Clean Restore Windows 7 On My XPS 8100 Desktop?

[Paul Black]

Hi paulyjames,

Have you downloaded one of the ISO's above that Megahertz07 has given you the links for?

Here is what we are going to do in Steps. We will work through them one by one as and when we get to that step! We need to get on and do this now that you have all the information that you need rather than mucking about!

NOTE: The light blue text below are links to the relevant websites and programs, just click them!

[Step 1] Either...

Download the 32-bit version of Win 7 Ultimate SP1 from here => Win7_Ult_SP1_English x32.
Download the 64-bit version of Win 7 Ultimate SP1 from here => Win7_Ult_SP1_English x64.

[Step 2] Make ALL versions of Win 7 available by removing the ei.cfg file in the \sources folder.

[Step 3] Either...

Burn the ISO to a DVD using the Windows 7 built in ISO burner.
Burn the ISO to a USB using either Rufus 3.4 or Rufus 3.4 Portable.

[Step 4] Download the Dell drivers needed [at least the NIC [Network Interface Card] and Wireless Network Card or LAN Adapter drivers] and save them to a USB from here => Drivers & Downloads. This is where you enter your Dell Service Tag, Dell EMC Product ID, or Model Number in order to identify your product and get the latest available drivers updates.

[Step 5] Install Win 7.
[Step 6] Update Windows with all the WU's [Windows Updates].
[Step 7] Install your programs.

[Step 8] Once you have your OS updated and running the way you like it, create a system image. This way, if things go wrong in the future, you will be able to restore your OS back to the exact same state that it was when the system image was made in a very short time. There are two imaging programs which are very popular among members here, the first is AOMEI Backupper Standard [FREE], and the second is Macrium Reflect [FREE].

That’s it!

 

[paulyjames]

Paul thanks. I will get back to this thread soon. Just making sure i have everything on my dell xps 8100 that i don't need first before i do this.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi paulyjames,

I will get back to this thread soon. Just making sure i have everything on my dell xps 8100 that i don't need first before i do this.

OK.

You could actually create a system image. This way, if things go wrong, you will be able to restore your OS back to the exact same state that it was when the system image was made in a very short time. There are two imaging programs which are very popular among members here, the first is AOMEI Backupper Standard [FREE], and the second is Macrium Reflect [FREE].

I hope this helps!

 

[SIW2]

Aomei are doing offers for world backup day.
Backupper Pro - free

https://www2.aomeisoftware.com/download/wbd2019/ABProfessional.zip

The license key mustbe registered between 25th March 2019 and 1st April 2019

Also O&O Diskimage12 Pro
Register:
Registrieren Sie sich hier fur Ihre kostenlose Vollversion von O&O DiskImage 12

They send an email. Click the link in the email they sent you and you will receive another email with your license key

Download English version:
Download Archive

 

[Paul Black]

Aomei are doing offers for world backup day.
Backupper Pro - free

https://www2.aomeisoftware.com/download/wbd2019/ABProfessional.zip

The license key can only be registered through 25th March 2019 to 1st April 2019

Also O&O Diskimage12 Pro
Register:
Registrieren Sie sich hier fur Ihre kostenlose Vollversion von O&O DiskImage 12

They send an email. Click the link in the email they sent you and you will receive another email with your license key

Download English version:
Download Archive

Brilliant, thanks for sharing that SIW2, it is very much appreciated .

 

[paulyjames]

Okay so i went through my old stuff and found i have an old copy of a windows 7 cd but it says Asus windows 7 home premium 64 bit recovery cd.


So would this work then? However, this cd was for an asus windows 7 laptop that i bought probably just a few months after i got the dell xps 8100 desktop. I bought that dell xps 8100 laptop in april 2010. The asus laptop i bought was probably october 2010. But that laptop no longer works. However if i use this, it would be bad because it comes with all the asus bloatware?


I basically want to reinstall windows 7 with no bloatware. But if i use it and i installs bloatware, then i uninstall the bloatware, it still is going to slower it a bit right? Paul im curious but what laptop brands have you done clean reinstall since you never had a dell before?

 

[paulyjames]

Okay went through my other things and found the dell xps 8100 packet that contains what seems to be the actual dell xps 8100 cd and the drivers cd.


It says Reinstallation DVD Windows 7 Home Premium.


It reads on the cd

This software is already installed on your computer. Only use this dvd only to reinstall the operating system on a dell pc


This dvd is not for reinstallation of programs or drivers


For distribution only with a dell dell pc






I also found the other cd with it that says


Dell Drivers and Utilities

Already Installed on Your Computer

This software is already installed on your computer. Use this disc only to reinstall the software.

Computers Supported- Dell xps 8100

For reinstalling dell studio xps desktop computer software.




Does this mean i have the 2 CDs to do a clean reinstall of my dell xps 8100 desktop without having to download anything to my usb drive then?


And would this mean having these 2 cds make the process much simpler now?


If so, im ready to do it now since i don't need to download anything to a usb stick?

 

[SIW2]

Yes, that is what it means. if you are planning on a clean install - you will have to reinstall all your programs and updates afterwards.

But, if your machine is quite old, the DEll dvd probably doesn't include SP1.

I suggest you get the MS win7 iso that includes SP1.

 

[paulyjames]

But use if i use those old cds, can't i still download sp1 while online? What is sp1?

 

[SIW2]

SP1 is a service pack for windows 7. The version you have probabaly doesn't include it.

Is there something particularly difficult about downloading the MS win7 iso which includes SP1?

You could have done it ages ago.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi paulyjames,

I basically want to reinstall windows 7 with no bloatware.
Paul im curious but what laptop brands have you done clean reinstall since you never had a dell before?

We have given you the method of performing a clean install [without bloatware].
I have never owned a Dell but have I performed many clean installs on both Dell desktops and Dell laptops. Fundamentally clean installs are clean installs with vary little variation in relation to the make/brand.

But, if your machine is quite old, the Dell dvd probably doesn't include SP1.
I suggest you get the MS win7 iso that includes SP1.

Out of curiosity, how many people is it going to take to tell you what needs doing before you actually do something?

If you use your Dell XPS 8100 disk that you found, as SIW2 has stated above, if it doesn't include SP1 [Service Pack 1], then you are adding a LOT of extra time and possibly installation failure because you first need to download the SP1 pre-requisites, then SP1 itself, and then ALL the updates since SP1 was released. What a lot of unnecessary time and work, believe me!

But if i use those old cds, can't i still download sp1 while online? What is sp1?

Answered above!

 

[Paul Black]

Hi SIW2,

Is there something particularly difficult about downloading the MS win7 iso which includes SP1?

You could have done it ages ago.

I really don't know what his fear/problem is with following what has been posted in order to do the clean install!

I am really curious to see how many people it is going to take to tell him what needs to be done before he actually does something?

Megahertz07 even can him the 24 hour links in post #49 for the Win 7 SP1 ISO download!

 

[Megahertz07]

Another chance to download Win 7 SP1

Win7 SP1 32 Ultimate

Win7 SP1 64 Ultimate

The links are valid for 24 hours. Download them NOW.

It's a Win 7 ultimate, the only available for download from M$ site.
All versions of Win 7 installation disk has the 4 versions (Home, HP, Pro and Ultimate)
To make it a all version install you must remove ei.cfg file on \sources.
ei.cfg Removal Utility is a small application that does it automatically.
ei.cfg Removal Utility download

Download and extract it and apply to the win 7 iso file you've downloaded.


Instead of running WU and install more than 200 updates, run Simplix.
Simplix pack allows you to update Windows 7 SP1 (x86 x64) and Server 2008 R2 SP1 live operating systems. It can be installed in any language. Includes all critical, recommended, and security updates and updates for all versions of Internet Explorer.
Download Simplix UpdatePack 7 - MajorGeeks

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Megahertz07,

Another chance to download Win 7 SP1

Win7 SP1 32 Ultimate

Win7 SP1 64 Ultimate

The links are valid for 24 hours. Download them NOW.

This will be interesting!

 

[SIW2]

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit.
I have product key, service tag, express service code sticker on it.

You just need the iso including SP1.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi paulyjames, have you download the ISO yet?

 

[paulyjames]

Hi there. Im going to first and try to encrypt my windows 7 desktop first. I always wanted to do this but never tried it and figure do this first since i will clean reinstall.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi paulyjames,

Im going to first and try to encrypt my windows 7 desktop first. I always wanted to do this but never tried it and figure do this first since i will clean reinstall.

[1] Don't you mean your HDD?
[2] I seriously hope you have got a backup of everything you want to keep to go onto the clean install!!!

 

[Megahertz07]

How you plan to encrypt your disk? If you do something wrong, you will loose all your data.

 

[paulyjames]

There is nothing in my windows 7 xps 8100 desktop that i need in case the encryption goes wrong. That is why i want to do this on the xps 8100 desktop first before doing it on my main laptop dell xps 15 9550.