Windows 7: Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Be sure to unplug the other HD's and external as the backup drive incorrectly marked Active could derail the boot files during install otherwise. If it isn't meant to be bootable I'd mark K Inactive: Partition - Mark as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums.

If the Recovery partition won't boot and run anyway, I'd delete it along with all other partitions during install at the Drive Options shown in Steps 6/7 of Clean Install Windows 7. Then after install save a Windows 7 backup image to another HD to use in place of recovery or reinstall.

Hi again,

First off thanks for the quick replies Brink & gregrocker.



So I'm gathering the program installers for step 7 and after getting the LAN driver from the ASUS website, I noticed that they have many more updates available there for things from the BIOS to VGA, to some ASUS utilities, etc. Do you think that those updates will get picked up in the Windows update that should run after I get the new OS up and running? Or do you suppose I should save copies of these update files too?

Also, I ran the Belarc audit. What exactly do I do with it?

cmiles,

The Asus software will not be included in Windows Updates, so you could save anything that you wanted to install after installing Windows.

The Belarc Advisor builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, network inventory, missing Microsoft hotfixes, anti-virus status, security benchmarks, product key (license) numbers, and displays the results in your Web browser. It's to help you determine what software and driver installers you may need.

As explained in the tutorial, only import drivers still missing in Device Manager after all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates are completed. Be sure to also enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3).

Any software on the Asus webpage for your model can wait until you see if any functions of the PC are missing, e.g. keyboard backlighting, desired on-screen volume/brightness settings, etc. There may also be hotfixes which resolve a problem you encounter, although many hotfixes are posted to resolve problems with the bloatware preinstall itself, so its best to road test the superior Clean Reinstall first to see if anything needs to be added.

...Hello friends...
...slowly..slowly..I am planning the "famous"..clean install ..
One more question : I used the ARB beta for backup and then restoring my windows activation...
I saw that is a different series of letters in my coa sticker under laptop than in the backup key txt
that ARB created. Do you know what is going on? what I have to use...Why this happened?
Thank you a lot...

The Key that ARB BETA is showing is the key that the manufacture used . It could only be used with the OEM recovery discs . The product key on the laptop is the key that you would use if you were to reinstall the same version that is not an OEM version of Windows .

...Thanks VistaKing for so quick answer...
.....but i am a little slow brain...so like you said...is completely useless ARB..
...because with oem recovery disks I don't need any key for activation...Windows will be activate
just with recovering....Am I miss sometrhing?...I don't understand well?. ..Thank you much much!

The OEM recovery disc that you created using the OEM recovery software the key is already added to the installation and will be activated as soon as it sees an Internet connection . ARB beta is probably locating that key from the OEM Windows Installation. If you ordered a Windows Disc from your manufacture (ie HP , SONY, DELL, TOSHIBA , ACER, ) you would use the product key under the laptop or battery .

...just this I said....that ARB is useless...I don't need it if I recover with the disks I made from the OEM special software,
...I cannot use it if I do a clean reinstall...so...maybe it covers very limited cases...(like I understand it..if well...)
....but o.k....my question is answered....I'll use the key of coa sticker.
I don't know, how I can thank you (all of you) here in this forum!
Only I wish you don't take me wrong when I used (in older threads) a "funny way"..to speak..
....We are not always all in the same mood.....I know...
.................Anyway thank you a lot....VistaKing

Why do the links to the .iso files change every 6 to 12 months? Before it brought you to Dell's site and before that, it brought you to some other site.