A clean reinstall is often better than getting a new computer since most PC's come larded with sponsor's bloatware and useless factory utilities that have much better versions built into Windows 7. For this reason many tech enthusiasts clean reinstall using the Product Key on the COA sticker affixed to machine.
3. Back up your files externally by dragging your named User account or active User folders to another HD, external drive, flash stick or disk. Don't forget to export your browser bookmarks first. If your email is stored on computer, Google how to back up mail and account settings. Backup Quickbooks 2010+ Company files from User/Public/Documents, google your version's file location, or run a QB backup. De-authorize I-Tunes.
4. Make your Recovery Disks so you have a path back to factory condition, following the steps given in your PC's setup literature or in the Manual located on the Support Downloads webpage for your model computer. As an alternative to Recovery Disks you can save a Windows 7 Backup Image or Macrium Image of the entire HD.
● If you have a Recovery or OEM tools partition, these may not run after clean reinstall so be sure to make your Recovery Disks.
● You can wait until afterwards to see if Recovery or (Diagnostics) Tools partitions will run from boot to decide if you want to delete those partitions and recover the space into C or elsewhere (using Step 3 here).
5. Run an audit of hardware and software including installed Product Keys using Belarc Advisor.
6. Write down the Product Key from COA sticker located on back or side of PC tower, bottom or under battery of notebook. Make sure you get the characters correct as this is a main cause of activation failure. You can input or Skip the key during install then afterwards activate at Control Panel>System, which may require a quick robocall. The COA sticker looks like this:
7. Gather your program installers. For those lacking disks, you may find them on the program's Support Downloads webpage. Favorite pre-installed apps may be found on the Downloads webpage for your model computer or manufacturer-provided Apps Disk. Others may be found by googling. Some pre-installed apps may not be available for clean reinstall - HP owners see additional note at bottom.
● Just in case, save in advance your Wireless or Ethernet LAN (wired) driver on flash stick, CD or in your backup so you can install it to get online quickly - these can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for your model PC.
8. Unplug all other HD's and peripherals except ethernet, Boot the Windows 7 installer, choose Custom Install, then Drive Options (Advanced) to Delete all partitions not needed, repartition and format as shown in Steps 7 and 8 of Clean Install Windows 7.
Whether to use more than one partition depends largely on if you want your data in the OS partition, or have it linked from another partition to make C partition backup image smaller. This way if Windows 7 becomes irreparable you can re-image the OS/Programs to C and the data will be current and waiting in its own partition. More about Windows 7 backup imaging later.
● If you don't want to keep any partitions but also don't have a new partition scheme in mind, just click Next after Deleting all to let the installer create and format your installation partition for you. Ignore the small boot partition which is created.
● Until Windows 7 installer is updated with USB3 drivers use a USB2 port for flash install or load the USB3 driver from the PC's Support Downloads webpage when prompted during install. If you're prompted for drivers for any other reason during install it almost always means a bad installer.
9. The installer is mostly driver-complete, with newer arriving quickly via optional Windows Updates. So after install connect to your network after installing LAN driver if necessary, enable hardware driver auto-updating, install all rounds of Important and Optional Updates.
10. Any drivers still missing in Device Manager after all Updates are installed can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for your model computer or device, along with possibly needed hotfixes - which you can also wait to see if you need. Driver Install - Device Manager
I would not replace any drivers given by the installer or optional Updates unless performance problems point to that specific driver. We can help you troubleshoot these issues.
• Unknown Devices are often card readers, or may be revealed by a function still missing on the PC such as laptop function keys or keyboard lighting, or can be traced using Hardware Identification.
• Co-processor, USB and Storage controllers are often elements of the chipset.
11. Install programs slowly over time to gauge performance changes after each. You can roll back most any Program installs or Update(s) using System Restore.
12. Don't let any programs write themselves into msconfig>Startup as they slow startup, become freeloaders on your RAM/CPU, can spy on you and cause conflicts.
● As illustrated in Startup Programs - Change uncheck everything except AV, gadgets (aka "sidebar"), Sync program in msconfig>Startup.
● Then after reboots do the same in msconfig>Services after checking "Hide All MS Services."
● Check back with both lists periodically to see if anything writes itself back in, turn it off in its Program Preferences.
● If you have any questions about a listing, Google it to learn what it does.
● However I would not install Google programs which are relentless spyware. Only use the stable Google search box in your browser and don't stay signed into any Google web apps.
● The most important thing you can do to avoid spyware creeping in is to watch your program installs like a hawk at every step because programs have found ingenious ways to sneak in spyware with tricky checkbox choices, even in the License Agreement. I always do a Custom install and only allow the features I know I want, later removing any extra in Control Panel>Change.
● Keep an eye also on your Browser Add-Ons to only allow the ones you know you want or are required to make a page display correctly, including Flash, Shockwave, WMP or Quicktime plug-in, Silverlight.
13. Use a lightweight free AV like Microsoft Security Essentials which works perfectly with the Windows 7 Firewall. If you're prone to infection add the paid real-time protection for Malwarebytes, otherwise run its excellent free scanner as needed.
14. To copy your files into the new install, open the storage folder, open each User folder (Documents, Pictures, etc.), from the Organize tab Select All, then drag the group to the corresponding folder on Explorer bar at left. Wait until the bar stops unfolding and hypertext confirms the copy location before releasing the left click. Do not copy over hidden AppData folders from User Accounts as these are a corruption path.
If you're using a separate data partition copy your User folders to it, then rightclick each to link it to the related Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums. Keep the empty C User folder in each library so you can easily see if something lands there and simply drag it to the linked User folder.
● The User Favorites folder will populate IE Bookmarks. Import another browser's Bookmarks from HTML file backed up previously. Copy Quickbooks and other Program data into it's default folder location.
15. Activation at Control Panel>System may require a robocall to MS the first time to record your hardware signature in their servers. It will always work as long as you install the correct version and input the key accurately.
16. When finished, clean and order the HD perfectly using state-of-the-art free CCleaner "Run Cleaner" button and Registry tab.
● I also recommend running Puran free boot-time defragger + Full Disk Check (after checking Intelligent Optimizer on Additional Operations tab) for state-of-the-art defrag which includes System files. Do not defrag an SSD!
● Periodically run both of the above as well as a full scan with free Malwarebytes and SUPERAntiSpyware on-demand scanners, declining the trial unless you're prone to infection in which case both are excellent protection.
17. Take advantage of the perfected Power Options in Windows 7 to set the Balanced Plan to Sleep at 30, Hibernate at 45-90, with Hybrid Sleep enabled. You can walk away and be assured your work will be there if you come back in 20 minutes or 20 days.
18. Finally, save a Windows 7 Backup image to external or another internal HD so you never have to reinstall again - just do a System Image Recovery to the HD or it's replacement from booted DVD/Repair CD and the stored image.
19. Henceforth if required to contact your OEM Tech Support do not tell them you Clean Reinstalled but troubleshoot as if you have the factory install. Otherwise they may refuse to support Clean Reinstall but cannot void Hardware warranty. If you ship the unit back for repair under Hardware warranty save a Windows 7 backup image and then run Factory Recovery beforehand.
20. After reinstall I always scan the logs to resolve repeat errors, check System Resources, search for Problem solutions, Generate a System Health Report - as shown in these basic Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 to bookmark.
Note
Special notes to HP owners:
On newer models HP Recovery may offer a Minimized OS Recovery option when booting from F11, which retains only the OS, Recovery Manager, HP Support Asst, and HP Wireless LAN. This is as close to a clean reinstall as you can get without doing one yourself.
● If you clean reinstall only to C and leave all other partitions intact, F11 Recovery key should still work later if you need it.
If your Recovery partition is triggered at boot from the F8 System Recovery Options then it will no longer run after clean reinstall, so make your Recovery disks first, delete Recovery partition during reinstall.
●The Dell Diagnostics tools stored on the OEM Tools partition often will run from boot but not from the OS after Reinstall so it is worth saving if it will boot - try it now to test your hardware. If not you can run the tests from online at Dell PC Diagnostics | Dell US
●Useful tips for Dell reinstallation plus access to their forums to resolve questions can be found at Dell Community
Special Note for Samsung Owners: Software which enables Fkey functions and illumination may be labeled Easy Display Manager and may require special handling as per Dinesh:
Quote:
The Easy Settings software didn't work directly. Once downloaded the software (zip) from here, I had to extract all files and rename setup.exe to setup2.exe. Only then it allowed me to install the software on Win8.
Special Note to Acer Owners There is an OEM Preload folder in the C:/ drive that holds all the pre loaded software, including the eRecovery software.
Computer type Laptop System Manufacturer/Model Number HP ENVY 17-1150eg OS Windows 7 x64 Ultimate CPU 1.6 GHz Intel Core i7-720QM Processor Memory 6 GB Graphics Card ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 Graphics Sound Card Beats sound system with integrated subwoofer Monitor(s) Displays 17" laptop display, 22" LCD and 32" Full HD TV through HDMI Screen Resolution 1600*900, 1680*1050 and 1920*1080
Keyboard Logitech diNovo Media Desktop Laser (bluetooth) Mouse Logitech MX1000 Laser (Bluetooth) Hard Drives Internal: 2 x 500 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 7200 rpm
External: 2TB for backups, 3TB USB3 network drive for media Internet Speed 50/10 Mbps VDSL Antivirus MSE, Windows Defender Browser Maxthon 3.5.2. Other Info Windows 7 Ultimate Retail Full in English, additional Guest-user accounts in Finnish, German and Swedish (Working languages English & Swedish, Family language German, my own language, mother tongue, Finnish. I really need Ultimate to get to use Language Packs!)
System Manufacturer/Model Number HP, Dell, Gateway, Toshiba - 4 laptops and 2 desktops OS Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8 CPU from 1.6GHz Duo to i7 Monitor(s) Displays 2x HP w2207
Keyboard with trackball - no mices Mouse Trackball mice Hard Drives 5x HDD, 7x SSD, 12x Externals Internet Speed DSL 6000
Computer type PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number Golden Mk. I.3 OS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 (x64) CPU Intel i7 860 @ 2.80 GHz Motherboard Gigabyte P55A-UD3R Rev.1. Award BIOS F13 Memory 16GB Corsair Vengance DDR3 @ 661 MHz Dual Channel (9-9-9-24) Graphics Card EVGA NVidia GTX 560 1024MB Sound Card Realtek Integrated Monitor(s) Displays Dual Samsung SyncMaster 2494HS Screen Resolution 1920*1080 and 1920*1080
Keyboard Logitech G110 Mouse Logitech MX518 PSU Thermaltake ToughPower QFan 750W Case Thermaltake Element S VK60001W2Z Cooling Corsair H60 Water Cooling, 2*230mm and 2*80mm case fans Hard Drives 1*OCZ Vertex 2 60GB SSD;
2*Samsung F3 SpinPoint 1TB in RAID0;
3*Samsung F1 SpinPoint 1TB in RAID5;
1*Western Digital 500GB External USB 3.0
1*Seagate 500GB External USB 2.0 Internet Speed Not fast enough!!! Antivirus MSE and Malwarebytes Pro Browser Chrome Version 25 Other Info Laptop: ASUS X54C, Intel Core i3-2330M @ 2.0Ghz, 4GB RAM, Intel HD on-board graphics, Windows 7 Professional SP1 (x64), LinuxMint 14 (x64), PepperMint 3 (x86)
Absolutely fantastic tutorial thread. I have successfully clean reinstalled Windows 7 Home Premium to my new Acer laptop.
A sincere thank you to gregrocker for posting this.
I do have one question. When I resintalled, I formatted the primary partition and reinstalled without a hitch. However, I did notice two smaller partitions that I am assuming hold the hidden factory backup? Do I need these or may I also format them and backup the new clean ISO to them? I am also creating DVD backups off the new clean ISO.
Last edited by RocketsFan; 17 Apr 2012 at 04:13 PM..
Reason: HP is not a good acronym for Home Premium
Can you post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Management drive map, using the Snipping Tool in Start Menu? Screen Shots
On Acer it's unlikely Factory Recovery or any OEM partition is still functional or needed, so as dealt with in the tutorial I would consider deleting them.
You can now recover the space using Disk Management to Delete and Extend C to the right, or free Partition Wizard bootable CD to Resize C to the left.
Did you keep the Recovery partition to see if it will still run after Clean Reinstall?
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You can wait until afterwards to see if Recovery or Tools will run from boot to decide if you want to delete those partitions and recover the space into C or elsewhere.
If it will cue up then you can keep it, but if it's lost ability to boot then you can either leave it or recover the space using free Partition Wizard bootable CD: boot CD, rightclick Recovery to Delete, click OK. rightclick System Reserved to Resize, left click grab the partition and slide it intact all the way to the left side of HD, click OK. Then rightlclick C to Resize, slide left border all the way to the left, click OK, Apply all steps.
It may require repair using Rebuild MBR from PW Disk tab when you Resize on the boot sector. I hardly think it's worth the 16gb unless you want to play with it. Back up your files.
Did you keep the Recovery partition to see if it will still run after Clean Reinstall?
Quote:
You can wait until afterwards to see if Recovery or Tools will run from boot to decide if you want to delete those partitions and recover the space into C or elsewhere.
If it will cue up then you can keep it, but if it's lost ability to boot then you can either leave it or recover the space using free Partition Wizard bootable CD: boot CD, rightclick Recovery to Delete, click OK. rightclick System Reserved to Resize, left click grab the partition and slide it intact all the way to the left side of HD, click OK. Then rightlclick C to Resize, slide left border all the way to the left, click OK, Apply all steps.
It may require repair using Rebuild MBR from PW Disk tab when you Resize on the boot sector. I hardly think it's worth the 16gb unless you want to play with it. Back up your files.
I have a factory backup on discs so I'm not too concerned with having the factory backup on the hidden partition. Can the new clean install be backed up to that partition?
As long as it's not going to interfere with Windows normal operating procedure or a possible future recovery if something goes wrong, I'm almost inclined to leave it alone.
Information
Note
Quote: Originally Posted by gregrocker 
after doing a clean reinstall of windows 7 on my computer.. 
