Solved Dell Inspiron Mini 1012 Reinstalling Win 7 from Win 10

[Halime65]

Hello. I appreciate any advice, because I am not very computer savvy. I purchased a used Dell Inspiron Mini 1012 to have as backup if my bigger laptop dies. Well, it died
I love the Mini, but the previous owner upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 Pro (2 years ago) and I hate it.
I have 2GB ram and it runs very slow.
How can I get Windows 7 back without making discs since I don't have a DVD drive?
I have the key code I just don't know what to do in a simple fashion lol
The computer is only used to get online and iTunes for my ipod music. That's all.
Thank you for your advice.
Halime

 

[SIW2]

I don't have a DVD drive

You can create a bootable usb from the win7 installation media.

Looks like dell only provide drivers for win7 32 bit
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/inspiron-mini1012/drivers

Would you prefer 32 or 64 bit win7 ? How much ram can the machine support - you could possibly increase it.

The computer is only used to get online and iTunes for my ipod music.

If you want to keep it simple, first download the drivers from the link above. Then install win7 x86 ( 32 bit ) Pro.
https://downloads.dell.com/Restrict...XVqX&uid=4b3ebffa-9975-4746-a09a-ddbb0a4edd74

 

[Halime65]

Hello. Thank you, but I might cry lol. The machine states 64 bit and from what I have researched I can only have up to 2 GB ram which is what I have. I just don't understand why they only offer for 32 bit. Thanks

 

[SIW2]

If 2gb is the max ram, you had better use win7 32 bit.

 

[Megahertz07]

Welcome to the Forum

64 bits is only required if you have more than 4G of memory.
Win 7 64 bits will use more than 2G only for the OS. As you have only 2G, there will be no memory for programs and it will use virtual memory that is slow.
Win 7 32 will use more than 1G only for the OS. There will be ~1G left for programs.


To make a Win 7 USB boot able drive:

Open a CMD window as administrator and type:

diskpart
list disk (it will list all drives. Identify the USB drive number)
select disk n (replace n by the USB drive number obtained with list disk)
clean
convert mbr
create part primary
select part 1
format fs=ntfs quick
assign
active
exit (to exit diskpart)

Download the iso file from Dell that SIW2 provided: N6N9GA00_W7SP1PRO32.iso
On Win 7 use 7Zip to extract all files and folders from the Win 7 iso file to the USB drive.
On Win 10, mount the iso file and copy all files and folders to the USB drive.

During POST, press F12(?) to launch the boot menu. Select USB (Name).
Go to install and delete ALL partitions on the SSD till you have one and only one unallocated space and then proceed.

 

[Halime65]

Okay! I did not realize I could use Win7 32. Thanks!

- - - Updated - - -

I did not realize I could use Win7 32bit!
Thanks for all the information you have provided. I will need to go slow and step by step since I am not very computer savvy.
Can you tell me please what size USB would I need to purchase to fit all that stuff ?
Thanks!
Halime

 

[Megahertz07]

Okay! I did not realize I could use Win7 32. Thanks!

- - - Updated - - -

I did not realize I could use Win7 32bit!
Thanks for all the information you have provided. I will need to go slow and step by step since I am not very computer savvy.
Can you tell me please what size USB would I need to purchase to fit all that stuff ?
Thanks!
Halime

For normal Win 7, 4G is enough.
For the Dell iso you need 8G
For Win 10, min is 8G
I would buy a 8, 16 or 32G.