I'm about to reinstall Windows 7 on my PC--any particular critical procedures to undertake beforehand?
I do know about backing up critical files first.
And a tech friend says that Sysprep is lame and nearly useless. Just his opinion.
- Backup all your data.
- Boot with your Win 7 installation disk.
- Select custom (advanced) - drive options - delete all partitions - create new. Windows will create the necessary partitions and install.
Clean Install Windows 7
To save time on the updates:
MS releases SP2 for Windows 7
Now's your chance to consider 64 bit. I'd go with 64 bit if you have at least 4 GB of RAM--unless you have an unusual situation.
Disconnect all drives except the one that will receive Windows.
Go to your motherboard manufacturer's web site and download the NIC (Ethernet) driver for your motherboard. You can also grab all suitable drivers if you want although you may not need them. Put them on a USB flash drive.
I assume you are using your original hardware. Do you have a 25 character "Product Key"?
A friend suggested I back up SYS on Drive C before re-installing Win 7--where do I find SYS?
It's been close to 15 years since I've heard anybody talk about that.
He's talking about copying "system" files from one disk to another. They are normally hidden from view.
If you are doing a clean Windows install, you don't need to do anything like that. Just boot from your Windows installation media and tell the installer to delete all partitions when you come to the "where do you want to install Windows" screen.
See post 2 in this thread.
It's on you to have valid Windows installation media, which you say you do have. Begin with just one drive connected--the one that will receive Windows.
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