Bought used Dell laptop, how to re-install windows for a clean setup?

[JohnnyScience]

Ok I just bought a used Dell laptop with win7 Home 64 & from my understanding the boot disk is actually now on a partition?

How do I access this partition in order to completely format the computer & reinstall a nice clean setup?

Thanks.

 

[derekimo]

Sounds like you want to do this,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

 

[rraod]

Try these links for instructions on Reinstalling Windows 7 on a Dell system.

How To Restore or Reinstall Microsoft Windows on a Dell Computer.

Windows 7 PC Restore.

 

[JohnnyScience]

Is there a way to do it with the OS on the partition already instead of downloading & making a dvd?

If not I can make a dvd, just wondering if I can use the OS partition.

Thanks.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Here you go mate.

   Information

Turn on the computer.

2 As the computer starts, press <F8> on the keyboard until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears on the screen.

Note:
You must press <F8> before the Windows logo appears on the screen. If you press <F8> after the Windows logo appears on the screen, the Advanced Boot Options menu will not appear on the screen. If you do not see the Advanced Boot Options menu, restart the computer, and then repeat this step until you see the menu on the screen.

3 Press the <Down Arrow> on the keyboard to select Repair Your Computer on the Advanced Boot Options menu, and then press <Enter>.

4 Specify the language settings that you want, and then click Next.

5 Log in as a user who has administrative credentials, and then click OK.

6 Click Dell Factory Image Restore.

7 In the Dell Factory Image Restore window, click Next.

8 Click to select the Yes, reformat hard drive and restore system software to factory condition check box.

9 Click Next.
The computer is restored to the default factory configuration.

10 When the restore operation is completed, click Finish to restart the computer.
The software is now installed as it was when the computer was first received.

 

[rraod]

Try the second link.

 

[JohnnyScience]

How To Restore or Reinstall Microsoft Windows on a Dell Computer.

That's what I was looking for I'm in the process right now.

Thanks guys!

 

[JohnnyScience]

Ok now I'm at the first screen of it asking for username & password

It brings up the following users:

Homegroupuser$
user

They both require a password & I have no idea what either of them would be?

There is no password on the computer right now, it just logs in when you click the guest icon.

What do I do?

 

[derekimo]

You can't put a password on a guest account.

Is there another account?

 

[JohnnyScience]

I'm in the "system recovery options" right now, not trying to log into windows but it's still asking for a password?

 

[JohnnyScience]

It seems the admin account was called "user" & I just created a password for it, so hopefully when I get back into system recovery options it will accept it, find out in 1 min.

 

[derekimo]

I'm in the "system recovery options" right now, not trying to log into windows but it's still asking for a password?

I know you are but you also said it doesn't ask for a password when logging in to the guest account.

It sounds to me like you don't have admin priveledges, which is one of the first steps in the links provided by rraod.

 

[JohnnyScience]

I got everything figured out & it's formatting now.

Thanks guys.

Just needed to give the admin account "user" a password to continue.

 

[rraod]

Good luck with your new windows 7 installation.

 

[gregrocker]

Hey Johnny -

All this trouble to restore the factory crapware and useless duplicate utilties that have better versions built into Win7?

Why? Are you selling it?

Most tech enthusiasts choose to get the superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

 

[JohnnyScience]

Hey Johnny -

All this trouble to restore the factory crapware and useless duplicate utilties that have better versions built into Win7?

Why? Are you selling it?

Most tech enthusiasts choose to get the superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Hey mate long time no see!

I did a successful full clean reinstall using the OS on the partition.

What additional benefits would doing it with via a cd bring?

I'm not selling it, I just bought it so I wanted to scrub it as good as possible & I thought that's what I did?

Just for the record it's win7 64 Home

 

[gregrocker]

Johnny if you ran the Dell Factory Recovery then it reinstalled all of the bloatware that originally came with the PC. That's not the same as a Clean Reinstall.

Even Dell supplies a clean copy Win7 Reinstallation DVD to get a cleaner reinstall than that. But you don't need it since everything is in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

But run it for awhile and if you like the Factory Recovery you can probably improve performance just by working through these steps to Clean Up Factory Bloatware.

 

[JohnnyScience]

Sounds great I'll download the OEM reinstall & start over.

Thanks.

 

[gregrocker]

Read also the Special Notes for Dell Owners so you understand your options about the factory partitions.

Run Dell Diagnostics from F12 menu first to check it out good and confirm that still runs, as if it doesn't you don't need the Tools partition.

Keep us posted as you go.

 

[JohnnyScience]

Ok do I really want to delete the factory OS partition? It's nice to have in a quick jiffy sometimes if you dont have the disk