Can i do a clean install...?

[Auron586]

im not sure if anyone could help, but ill give it a go.

afew months ago i got a new computer, installed with windows 7, it is a mesh computers PC.

i currently would like to reinstall windows 7 and delete/format everything, my problem is, im not sure if the disk i have will do it.

the disk has a label saying "for use only as an upgrade to a qualifying MESH PC"

Obviously i do not have a copy of Xp/vista since i bought it with windows 7 installed.

anyone know if its possible to do a clean install/format?

 

[Tews]

I think you should be ok ... A HDD is a HDD, it doesnt really care what you install on it..

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html?ltr=C

 

[Auron586]

thanks, im just a little worried i will delete everything and it will ask for a xp/vista key that i dont have :s

 

[Tews]

Is your disc a full version or an upgrade?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?ltr=C

 

[Auron586]

i believe its an upgrade, it says the following on it:

"For distribution only with a new MESH PC"

"Windows 7 Home premium"

"This disk contains 64-bit software only"

"for use only as an upgrade to a qualifying MESH PC" <<<<

then a MESH computers logo.

thats everything on the disk.

 

[Bill2]

I believe the mesh disk is an OEM install disk with some logos and branding thrown in. So you should be able to reinstall windows, it will not ask for a key when used on a mesh pc. But am not sure it contains the drivers for your pc. You might have a separate drivers disk that came with your pc, or you can download from the mesh site.

Did you know there is a mesh pc owners forum? Heres a relevant thread from that.

does Mesh supply a recovery disk or oem windows disk? - MESH Computers Owners Club

 

[Auron586]

before coming to this site i tried logging into that mesh site but failed, ill try again soon.

i have another disk, ASUS, says AMD 780s/sb700 chipset support, is that the drivers disk ill need?

hopefully ill get onto that forum, i want to know 100% it will do a complete format/clean install alright, since it says upgrade on the disk.

 

[Auron586]

sorry to Bump/double post, but is the disk in my above post the one that has the PC's drivers?

 

[gregrocker]

It at least has your chipset, which might be needed if Win7 installer fails to provide a suitable chipset itself.

The Win7 installer is nearly driver-complete, with newer arriving quickly after install via optional Windows Updates. Any drivers then missing in Device Manager can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for your model computer or device, or from the driver disk you have.

If you do not recognize the name of Devices which are missing drivers (like "Co-processor" which requires more from the chipset) then check back here and we can tell you what they are.

Your computer should also have a COA sticker on it with the Product Key for the licensed version of Win7 you own. You can use that key if the disk doesn't self-activate, and you can use that key to use any Win7 installer for your version if need be.

 

[Auron586]

I do have that sticker/key, hopefully all will go well.

thanks to everyone for the help and advice, i plan to do the reinstall tomorrow so ill post back then

 

[Auron586]

Alright, i have now reinstalled windows, it went surprisingly fast, compaired to when installing windows xp, the format completed in about 5... seconds...? this cant be normal can it?

 

[severedsolo]

Alright, i have now reinstalled windows, it went surprisingly fast, compaired to when installing windows xp, the format completed in about 5... seconds...? this cant be normal can it?

yeah thats perfectly normal it doesn't actually delete anything it just removes the label on them and marks them as available to be overwritten

 

[zigzag3143]

Alright, i have now reinstalled windows, it went surprisingly fast, compaired to when installing windows xp, the format completed in about 5... seconds...? this cant be normal can it?

It isnt


The fastest win 7 install I have ever seen is in under 11 minutes. Bet it doesnt boot

 

[severedsolo]

Alright, i have now reinstalled windows, it went surprisingly fast, compaired to when installing windows xp, the format completed in about 5... seconds...? this cant be normal can it?

yeah thats perfectly normal it doesn't actually delete anything it just removes the label on them and marks them as available to be overwritten

to clarify my last post.... If the FORMAT took less than 5 seconds then that's normal. If the Install took less than 5 seconds as zigzag said then that's not

 

[theog]

Alright, i have now reinstalled windows, it went surprisingly fast, compaired to when installing windows xp, the format completed in about 5... seconds...? this cant be normal can it?

It isnt


The fastest win 7 install I have ever seen is in under 11 minutes. Bet it doesnt boot

Hi Ken
I can reinstall my test rig in 6.5 minutes, using a Norton Ghost image.
Ray

 

[Auron586]

6.5 minutes is very impressive .

it was indeed only the format that took afew seconds, the full install took around 25-30 minutes =)

thanks for the help again everyone.

 

[stormy13]

Don't know how up to date Mesh might be with their drivers, but with that chipset (780G/SB700) you can just get them straight from ATI/AMD,

http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownlo...roduct=2.7.4.3.3.3.1&lang=us&rev=10.5&ostype=

If you're using the onboard HD 3200 (or any other ATI card from the HD 2xxx series and up) grab the full Catalyst Suite and it will update the video driver as well as the chipset drivers. If not using the onboard or an ATI card like mentioned above, just grab the South Bridge driver; and the RAID or AHCI driver if you have your hard drives set that way.

 

[Auron586]

Awesome, thanks, i have a Hd4350 graphics card, and had the catalyst suite before reinstall, i believe.

 

[Auron586]

what driver would you recommend i download for the HD4350

 

[stormy13]

I would just go with the full Catalyst 10.5 suite.