Clean Restore Windows 7 On My XPS 8100 Desktop?

[paulyjames]

hi thanks for that info. I will do that and download that program now.


the other thing is do you know how i could find the 30gb of space that i currently have on my desktop? Where is that located?

 

[Paul Black]

Hi paulyjames,

The other thing is do you know how i could find the 30gb of space that i currently have on my desktop? Where is that located?

Have a look here => 8 Free Tools to Find What Files and Folders are Taking Up Hard Drive Space.

I hope this helps!

 

[paulyjames]

Okay i used the recuva program and searched for everything. It was quick and i see it goes to files from a few years ago but only till a few years ago when i first did the clean reinstall. The only thing it has that shows 2014 is 2 files and one is from 2010 that says bootmgr.


So basically it has no files/pictures and files i deleted whether deleted in recycle pin between 2010 and 2014 right if that is what is shown? Thus when i did the clean reinstall in 2014, that basically wiped any old pics or whatnot i deleted in recycle bin?

 

[Paul Black]

Hi paulyjames,

Okay i used the recuva program and searched for everything. It was quick and i see it goes to files from a few years ago but only till a few years ago when i first did the clean reinstall. The only thing it has that shows 2014 is 2 files and one is from 2010 that says bootmgr.

I didn't think you would be able to recover them, but it was worth a try. Obviously a clean install wipes everything on the HDD ready for the new OS to be installed!

So basically it has no files/pictures and files i deleted whether deleted in recycle pin between 2010 and 2014 right if that is what is shown? Thus when i did the clean reinstall in 2014, that basically wiped any old pics or what not i deleted in recycle bin?

Not just the recycle bin but the WHOLE HDD.

 

[paulyjames]

Okay is that is why i cant view any photos or links from back in 2010 to 2014 right?


Because it doesnt show any pics/videos or files from back then. So that mean in 2014 i must have downloaded a program to check for old pics/files before i did the first clean reinstall of windows 7 right?

 

[paulyjames]

ok im going to clean reinstall. Doesn't seem like any important files i have here.

 

[paulyjames]

Hi paulyjames,



Have you still got the recovery partition [reset to factory]?

Restore Factory Image From The Recovery Partition [Dell Computer]

IMPORTANT: Using the Factory Tools or Backup and Recovery Manager software will restore your computer back to its factory default settings. During this process, it will delete EVERYTHING on the HDD [files, folders, programs, drivers, photos, music etc]. Therefore it is imperative that you backup anything that you want to keep BEFORE you continue.

[01] Power off the computer and remove any attached devices [scanners, printers, external HDD’s, USB’s etc]. If the computer is a desktop, then obviously leave the keyboard and mouse attached.
[02] Boot the computer.
[03] When the Dell logo appears, continually press the F8 key to boot into the Advanced Boot Options menu.
[04] Use the arrow keys to navigate to the Repair Your Computer option, and then press Enter. The System Recovery Options screen will now open.
[05] Select your keyboard layout, and then click Next. The Administrator login prompt will now be displayed.
[06] Login as Administrator [or as a local user with administrative rights], and then click OK.

NOTE: Use the drop down menu to the right of Username: to select the local user or the Administrator account and enter the password for that account. If you have not set up a password on the local user account then leave the password space empty and click OK.

[07] Depending on your model configuration, you will either need to click the Dell Factory Image Restore option, or, click Dell Factory Tools and then click Dell Factory Image Restore from the Dell Factory Tools menu. Click Next. The Confirm Data Deletion screen will now be displayed.
[08] Click the check box for, Yes. Reformat Hard Drive and Restore System Software to Factory Condition., and then click Next.

NOTE: The restore to factory condition process will now begin. When the process is complete [it will take several minutes], a message will appear saying that the process was successful. The OS and factory-installed applications are now in the exact same OOBE [Out Of Box Experience] state as they were when it was brand new.

[09] Click Finish to reboot the computer.

That’s it!

this is what i first need to do? im going to start posting now from my laptop while doing this on the dell xps 8100 desktop.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi paulyjames,

Okay is that is why i cant view any photos or links from back in 2010 to 2014 right?

Exactly!

Because it doesnt show any pics/videos or files from back then. So that mean in 2014 i must have downloaded a program to check for old pics/files before i did the first clean reinstall of windows 7 right?

No idea!

According to your replies, we know that everything has gone or is NOT recoverable!

 

[Paul Black]

Hi paulyjames,

This is what i first need to do? im going to start posting now from my laptop while doing this on the dell xps 8100 desktop.

You will NOT be able to post from the Dell laptop as the clean install of the OS will wipe everything!

I don't expect this to work but it is worth a try in case the OS is on a hidden partition!

 

[paulyjames]

Okay want to add some other information.


I currently have these computers


Dell xps 8100 desktop with windows 7 home premium 64 bit that i want to do clean reinstall



I also have


dell xps 15 9550 windows 10 laptop that is my personal computer that i do everything important.


acer chromebook where i use to to web browse and view websites. Thus if anything could get virus or malware, i use that as its a chromebook and i dont have any important info on it.



So right now i want to download any drive or anything into my usb stick but do not want to do that with my dell xps 15 laptop. So i have to first use that usb stick and connect it to my dell xps 8100 desktop and download proper driver on it? The thing is i dont want to plug that usb stick into my main laptop as i dont want to risk any virus/malware in it if that makes sense? I have a separate usb stick that i use strictly for my dell xps 15 laptop.

 

[paulyjames]

Hi paulyjames,



Exactly!



No idea!

According to your replies, we know that everything has gone or is NOT recoverable!

Okay no problem that is fine.

 

[paulyjames]

Hi paulyjames,



You will NOT be able to post from the Dell laptop as the clean install of the OS will wipe everything!

I don't expect this to work but it is worth a try in case the OS is on a hidden partition!

I think my phrasing must have confused you. At the moment, im typing this reply on the dell xps 8100 desktop with windows 7 that i want to clean reinstall. But when im going to do this process, any question or reply i want to make on this thread, i will be using my DELL XPS 15 LAPTOP that i do mostly everything on. Thus i cannot reply to this thread while the current xps 8100 desktop is installing...

 

[Paul Black]

Hi paulyjames,

At the moment, im typing this reply on the dell xps 8100 desktop with windows 7 that i want to clean reinstall. But when im going to do this process, any question or reply i want to make on this thread, i will be using my DELL XPS 15 LAPTOP that i do mostly everything on. Thus i cannot reply to this thread while the current xps 8100 desktop is installing...

CORRECT!

 

[paulyjames]

Does that make sense in what im saying? I have my dell xps 8100 desktop on the desk ready to do the clean reinstall... and my dell xps 15 laptop that i do everything on but i will post any replies or anything on it while the xps 8100 is going to do its things when reinstalling?


So right now i want to know do i need to install any driver or anything onto a usb first? Because i dont want the issue where i just do the reinstall of windows 7 on the xps 8100 desktop... then i need to install a driver and i dont have it... then i need to use a usb stick and download those drivers ON MY DELL XPS 15 LAPTOP... and then send it to the usb stick... because i dont want that usb stick... ever connected to my DELL XPS 15 LAPTOP. Does that make sense? I have 2 separate usb flash drive sticks but one is only for that dell xps 8100 desktop... one that is for my dell xps 15 laptop which has important information. So i dont want an issue where i connect the other usb stick into my dell xps 15 laptop and then there is some virus/malware on it...

 

[Paul Black]

Hi paulyjames,

Does that make sense in what im saying? I have my dell xps 8100 desktop on the desk ready to do the clean reinstall... and my dell xps 15 laptop that i do everything on but i will post any replies or anything on it while the xps 8100 is going to do its things when reinstalling?

So right now i want to know do i need to install any driver or anything onto a usb first? Because i dont want the issue where i just do the reinstall of windows 7 on the xps 8100 desktop... then i need to install a driver and i dont have it... then i need to use a usb stick and download those drivers ON MY DELL XPS 15 LAPTOP... and then send it to the usb stick... because i dont want that usb stick... ever connected to my DELL XPS 15 LAPTOP. Does that make sense? I have 2 separate usb flash drive sticks but one is only for that dell xps 8100 desktop... one that is for my dell xps 15 laptop which has important information. So i dont want an issue where i connect the other usb stick into my dell xps 15 laptop and then there is some virus/malware on it...

See my post #14!

 

[paulyjames]

Hi paulyjames,



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!

You need 16gb of space on a flash drive for this? Was this recent? I remembered when i downloaded something like this back in 2014, i only needed less than 4gb of it for the windows 7.

 

[paulyjames]

Okay so i got a brand new 64gb flash drive that i never used previously. Now connect it to my dell xps 8100 desktop.


So my old kingston 4gb or my 16gb flash drive wont work for this then right? This is amazing that it needs this much space? Do you know if this is recent?

 

[Paul Black]

Hi paulyjames,

Okay so i got a brand new 64gb flash drive that i never used previously. Now connect it to my dell xps 8100 desktop.

CORRECT [just follow the instructions they give you].

So my old kingston 4gb or my 16gb flash drive wont work for this then right?

Obviously NOT!

This is amazing that it needs this much space? Do you know if this is recent?

No idea, I have never had a Dell!

 

[paulyjames]

Do you need to reinstall Microsoft Windows or Linux on your Dell PC due to a system crash, hard drive replacement, etc.?
The Dell OS Recovery Tool will help you download a customized Dell recovery image of Microsoft Windows or Linux that was preinstalled on your Dell PC.
Follow the steps below to download the utility, create a USB recovery media and reinstall Microsoft Windows or Linux on your Dell PC.




One other thing i want to ask related to this. So i have to download this to a usb flash drive no matter what right? Or its only necessary if there is an issue installing as is? Could i do a clean reinstall of windows 7 without using a usb flash drive or that is basically impossible?

 

[paulyjames]

Hey but even though you never had a dell, then the process is different?


Do you know why years ago i only needed to install drives into a usb stick where it used up less than 4gb only? But now its 16gb? Does anyone else here know who who has a dell and did this before?