Fresh Install onto Dell laptop

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  1. rosede
    Posts : 33
    7 Home Premium 64bit
       New #1

    Fresh Install onto Dell laptop


    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
      My Computer
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  3. samuria
    Posts : 3,788
    win 8 32 bit
       New #2

    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
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  4. Megahertz07
    Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       New #3

    Follow the instructions from Download Win 10
    Expand "Using the tool to downgrade this PC to Windows 10
      My Computers
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  6. rosede
    Posts : 33
    7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    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
      My Computer
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  7. Megahertz07
    Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       New #5

    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
    Last edited by Megahertz07; 22 Sep 2019 at 09:27.
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  8. samuria
    Posts : 3,788
    win 8 32 bit
       New #6

    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
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  10. rosede
    Posts : 33
    7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    samuria said:
    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
      My Computer
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  11. samuria
    Posts : 3,788
    win 8 32 bit
       New #8

    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
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  12. rosede
    Posts : 33
    7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    samuria said:
    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
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  13. Megahertz07
    Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       New #10

    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)
      My Computers
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