Solved I'm looking to re-format and re-install the OS

TrueNavigator01

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Hello. Two years ago, I purchased a Dell Inspiron 1545 with Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit included. I'm looking to re-format and re-install the OS (for the sake of a fresh start).
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bitPentium(R) Dual-Core CPU4.00GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 1545
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
CPU
Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU
Memory
4.00GB
Screen Resolution
1366x768
Hello TrueNavigator01, welcome to Seven Forums.
Have you checked our Tutorial section, lots of help there.
Clean Install Windows 7
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Ult x64 - SP1/ Windows 8 Pro x64Intel Core i5-3570K 4.6GHz8GB (2X4GB) DDR3 1600 Corsair Vengeance CL8 1.5vSapphire HD 7770 Vapor-X OC 1GB DDR5
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
76~2.0
OS
Windows 7 Ult x64 - SP1/ Windows 8 Pro x64
CPU
Intel Core i5-3570K 4.6GHz
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-Z77X UD3H, f18
Memory
8GB (2X4GB) DDR3 1600 Corsair Vengeance CL8 1.5v
Graphics Card(s)
Sapphire HD 7770 Vapor-X OC 1GB DDR5
Sound Card
Onboard VIA VT2021
Monitor(s) Displays
22" LCD Dell
Screen Resolution
1680x1050
Hard Drives
Samsung 840Pro 128GB SSD,
Seagate Barracuda 500GB SATA2 7200rpm 32MB cache, Seagate Barracuda 1TB SATA2 7200rpm 32MB cache,
PSU
Corsair HX650W
Case
Cooler Master Storm Scout
Cooling
Corsair H80 2x12cm Noctua NF P12 , 2x14cm case fans
Keyboard
Logitech Wave
Mouse
CM Sentinel
Internet Speed
Dismal
Antivirus
Avast
Browser
Opera Next
Other Info
Haswell laptop: HP Envy 17t-j, i7-4700MQ, GeForce 740M 2GB DDR3, 17.3" Full HD 1920x1080, 16GB RAM, Samsung 840 Pro 128GB, 1TB Hitachi 7200 HDD,
Desktop: eSATA ports,
External eSATA Seagate 500GB SATA2 7200rpm,
External WD USB 500GB
I'm actually using Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit already. I also have an OEM OS restore disc for the Dell Inspiron 1545 (what I'm typing on), but I want a real clean install (I don't have a retail version of Windows, so I will obviously need to buy one first), can I still qualify for a clean install just for the sake of a re-fresh? By the way, I also have an OEM drivers DVD. What about that?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bitPentium(R) Dual-Core CPU4.00GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 1545
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
CPU
Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU
Memory
4.00GB
Screen Resolution
1366x768

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

64-bit Windows 11 Pro for WorkstationsIntel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600...ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self built custom
OS
64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
CPU
Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
Memory
64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Sound Card
Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
PSU
Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
Case
Thermaltake Core P3
Cooling
Corsair Hydro H115i
Keyboard
Logitech wireless K800
Mouse
Logitech MX Master 4
Internet Speed
2 Gb/s Download and 100 Mb/s Upload
Antivirus
Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
Browser
Google Chrome
Other Info
Logitech Z625 speaker system,
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
Galaxy S23 Plus phone
I'm actually using Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit already. I also have an OEM OS restore disc for the Dell Inspiron 1545 (what I'm typing on), but I want a real clean install (I don't have a retail version of Windows, so I will obviously need to buy one first), can I still qualify for a clean install just for the sake of a re-fresh? By the way, I also have an OEM drivers DVD. What about that?

If you carry out a clean install of your system, any Dell drivers you need will be on the Dell OEM drivers DVD.

Not sure if you're aware, OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer and the main thing to remember is that OEM drivers may be configured differently or have less functionality than the hardware manufacturer's drivers.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-BitIntel Core i7 870 @ 2.93GHz8Gb Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 664MHznVidia GeForce GTX 460 1024MB dedicated RAM
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP Pavilion Elite 495UK
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit
CPU
Intel Core i7 870 @ 2.93GHz
Motherboard
MSI 2A9C (CPU1)
Memory
8Gb Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 664MHz
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GeForce GTX 460 1024MB dedicated RAM
Sound Card
Realtek HD Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
HP2310i
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
1x1954GB Hitachi HDS22020ALA 330 (RAID), 1x1954GB Hitachi External for backup and storage
PSU
460W
Case
HP Elite
Cooling
Air cooled
Keyboard
Logitech K750 solar-powered keyboard
Mouse
Logitech Wireless M180 mouse
Internet Speed
2Mb
Other Info
Pure Avanti Flow Internet Radio with iPod Dock, 64Gb iPod, HP USB Speakers, Sony MDR-V500 Headphones, Sony Vaio F-Series Laptop
Brink, I'm just going to put the link at the back of my head for the moment.

Thank you.

But, also, a bit more background. I have done this before simply by using the factory restore disc. I'd also like to maybe even use partitions for different types of files for efficiency.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bitPentium(R) Dual-Core CPU4.00GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 1545
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
CPU
Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU
Memory
4.00GB
Screen Resolution
1366x768
The installer is nearly driver-complete, with newer arriving quickly via optional Windows Updates. So put your LAN driver on a stick or CD so you can get online to update. After several rounds of updates, any drivers still missing in Device Manager should be found on the Dell Support Downloads webpage for your tag number.

Everything you need including the latest installer ISO to burn to DVD or write to stick is in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
 
You already have many suggestions and here is one more which might be useful.

Unlike XP, there are site from where you can download an official ISO image of your edition of Window 7, which you can then burn on a DVD. One of the sites is Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life.

You should also be having your original Product Key (different from and not Product ID) with you. You can easily install your version of Windows 7 with the ISO produced DVD and use your original Product Key to activate it. This way you shall have an install without bloatware like from a retail version.

As for Dell Drivers, Dell used to to give a drivers' CD/DVD in the past. If however they had discontinued this practice when you purchased your machine then you should at least download the Ethernet, Graphics (Video) and Audio Drivers from the Net before embarking on this project. The rest of the drivers if any, you can even download after clean installing Windows 7.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Pro with SP1 32bit2 gigs of RAMIntel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Built
OS
Windows 7 Pro with SP1 32bit
Motherboard
Intel D845GVS1 X86-based PC
Memory
2 gigs of RAM
Graphics Card(s)
Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller
Sound Card
Realtek AC'97 Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster 931BF Black 19" LCD Monitor
Screen Resolution
1280X960
Hard Drives
1. SAMSUNG SP0822N ATA Device ~ 80 GigaBytes

2. Seagate FreeAgent Go USB Device ~ 500 GigaBytes
Keyboard
COMPAQ Standard PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse
iBall Laser Precise Speedster
Internet Speed
4 mb/sec
I may have already voided my warrenty (my own stupidity, I know :p) by doing dumb things to my notebook in the past, I also already downloaded the WinXP HPx64 ISO and renamed it shorter than the given name to simplify. May I note sometimes I like it when somebody can 'coach' me and break down the specific steps of a tutorial when needed. Ah, bliss.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bitPentium(R) Dual-Core CPU4.00GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 1545
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
CPU
Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU
Memory
4.00GB
Screen Resolution
1366x768
If you're worried about voiding your warranty by clean reisntalling, it can keep Tech Support from helping you IF you tell them, so I wouldn't even if you need their inferior help on something.

It shouldn't void the hardware warranty, although one reason I'd make Recovery Disks is to run them if possible before sending it back if necessary under hardware warranty. Often times you can also persuade them to RMA the OEM replacement part to install yourself under their phone supervision. You may need to ask for a supervisor and ask very nicely. :D
 
I won't be doing any work with people over-the-phone, just saying.

By the way, can I use the piece of software called DBAN for this?
 
Last edited:

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bitPentium(R) Dual-Core CPU4.00GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 1545
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
CPU
Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU
Memory
4.00GB
Screen Resolution
1366x768
Okay, I downloaded the Audio, chipset and ethernet cards for my service ID tag and I plan to burn them to CD now. I only have two CD-Rs to spare, one for the basic drives and one for the OEM re-install ISO. I need your final inputs before I write the drivers disc.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bitPentium(R) Dual-Core CPU4.00GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 1545
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
CPU
Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU
Memory
4.00GB
Screen Resolution
1366x768
Not necessary. This is not XP - Win7 is driver complete in the installer with newer and missing drivers updated quickly via optional Windows Updates.

This is stated clearly in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which you should be following if you want a perfect clean reinstall.

You can wait to see if your LAN network driver is provided during install. If not put it on a stick or CD to install to get online to do several rounds of Windows Updates. After all drivers are provided by optional Windows Updates, any missing in Device Manager can be downloaded and installed from your Dell drivers webpage.
 
I already actually used the DVD/USB download software like what the tutorial said, and there have been no problems with it. However, I don't plan on executing (no pun intended) my venture right away, and I am saving these until the time comes.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bitPentium(R) Dual-Core CPU4.00GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 1545
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
CPU
Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU
Memory
4.00GB
Screen Resolution
1366x768
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