Solved Is there another option I am missing?

[RocketsFan]

Clean Install with Win7 key but no disc provided

Hi:

I recently purchased a new laptop (Acer) with Windows 7 Home Premium x64 installed. No disc was sent with my new laptop (I understand this to be common now). I may either purchase an eRecovery disc from the manufacturer or create my own eRecovery discs. However, I want to do a format and clean install. My assumption is that either of these first two options will reinstall all bloatware from factory settings.

Option 3, I can purchase an upgrade to Windows 7 Pro.

Just to make sure I read the OP correctly, I can do a format and clean install from this anytime upgrade disc?

Is there another option I am missing? One that won't cost me an additional $80.

Thanks!

EDIT: I have the original Windows 7 Home Premium key on the bottom of the laptop. Would this work as Option 4? http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

Do I simply need to create recovery discs of my current OS and then follow the instructions in that thread?

 

[RocketsFan]

Strange, I posted my original comment in the sticky that applied to installing from upgrade but it got moved to its own thread I guess.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Not sure if your questions have been answered, but.....

You can download an ISO of Windows 7 Home Premium x 64 from mydigitallife.info and burn it to a disc. Then boot from the disc and install Windows 7. Then activate it using your existing product key. You don't have to buy anything.

The result would be different than running any "recovery" option and possible preferable, depending on your point of view.

 

[RocketsFan]

Not sure if your questions have been answered, but.....

You can download an ISO of Windows 7 Home Premium x 64 from mydigitallife.info and burn it to a disc. Then boot from the disc and install Windows 7. Then activate it using your existing product key. You don't have to buy anything.

The result would be different than running any "recovery" option and possible preferable, depending on your point of view.

The goal is to get a clean copy of Windows installed without any Acer bloatware whatsoever. Just basic barebones Windows 7. The way it was meant to be.

Does the link in my "EDIT:" on my OP walk me through your recommendation?

Also, thank you very much for your reply.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Yeah, the link looks like what I was talking about.

It will be a clean install with no bloatware, just as if you used a store-bought disc. No bloatware.

 

[fseal]

Before you make any decision to reformat and install clean. Make sure you can go to the Acer website and at least download ALL the device drivers as separate installers. I did this with my sony and a clean install was awesome but there were atleast 2o seperate driver and motherboard installers in addition to the bloatware. Had I not gotten those drivers, who knows how much hardware would have worked poorly or not at all after the clean windows install.

If you can't get the full driver set, then do not reinstall, manually clean the crap out instead. There is still a possible danger in that messing something up but much /less/ danger than starting from scratch without the myriad drivers for all the hardware.

 

[RocketsFan]

Before you make any decision to reformat and install clean. Make sure you can go to the Acer website and at least download ALL the device drivers as separate installers. I did this with my sony and a clean install was awesome but there were atleast 2o seperate driver and motherboard installers in addition to the bloatware. Had I not gotten those drivers, who knows how much hardware would have worked poorly or not at all after the clean windows install.

If you can't get the full driver set, then do not reinstall, manually clean the crap out instead. There is still a possible danger in that messing something up but much /less/ danger than starting from scratch without the myriad drivers for all the hardware.

Thanks for your response fseal. In this situation, wouldn't a reinstall of the eRecovery discs I create before the clean install fix that problem? Kind of a fallback in case something doesn't work?

Also, I have seen numerous threads on this board about backing up drivers. I will probably also do that before the clean install.

 

[fseal]

Yes, if you have a set of the factory restore disks you will at least have a plan B

 

[gregrocker]

Everything you need is here: Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7