Clean Restore Windows 7 On My XPS 8100 Desktop?

[Paul Black]

Hi 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.

I don't know why you posted the above!

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?

You need to be able to boot the installation media in order to perform the clean install, hence the USB!

 

[Paul Black]

Hi paulyjames,

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

The process I have given you is how to clean install the Win 7 OS directly from Dell!

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?

Yes, perhaps somebody else can help you with this question!

 

[paulyjames]

Hey man thanks! I want to hear someone else opinion first who had a dell and did clean reinstall it first before i do it. I appreciate your help a lot! Btw you have done clean reinstall with your windows 7 many time i assume? If so, what did you have desktop or laptop or both? And what was your brand?

 

[Paul Black]

Hi paulyjames,

Hey man thanks! I want to hear someone else opinion first who had a dell and did clean reinstall it first before i do it.

I will leave you to it then!

Btw you have done clean reinstall with your windows 7 many time i assume? If so, what did you have desktop or laptop or both? And what was your brand?

I have installed hundreds of systems, both on desktops and laptops and for many many different brands!

Good luck!

 

[paulyjames]

Alright thanks. I will get back to this thread soon though no matter what because i want to do the clean reinstall soon.

 

[Megahertz07]

Normally a OEM computer as your Dell desktop comes with a Factory Recover Partition. To restore the computer to the way it came from factory, you launch the Factory Recover application from Windows link or from BIOS.
You don't have that option any more as the disk doesn't have the Recovery partition.

Edit:
As your computer has a COA sticker with a Key code on the side panel, you can install using any win 7 installation disk and activate using the Key code from the COA sticker.

What version is the key for (Home, HP, Pro or Ultimate)? How much memory you have on the desktop?

 

[paulyjames]

I have windows 7 home premium 64 bit

4gm ram 500gm 7200 rpm hard drive

 

[paulyjames]

Well i no longer have the windows 7 cd anymore.

 

[Megahertz07]

With 4G of memory I would install Win 7 HP 32 bits as you will have more memory available to run the programs than wit a Win 7 64 bits.

Win7_Ult_SP1_English x32

Win7_Ult_SP1_English x64

The links are valid for 24 hours. Download them NOW.

It's a Win 7 ultimate, the only available for download from M$ site.
All versions of Win 7 installation disk has the 4 versions (Home, HP, Pro and Ultimate)
To make it a all version install you must remove ei.cfg file on \sources.
ei.cfg Removal Utility is a small application that does it automatically.
ei.cfg Removal Utility download

Download and extract it and apply to the win 7 iso file you've downloaded.

Instead of running WU and install more than 200 updates, run Simplix.
Simplix pack allows you to update Windows 7 SP1 (x86 x64) and Server 2008 R2 SP1 live operating systems. It can be installed in any language. Includes all critical, recommended, and security updates and updates for all versions of Internet Explorer.
Download Simplix UpdatePack 7 - MajorGeeks

 

[paulyjames]

Hi there. Well i have more memory that i will install in the future.


But those links that was posted by the guy helping me before, that is still correct?


Well i have windows 7 home premium... so isn't downloading ultimate not good idea?

 

[Megahertz07]

Have edited my last post. Please read it.

On witch post is the other guy links?

 

[Megahertz07]

Paul gave you a link to do a Factory recover.
As I already wrote, you don't have a Factory recover partition anymore, so Factory recover isn't an option.

The only option is to install Win 7 HP from a DVD or flash disk.
Download the Win 7 ultimate, apply the ei.cfg remove and you will have a Win 7 installation for all types. During installation it will ask witch one you want to install.

Download the iso NOW. You may not have another chance as M$ is removing the Win 7 links.

 

[paulyjames]

Hi. Well i dont know how to do the remove ei.cfg thing. That seem very complicated for me.


Im confused so the links that i need to download, shouldn't it come from dell etc? Why would it be removed in less than 24 hours?

 

[paulyjames]

Paul someone else responded to this somewhere else. They said what you described... the reason it uses up to 16gb is because that would include all the bloatware. So everytime you do a clean reinstall, you have bloatware included? He then gave me the sevenforums link with how to do clean reinstall of windows 7 without bloatware and said it should be around 4gb of space on flash drive you need... which sound like what i did a long time ago while back...

 

[Megahertz07]

The download isn't from DELL. They are from Microsoft.
M$ links are only valid for 24 hours. After that they just don't work. It's M$ rules.

Download the Win 7 ultimate and afterwords we will explain how to apply ei.cfg remove tool.

 

[Megahertz07]

You're making a big mess.
The file on the link was to store the Factory Recover image from the recovery partition on a flash disk.
Forget it. You DON'T have a Recovery image any more.

The only chance to reinstall Windows 7 HP is to download the Win 7 ultimate installation iso from M$ and apply the ei.cfg remove tool.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi paulyjames,

You DON'T have a Recovery image any more.

We proved what Megahertz07 has said above when you posted the Disk Management.

The only chance to reinstall Windows 7 HP is to download the Win 7 ultimate installation iso from M$ and apply the ei.cfg remove tool.

If the process that Megahertz07 has given you is too complicated for you, then try this process. It will download the latest and last Windows 7 SP1 [Final] ISO [build 6.1.7601 - July 2009] for your version and bit-type.

NOTE: This also supports Dell images.

[1] Download Windows ISO Downloader.exe [direct download] to the Desktop and run it.
[2] On the right-hand side of the screen under the Windows tab select Windows 7.
[3] In the Select edition drop down box select the Win 7 edition you want an ISO for and click Confirm.
[4] In the Select the product language drop down box select the language you want the ISO to be and click Confirm.
[5] Under the Downloads section click the ISO bit-type you want to download and save it to the Desktop.

 

[Megahertz07]

Paul, the links I provided were generated by Windows ISO Downloader.exe
The problem is that the only Win 7 edition available for download is Win 7 ultimate OEM.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Megahertz07,

Paul, the links I provided were generated by Windows ISO Downloader.exe
The problem is that the only Win 7 edition available for download is Win 7 ultimate OEM.

OK.

They were working for ALL editions a couple of weeks ago, they must have pulled the others like they have done on TechBench. Soon we will not be able to get hold of any Win 7 ISO's.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi paulyjames,

With 4G of memory I would install Win 7 HP 32 bits as you will have more memory available to run the programs than with a Win 7 64 bits.

Win7_Ult_SP1_English x32

Win7_Ult_SP1_English x64

The links are valid for 24 hours. Download them NOW.

Have you downloaded one of the ISO's above that Megahertz07 has given you the links for?