Solved Clean install of windows 7 w/out disc? (new computer didn't come w/)

Hey guys. I did a search but couldn't fin exactly what I was looking for so hopefully someone can help me out. I just got a new Acer laptop and I wanted to do a clean install of Windows 7 like it did on my last laptop (I love being bloatware free!). Problem is that this laptop didn't come with a Windows disc, or any disc for that matter as I guess all the recovery info is on a HD partition. So how do I get a clean install of Windows 7?

Also, I just remembered, I do have a Windows 7 disc from my old laptop. Would that work? What would I use for activation key if so?

Thanks

Manual how to use Acer eRecovery Management here:
ftp://ftp.support.acer-euro.com/notebook/empowering_technology/NB%20ET2%20user's%20guide/Acer%20eRecovery%20Management%20English.pdf

You can Order Acer recovery disks from here:
https://secure.tx.acer.com/RCDB/Main.aspx?brand=acer

Welcome MGFTP to the windows 7 forums.

1st, your old windows 7 disk most likely will not work on your new machine.

I recommend decrapifying your existing machine. You can clean it up very easily by removing all the pre-installed programs by acer. Most manufacturers get a commission when you purchase programs they have pre-installed as trialware. Just remove them and then clean it up. You should be fine. I do this all the time for my business clients as it is easier than a complete re-install.
Using the recovery disks won't help you much as many times it just re-installs all that trial ware that you don't want or need.

Rich

Hello mgftp,

Let us know the results of following Theog's advice.

Generally speaking, 1 win 7 disc=1 machine or in other words, 1 disc per machine.

The question is: The machine on which you installed Win 7--is that machine still in use?

Do you have the key for that Win 7?

An economical solution is tho buy and OEM version of Win 7 and then use your COA on your new computer when validating.

I'm rather sure there's a write-up on that. If not, then GregRocker is an expert in this approach.

You can do a clean install from the recovery partition (even burn a recovery disk from there). But that will not help. You will get the same bloatware all over again.

The options you have are:
1. Slim down the installation disk with vLite
2. Buy an installation disk - maybe an OEM version. Was on sale 2 weeks ago at Newegg for $84.
3. Uninstall everything you do not need from your current installation. Use Revo Uninstaller. That will be the cheapest and most expedient solution.

He wants a clean reinstall without the factory bloatware on the Recovery Partition or disks. Here's how: Reinstalling Windows 7

Is the Win7 disk which came with your other computer a DVD which says "Win7 Installation Disk?" Is it the same version as on your new laptop? If not can you put it in drive and browse (Open) the DVD to Sources folder to see if there is an ei.cfg file?

If so, you can extract the ISO using ImgBUrn, run the eicfg removal tool
to unlock all versions, burn a DVD with ImgBurn at 4x speed to clean reinstall with the Product Key on COA sticker.

If not, you'll have to find or borrow a retail Win7 installer to do the same, or download an ISO from the web searching for official Wn7 downloads from Digital Life.

Thanks for the replies everyone.............

theog said:

Manual how to use Acer eRecovery Management here:
ftp://ftp.support.acer-euro.com/notebook/empowering_technology/NB%20ET2%20user's%20guide/Acer%20eRecovery%20Management%20English.pdf

You can Order Acer recovery disks from here:
https://secure.tx.acer.com/RCDB/Main.aspx?brand=acer

Click to expand...

I am not interested in recovery. I am interested in a clean install. Thanks

richnrockville said:

Welcome MGFTP to the windows 7 forums.

1st, your old windows 7 disk most likely will not work on your new machine.

I recommend decrapifying your existing machine. You can clean it up very easily by removing all the pre-installed programs by acer. Most manufacturers get a commission when you purchase programs they have pre-installed as trialware. Just remove them and then clean it up. You should be fine. I do this all the time for my business clients as it is easier than a complete re-install.
Using the recovery disks won't help you much as many times it just re-installs all that trial ware that you don't want or need.

Rich

Click to expand...

Thanks, this is an option, but I am hoping to find a way to just do a clean install.

karlsnooks said:

Hello mgftp,

Let us know the results of following Theog's advice.

Generally speaking, 1 win 7 disc=1 machine or in other words, 1 disc per machine.

The question is: The machine on which you installed Win 7--is that machine still in use?

Do you have the key for that Win 7?

An economical solution is tho buy and OEM version of Win 7 and then use your COA on your new computer when validating.

I'm rather sure there's a write-up on that. If not, then GregRocker is an expert in this approach.

Click to expand...

I have the key for that windows 7 disc. The computer is in use and I plan to sell it once I get the new one up and running.

whs said:

You can do a clean install from the recovery partition (even burn a recovery disk from there). But that will not help. You will get the same bloatware all over again.

The options you have are:
1. Slim down the installation disk with vLite
2. Buy an installation disk - maybe an OEM version. Was on sale 2 weeks ago at Newegg for $84.
3. Uninstall everything you do not need from your current installation. Use Revo Uninstaller. That will be the cheapest and most expedient solution.

Click to expand...

Thanks, really just looking for a clean install if possible.

gregrocker said:

He wants a clean reinstall without the factory bloatware on the Recovery Partition or disks. Here's how: Reinstalling Windows 7

Is the Win7 disk which came with your other computer a DVD which says "Win7 Installation Disk?" Is it the same version as on your new laptop? If not can you put it in drive and browse (Open) the DVD to Sources folder to see if there is an ei.cfg file?

If so, you can extract the ISO using ImgBUrn, run the eicfg removal tool
to unlock all versions, burn a DVD with ImgBurn at 4x speed to clean reinstall with the Product Key on COA sticker.

If not, you'll have to find or borrow a retail Win7 installer to do the same, or download an ISO from the web searching for official Wn7 downloads from Digital Life.

Click to expand...

The disc I have says Windows 7 Upgrade Media. I used it to do a clean install on the laptop I got it for, so I can only assume the full product is on the disc. The disc and the old computer were 32 bit and the new computer comes loaded with 64 but they are both premium edition.

I do see that file on the disc, but I am not sure what you mean by extract the ISO?

But are you saying since they key for the new laptop is for Windows 7 Premium that I could use my old Windows 7 Premium to do the clean install and just use the key on the bottom of the new laptop? Does the 32 vs 64 bit thing matter?

Thanks a lot for your reply. You seem to get what I am trying to do here.

You need the x64 DVD for x64
.
x86 dvd for x86, which you have.

theog said:

You need the x64 DVD for x64
.
x86 dvd for x86, which you have.

Click to expand...

So I am screwed? haha...

You can likely use the Win7 DVD you have to reinstall Home Premium with the Product Key on the COA but it will be 32 bit. If you want 64 bit you'll need to find an installer, borrow from a friend, or download from the internet searching Win7 official downloads from My Digital Life.

Since it's the same version you don't need to unlock all versions. Extracting the ISO with ImgBurn means copying the image file off the disk, to run the ei.cfg removal tool on it and burn an all-versions disk if need be.

You can use either 32 or 64 bit with each license, your choice. No harm in trying the other version. I don't recommend 32 bit for more than 4 gb RAM or 64 bit for less.

Follow the steps given here to get a perfect reinstall: Reinstalling Windows 7

gregrocker said:

You can likely use the Win7 DVD you have to reinstall Home Premium with the Product Key on the COA but it will be 32 bit. If you want 64 bit you'll need to find an installer, borrow from a friend, or download from the internet searching Win7 official downloads from My Digital Life.

Since it's the same version you don't need to unlock all versions. Extracting the ISO with ImgBurn means copying the image file off the disk, to run the ei.cfg removal tool on it and burn an all-versions disk if need be.

You can use either 32 or 64 bit with each license, your choice. No harm in trying the other version. I don't recommend 32 bit for more than 4 gb RAM or 64 bit for less.

Follow the steps given here to get a perfect reinstall: Reinstalling Windows 7

Click to expand...

Hey man. Thanks. You have been such a help so far.

So since my laptop has 4GB I really want the 64 bit? If I understand right, what I want to do is download the 64 bit for the version (from mydigitallife) of my licence key (premium), burn the file to a DVD and I am all set to boot from disc and use my key?

Thanks again man.

Yes burn ISO file to DVD or write to flash stick using this tool: Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool or use ImgBurn at 4x speed.

gregrocker said:

Yes burn ISO file to DVD or write to flash stick using this tool: Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool or use ImgBurn at 4x speed.

Click to expand...

Thanks so much again, downloading now and will try this all out this some time this weekend and report back.

mgftp said:

gregrocker said:

Yes burn ISO file to DVD or write to flash stick using this tool: Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool or use ImgBurn at 4x speed.

Click to expand...

Thanks so much again, downloading now and will try this all out this some time this weekend and report back.

Click to expand...

It all worked out. Thank you so much for the help!

Glad it helped.

mgftp said:

mgftp said:

gregrocker said:

Yes burn ISO file to DVD or write to flash stick using this tool: Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool or use ImgBurn at 4x speed.

Click to expand...

Thanks so much again, downloading now and will try this all out this some time this weekend and report back.

Click to expand...

It all worked out. Thank you so much for the help!

Click to expand...

Now for your records, you might want to click on the link in my sig for UrOffice&OS keys. Run it and save the results.

mgftp said:

mgftp said:

gregrocker said:

Yes burn ISO file to DVD or write to flash stick using this tool: Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool or use ImgBurn at 4x speed.

Click to expand...

Thanks so much again, downloading now and will try this all out this some time this weekend and report back.

Click to expand...

It all worked out. Thank you so much for the help!

Click to expand...

Hi MTGFTP. I'm in the same boat you were in and I hope you'll still see this thread. I'm gonna buy a new HP laptop and plan on reformatting it to get rid of all the junk. And like ACER, it won't be shipped with the Windows 7 Home Premium installation disk. So my question is did you try Windows Ultimate with your COA sticker or did you stick with Premium? And Gregrocker if you still follow the thread, I'd love your advice as well. Alright, Thanks dudes.

If you're asking whether another version than the licensed version on the COA sticker will activate with Product Key on sticker, it will not.

Follow these steps to get a perfect reinstall of HP without the factory bloatware: Reinstalling Windows 7

In addition if you make your HP Recovery disks you can extract any apps you want which came preinstalled from factory: Extract HP 3rd Party Software from RecovCD

If you have any further issues or questions, please start a new thread here.