Windows 7: Fresh install - how to?

Hello,

My laptop is a Toshiba Tecra R840-16J running Windows 7 Pro 64bit. After a BSOD I restored it to the factory state!!! But I'm not satisfied at all with the results!

So, I took 2 decisions:

1- move from my seagate 500 GB 7200rpm HDD to a 512 GB Plextor M3Pro SSD
2- install everyting from scratch (Windows 7 Pro 64 bit,...). I don't want to migrate, clone, etc to SSD, I need a fresh install!

So, it is here that I need your expertised help: how to do it correctely?

Regards,
paulo

It's like any other install:

Disconnect all drives other than the SSD.

Disconnect all peripherals such as printers, USB drives, etc. Just leave monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Connect the SSD.

Boot from the installation disc.

Follow the prompts.

You will end up with 2 partitions: a very small System Reserved and a large C covering the entire remainder of the drive.

After it completes, get an Internet connection going, install anti-virus, and update Windows.

Then reconnect any other drives you may have and your peripherals.

I'd also check a few things, like size of page file, amount of space devoted to System Restore, SSD alignment, and your defragmentation schedule. Look in Device Manager to see if there are any errors or missing drivers.

Do you have an Ethernet driver to be able to establish an Internet connection? It may be on a disc supplied by Toshiba. If not, go to Toshiba.com support page for your laptop and download it to a USB stick or CD or DVD before installing the SSD.

Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Thanks for the tips :-)

Hi, just one more stupid question: before installing Windows 7 should I format, clean, ...my hdd?

Thanks,
paulo

Did you read the tutorial in the blue link? You should follow it closely to get a perfect reinstall.

It explains that if you don't want to save the Factory Recovery partition (which will not run anyway if it is triggered from F8) then delete all partitions and reformat as you please during booted Custom install.

Yes, I do not use that!
I really want a clean install! I have burned 5 DVD with the Factory partition.
And I have nothing in the laptop now (I mean no personal data on it...everything could go)

paulo

Then follow the steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

As I understand it, you are installing to an SSD.

There is no reason to do anything to your HDD beforehand other than to disconnect it.

After the SSD is running and updated and Windows is generally under control, you can reconnect the HDD and do whatever you want to do with it. Or leave it in the closet.