How to reset Win7 to factory settings with Ubuntu dual-boot


  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #1

    How to reset Win7 to factory settings with Ubuntu dual-boot


    Hi.

    I need to reset my Gateway Desktop PC's Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bits installation to factory settings using the restore utility from the Desktop PC boot, my problem is that I have Ubuntu 11.10 too on dual-boot so I'm not sure what should I take into consideration.

    There are two options: overwrite the OS installation or, format C: an do a clean installation. My biggest concern is that since I have dual boot the first loader that... loads, is the Ubuntu's one and I'm not sure if that is going to interfere with the installation.

    Here's a similar thread: Vista - Need to restore Gateway to Factory Settings
      My Computer

  2.    #2

    Keep in mind that running the Factory preinstall is not optimal due to the often heavy load of OEM sponsors' bloatware and useless factory utilities which have better versions built into Win7. So I would consider doing a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to the Win7 partition, then following these steps to Dual boot Ubuntu-Win7 which cause the least problems by limiting GRUB to the Linux partition.

    Make your Recovery disks anyway so you have a path back to factory condition if you decide to sell the PC or ship it back under warranty. If you do decide to run Recovery I would do it from it's partition at boot, then use the disks only as a backup against failure. If you decide to Clean Reinstall, make the disks so you can delete the Recov partition and recover its space.

    If you run Recovery and it doesn't offer an option to save an existing partition then Ubuntu will be wiped and you'll need to add it back. Best is to add it on another HD booted only via the BIOS boot order or one-time Boot menu.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    The easy way


    @gregrocker, thanks for your comments, I totally agree on that.

    I gave a chance to the reset to factory utility and had nothing special to do, just executed it on boot and waited for 3 hrs, it didn't modify nothing in my partitions nor my Ubuntu installation. Certainly there is a lot of trash programs and I'm having a fun time uninstalling all of them.

    I'm glad it worked so I haven't to go and find an ISO matching my activation key.
      My Computer

  4.    #4

    Clean Up Factory Bloatware tp get best performance from factory recovery.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:27.
Find Us