Do a clean install of my windows home premium

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trendy said:

Good evening.Been thinking of having a go myself regarding making a clean install of my desktop running windows 7 home premium.
Just one or two questions if I may.

I.I do have a W7 disc ''OEM Disc''

Are you sure this is a bona fide Windows installation disc? I assume it's something that came with your PC?

You could instead download an ISO from Digital River, burn it to a disc, and install from that disc. The ISO would contain Service Pack 1.

2.I do have the licence key

Obtained from where? Does it have 25 characters (5 groups of 5)?

30.What sort of time involved should I allow myself for the job

Typically less than 30 minutes for the install per se. That excludes getting updates, configuring, etc.

4.Should I delete the contents of the C drive,That drive has only the O/S and program files.

No. If you do a clean install and tell Windows to install to C, it will do the necessary and get rid of everything now in C and reformat C.

5.What about all the downloads and the service pack one that was installed some time ago

You will have to redownload that stuff from Windows update.

6.Will I need any further disc etc for drivers for mother board and graphics card.

Possible but unlikely. Windows installation disc and updates after the install are probably all you need. As a precaution, I would go to the motherboard manufacturer's web site and download the Ethernet driver (NIC driver) so you won't have any problem establishing an Internet connection after the install. Windows should supply this and nearly always does, but getting the driver separately is insurance.

7.Will it be as easy as the demo that Brink has put together on these forums

I haven't seen the demo. Sometimes the demos aren't worded too well, so I wouldn't expect each and every choice you are faced with to match the demo precisely. But it's nothing you can't overcome through this forum.

8.Will it be a big challenge for a computer dummy.

It's scary cause you've never done it. If you do it a time or two, you will wonder what the big deal is.

Be sure to disconnect all drives other than the drive that will receive Windows before you start. Back up your data.



9.Well should I re think this and take it to a local PC engineer.

No. I assume you have a good reason to attempt it. Why are you doing this?

10.Any answers Please.

What?

11.Please be honest and kind to me with the above.

I tried.

12.That's about it.

Carry on. Stiff upper lip. Put a knife in your teeth and put on your combat helmet before beginning. Reward yourself when done.

Here's a question for you: Will you have any way of getting onto this forum if things don't go as expected and the PC you are installing Windows on is temporarily not usable?

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trendy said:

Thanks
Answer to question's
I.I do have a Windows 7 disc ''OEM Disc''---It is a genuine came with pc from the PC Engineer who built it

That tells me almost nothing. I assume this is a custom built PC of some type, not from Lenovo or HP or Acer, etc. I have little idea what that disc is good for. I don't even know if it is a Microsoft disk.

2.I do have the licence key.---Yes it is a genuine key and came with pc.

Do you or don't you have a sticker on the PC that is marked as "Certificate of Authenticity"?

Does that sticker have a 25 character "Product Key"? Yes or no.

If yes, you might want to call Microsoft 800 toll free number and give them the product key and let them tell you what it is and if it is completely authorized and legit. I say this because local computer builders are known for licensing shenanigans. I have NO idea whatsoever about your particular builder.




9.Well should I re think this and take it to a local PC engineer.

No. I assume you have a good reason to attempt it. Why are you doing this? --It working okay,I just thought that it has not been for a good clean up for over a year.

Frankly---that isn't much of a reason assuming the PC is working OK. You can clean up Windows without reinstalling.

A better reason would be that you are inquisitive and want to learn how to do it. Or that you just want the personal satisfaction. I'm guessing that does appeal to you on some level.

You could instead download an ISO from Digital River, burn it to a disc, and install from that disc. The ISO would contain Service Pack 1.--Could you pass on the link for that and will it cost anything?

Costs nothing. Requires the 25 character Product Key to activate. You must be able to burn the ISO to a disc successfully.

Windows 7 Direct Download Links, Official Disk Images from Digital River

You need to get the ISO for Windows Home Premium in the right bit version (32 or 64). I don't know what you are now using, but the 64 bit version for English is x17-58997.iso. The 32 bit version is x17-58996.iso.

What's the answer to the last question in my first post?

Even if retail I'd use Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 since it makes sure you don't forget anything, do a perfect install, and use the tools and methods which work best for Win7 based on tens of thousands of installs we've helped with here since beta.