fails like it did on me).

Again, up to you and it IS possible to create a Drivers/Apps disk to restore those with through eRecovery, but again, I advise against the Clean Install and think that you would be better served giving the Factory Restore a chance first.

If your system is a "touch-screen", be prepared to lose Acer's touch-pack if you opt for the Clean Install anyway. You cannot back the programs up and you cannot get them over the internet or on Acer's Downloads page either, that's another reason why I don't do Clean Installs on OEM systems with uncommon or unique features, especially if the manufacturer does NOT host all necessary files on their site to restore them. Just FYI.