Clean Restore Windows 7 On My XPS 8100 Desktop?

Hi paulyjames,

paulyjames said:

2. No I did not because you wanted me to send pic of the disk management first so I didn't do that yet.

OK. Try and do the above because it might be on a hidden partition. If that doesn't work then you can download the ISO, burn it to a DVD/USB and clean install. What version and bit type of Win 7 do you have for the Product Key?

Hi paulyjames,

paulyjames said:

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

With the information you have got, then try and do the following...

Reinstall Microsoft Windows On Your Dell

[A] How to Download and Use the Dell OS Recovery Image in Microsoft Windows

How to Download and Use the Dell OS Recovery Image in Microsoft Windows.

This will tell you:

[1] What you will need.
[2] How to create the USB recovery media.
[3] How to use the USB recovery media to install Microsoft Windows 7.

Reinstall Microsoft Windows - Need to reinstall your PC's operating system?

Click here => Reinstall Microsoft Windows.

[1] Download the Dell OS Recovery Tool.
[2] How it works.
[3] You will also need to click on View requirements and full instructions.
[4] Drivers & Downloads...

Click here => Drivers & Downloads.

This is where you identify your product to get the latest available software and drivers updates by entering your Dell Service Tag, Dell EMC Product ID, or Model to get all the latest and updated software and drivers.

That’s it!

If not, then we will do what I mentioned in my previous post!

Hi paulyjames,

paulyjames said:

Okay so just to confirm, if I do the above, then that would do a clean reinstall of windows 7 for me?

If you still have that option available then yes.

paulyjames said:

[1] Also do you know how long it would take for the entire process to do the clean reinstall?
[2] What concerns me is if when I do it, then I don't completely wipe everything. Like if you look at the disk management, you notice how my hard drive is used up a bit? Reason is because I didnt wipe everything in my hard drive. I did a clean reinstall at least twice a while back and each time it didn't wipe everything. So if it it did not, that mean there is a chance if I had a virus or malware or anything like that on it, there still is a chance its on it now right?

paulyjames said:

[3] How do I even check what files I have in the 413gb of 465gb used? Thus I have about 30gb that I still have right? How do I view those files? Reason being maybe I have some files there that I dont have now and want to save it onto a usb?

I recalled years ago before I did the clean reinstall, someone told me there was a way to view old files/pictures I deleted. Can you tell me what program I need for this etc? Because I want to do this before I wipe it fully clean. The thing is are these 30gb in files that I still have, I assume those are programs as opposed to say documents/pictures right? Because I dont find any when I view docs or pictures? Or its there but I have to look in a special folder? I also want to view old pictures/links that I have visited years ago. Is it still possible to do this since I have 413gb of 465gb available on my hard drive at the moment? I want to do this before I do a clean reinstall. Because a while back, I recalled I found some old links to picture or picture that I saw from years ago.

[1] It shouldn't take too long to do the actual installation. The most time taken will be doing ALL the WU [Windows Updates], but there is a quick and easy method of achieving this when you get to that stage [I will post the method]. Re-installing the programs and changing the settings to your preffered settings will also take some time!

[2] During the installation process you can delete ALL the partions leaving a single partition of unallocated space which Windows will format and install the OS onto. I assume that is what you want?

[3] You will obviously have to re-install any programs that you use! You can copy any data files to an external HDD or USB that you want to keep. By what you have said I strongly suggest that you...

IMPORTANT: Make sure that you backup ALL your essential files to an external HDD or USB BEFORE you start the clean install. This is because during the clean install process, ALL your User Accounts, Folders, Files, Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos, Data Files, Icons, and any installed programs will be erased and become irretrievable. It is also still strongly advised that you create a system image as a secondary precaution. 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].

I hope this helps!

Hi paulyjames,

paulyjames said:

1. I think when last time i did the wiping and reinstalling, it took like 1 hour 30 minute or so. Is that about right?

For a clean install I would expect it to be around that sort of time.

paulyjames said:

2. I basically want the computer to be like brand new as i bought it. So is what you said what i want? I want it brand new like when i first got it back in 2010.

It will be after the clean install.

paulyjames said:

3. The thing is this. Is there a way for me now to view my old files? I have no idea where to view the 30gb of things i have saved on my desktop. I recalled there was a folder to find this. Do you know where i do that? Also back then when i did the reinstall, i previously was able to view old pictures/links i viewed from years ago. I know i did this before i did the clean reinstall. But do you know how i can do this? Because there are many videos/pictures that i had on this computer that i deleted probably many years ago that might still be viewable right now because my hard drive shows 413gb free of 465gb available? Because if there are old pics i deleted that i want to keep a copy of, i like to do that now before i do the clean reinstall right?

Do you know what program or etc i can use for this? Would i be able to view deleted items i deleted back in say 2013 or even older than that?

Depending on what programs you have run since 2013 [that is 6 years], like disk cleanup, CCleaner, Glary Utilities etc, I would say no. But, you could try retrieving the files [if they are still available and haven't been written over with new data] using Recuva [FREE]...

Recuva - Recover Deleted Files

It will depend on how long ago you deleted the files as to whether or not you will be able to recover all of them. When a file gets deleted, that part of the disk that the file occupies is then made available for new files to be written to!

A favourite among members here, myself included, is Recuva => Recuva. The wizard will help you a lot when it comes to recovering your files.

I hope this helps!

Hi paulyjames,

paulyjames said:

But i recalled in 2014 i downloaded some program to view old photos/links etc and was able to find certain things. But the danger of this is when i view old files/pictures, i open myself up to possible virus/malware if i click on those old photos that i can possibly view and sites and links right?

You have three options available...

[1] Scan the photos/links etc with an AV BEFORE you transfer them to an external HDD or USB.
[2] Scan the photos/links etc with an AV AFTER you transfer them to an external HDD or USB.
[3] Scan the photos/links etc with an AV BEFORE AND AFTER [recommended for double security] you transfer them to an external HDD or USB.

I hope this helps!