Need tips to facilitate clean install of Win 7 and existing software


  1. Posts : 169
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #1

    Need tips to facilitate clean install of Win 7 and existing software


    I have seen the great tutorial for doing a clean install. In this case I am looking for another tip. My computer is already Win7 with lots of software. Performance has come to a point I want to do a clean install and start all over.

    The question? The Win7 install should be a piece of cake, but I think keeping track of all the software and reinstalling it can be a pain.

    Do you guys have any tips to make this more organized or easier?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 4,466
    Windows 10 Education 64 bit
       #2

    I don't know if this helps but this is how I do it. These days I have everything on USB thumb drives. I start with windows 7 on a 4 gig. Then I swap that out for one with all my drivers on it. Usually I go Chip-set, Video, Sound, NIC, etc. Once my drivers are all installed I swap in the one with windows updates on it. DirectX, Dot Net Framework, Silverlight, Microsoft Security Essentials, etc. Then I move on to the common programs and apps. Flash, Java, etc. To keep things straight one option is to put numbers in front of the folder names like "1 -", "2 -", etc, in the order you want to install things.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #3

    How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7
    Repair Install
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 169
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #4

    I appreciate your thoughts and did just recently do a repair install on my other PC, but I really think I want to take this down, reformat and reinstall.

    As for drivers and such I am not really worried about them. I am mostly concerned with reinstalling all the other software on the PC. What I did is run Belarc advisor to list all the programs. I will use that as a checklist for what i wanted to re-install.

    I just thought there may be a more organized way.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #5

    I take screen shots of my C drive programs folder to remind me what I have installed. I go online and download the latest versions of each entry in program files that is available for download. For the few programs that I have in CD or DVD form, I make sure I have the product keys written down and easily accessible.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 169
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #6

    ignatzatsonic said:
    I take screen shots of my C drive programs folder to remind me what I have installed. I go online and download the latest versions of each entry in program files that is available for download. For the few programs that I have in CD or DVD form, I make sure I have the product keys written down and easily accessible.
    Seems pretty similar to what i am doing. Belarc even shows the software keys for many of the programs. Provides a pretty thorough list.

    Thanks for the ideas.
      My Computer


 

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