Fresh Install onto Dell laptop

[rosede]

I inherited a nice Dell laptop with Windows 7 Pro installed. I wanted to do a factory reset and then upgrade to Windows 10, but it appears that someone deleted the Dell partition and the factory reset is no longer an option.

I have Windows 7 Pro and can do a fresh install. There is a good Windows key on the laptop. Can I use that key with any image of Windows 7 Pro, or can that only be used with Dell installation media? I do have a Windows 10 upgrade. Can I just bypass the W7 installation and go directly to the W10 installation using the upgrade image? I know that used to be an option in years gone by, but I don't know if a person can still do that or not.

Thanks

Daryl

 

[samuria]

You can still download the latest win10 and upgrade from win7 for free so if it's working I would just use the media creation tool on ms site and hit update. That will give you a digital licence if there are any problems you can do a clean refresh from 10 to give you a clean install

 

[Megahertz07]

Follow the instructions from Download Win 10
Expand "Using the tool to downgrade this PC to Windows 10

 

[rosede]

I installed W10 using the media creation tool. It upgraded just fine, however, I would really like do a fresh install. I made an ISO image with the tool prior to doing an in-place upgrade. Can I use that ISO and the key that is on the laptop to do a fresh install?

Daryl

 

[Megahertz07]

Once you have "upgraded" to Win 10 you don't need the key that is on the laptop to do a fresh install. M$ already stored the laptop ID on their servers.
To do a fresh install using the iso:
- Format the USB disk as Fat32.
- On on your laptop (now running Win 10) mount the iso (right click on the iso file and select mount). It will show the iso as a disk with all files and folders. Extract all files and folders to the USB disk. It's ready to boot as UEFI
- To make it boot able as Legacy, open a CMD window as administrator and type:
Type:
diskpart (to enter diskpart)
list volume (to list volumes on the disk. Identify and take note of the USB disk volume number).
select volume n (replace n by the USB disk volume number from the previous cmd)
active
exit (to exit diskpart)
exit (to close the CMD window)

Windows can be installed on a Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT disk.
To install as Legacy-MBR or repair a Legacy-MBR installation you must boot the installation disk as Legacy.
To install as UEFI-GPT or repair a UEFI-GPT installation you must boot the installation disk as UEFI.

If your computer has UEFI BIOS I recommend you to install as UEFI-GPT.

Backup your data on an external disk.
Boot the Win 10 USB installation disk (as Legacy or UEFI), go to install - Advanced and DELETE ALL partitions and proceed.
Clean Install Windows 10 | Tutorials

 

[samuria]

All you need to do is refesh windows and when asked dont keep data and software and will do it with no problems there are lots of YouTube video to show you how to do it a lot simpler than messing about

 

[rosede]

All you need to do is refesh windows and when asked dont keep data and software and will do it with no problems there are lots of YouTube video to show you how to do it a lot simpler than messing about

I'm assuming that I'll be asked for the installation key. That's what I need to verify; can I use the key that is on the laptop?

Thanks

Daryl

 

[samuria]

It won't ask if it does skip it it will activate from ms servers if you refresh it's logged in so no problems https//m.youtube.com/watch?v=XUM4f_I5drA

 

[rosede]

It won't ask if it does skip it it will activate from ms servers if you refresh it's logged in so no problems https//m.youtube.com/watch?v=XUM4f_I5drA

Thank you. I appreciate your help.

Daryl

 

[Megahertz07]

As you "updated" your laptop, it still have some Win 7 OEM partitions that, for what I know, won't be cleaned during a refresh install.
The only way to clean all is by booting a installation disk and erase all partitions on the disk and then do a clean install.
And is good to have a installation disk as you may need it in the case you can't boot Windows or launch the recover wizard (WinRE)

 

[rosede]

As you "updated" your laptop, it still have some Win 7 OEM partitions that, for what I know, won't be cleaned during a refresh install.
The only way to clean all is by booting a installation disk and erase all partitions on the disk and then do a clean install.
And is good to have a installation disk as you may need it in the case you can't boot Windows or launch the recover wizard (WinRE)

Yes, I saw that. I started the fresh install and saw a 550GB partition. Wasn't sure what it was at the time, so I stopped the install and investigated. Discovered that it was an empty OEM partition. Good to know that I can delete it when doing the install.

There is also a 100MB partition. Is that a boot partition? can I also delete it, and will the installation process recreate it as needed?

Thanks

Daryl

 

[Megahertz07]

Unless you have a data partition you want to preserve, you should delete ALL partitions till you have one and only one unallocated space. Then hit proceed and the necessary partitions will be created.

If your computer has UEFI BIOS I recommend you to install as UEFI-GPT.

Windows can be installed on a Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT disk.
To install as Legacy-MBR or repair a Legacy-MBR installation you must boot the installation disk as Legacy.
To install as UEFI-GPT or repair a UEFI-GPT installation you must boot the installation disk as UEFI.

Backup your data on an external disk.
Boot the Win 10 USB installation disk (as Legacy or UEFI), go to install - Advanced and DELETE ALL partitions and proceed.
Clean Install Windows 10 | Tutorials

 

[erpster4]

I inherited a nice Dell laptop with Windows 7 Pro installed. I wanted to do a factory reset and then upgrade to Windows 10, but it appears that someone deleted the Dell partition and the factory reset is no longer an option.

hi rosede.

what kind of Dell laptop do you have? use either HWInfo or Speccy to gather the series & model no. of the Dell laptop.
Megahertz07: installing Win7 in UEFI + GPT mode will not be possible on old Dell laptops made before mid-2012 (old laptops with Intel Sandy Bridge or older hardware because those laptops usually have traditional BIOS chips)

 

[Paul Black]

Hi rosede,

Update System Specifications

Please update your system specifications in your UserCP => Edit System Spec setup. It will help us to help you!

This SevenForums tutorial [Published by Brink and written by CyberZeus] uses an automated tool which makes this task very easy and quick to do. Click here => https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html.

Thanks.

 

[Megahertz07]

Megahertz07: installing Win7 in UEFI + GPT mode will not be possible on old Dell laptops made before mid-2012 (old laptops with Intel Sandy Bridge or older hardware because those laptops usually have traditional BIOS chips)

If your computer has UEFI BIOS I recommend you to install as UEFI-GPT.

Windows can be installed on a Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT disk.
To install as Legacy-MBR or repair a Legacy-MBR installation you must boot the installation disk as Legacy.
To install as UEFI-GPT or repair a UEFI-GPT installation you must boot the installation disk as UEFI.

I wrote that you must have UEFI BIOS to install as UEFI-GPT