Solved Factory restore over Linux

[msalton1]

A friend of mine has a Sony Vaio laptop that he gave someone at his job to 'clean up' and he got it back with Linux Qimo for kids installed. I'm not asking why. :shock:

At any rate, given that it's Linux, are there any special steps I need to take to do a factory restore from the DVD (ordered and on its way)? I'd hate to have any surprises because I plunged in without asking.

Thanks for any help.

Salt

 

[AddRAM]

You could wipe the disk clean of any Linux code using Diskpart and the clean all command while you wait on the disc.

You`d have to make a system repair disc on a Windows 7 machine. I`m assuming you don`t have a windows 7 install dvd.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/119713-diskpart-pc-startup.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

 

[msalton1]

You could wipe the disk clean of any Linux code using Diskpart and the clean all command while you wait on the disc.

You`d have to make a system repair disc on a Windows 7 machine. I`m assuming you don`t have a windows 7 install dvd.

Hi AddRAM. thanks for your comments. Actually, it's a Vista Business version machine. He wants it back to factory.

I have several Win 7 install isos and a few flavors of Vista too, but not Business.

After perusing the diskpart tutorial, I guess I could just use a win 7 install disk to diskpart it without having to have win 7 installed?

Come to think of it, I also have an Acronis rescue CD with WinPE...I think I could use that also...and then just boot to the recovery disk, or am I overlooking something?

 

[msalton1]

I used Acronis Disk director with winpe added. The clean all command is running now. Thanks for your help.

 

[AddRAM]

Yep you sure could use a W7 dvd

 

[gregrocker]

Clean command would be sufficient for these purposes. Clean All is overkill, only needed for making data unrecoverable by all but forensics means.

You'll get a vastly better install doing a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

But since you paid for bloatware disks, be sure after running them to Clean Up Factory Bloatware so you can regain some performance lost to the bloat and duplicate utiltiies that interfere with better versions built into Win7. It will still never be native Win7 performance with all that is larded onto a factory install.

 

[msalton1]

Clean command would be sufficient for these purposes. Clean All is overkill, only needed for making data unrecoverable by all but forensics means.

You'll get a vastly better install doing a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

But since you paid for bloatware disks, be sure after running them to Clean Up Factory Bloatware so you can regain some performance lost to the bloat and duplicate utiltiies that interfere with better versions built into Win7. It will still never be native Win7 performance with all that is larded onto a factory install.

Thanks for the response, Greg. However, this is a Vista machine. And thanks for the links. Always good to have. The bloatware will be the first thing I address.

 

[gregrocker]

Vista ISO - Download and Create Installation DVD or USB

Everything else works the same.

 

[AddRAM]

Greg, I wasn`t positive that just using the clean command would wipe any Linux code, I knew you would chime in

And once again I have learned from The Master

 

[msalton1]

Vista ISO - Download and Create Installation DVD or USB

Everything else works the same.

Thanks for the link. I actually downloaded all of my Win7 isos from there (win7 Direct DL).

As is stated in the tut link you provide, the downloads come and go for Vista. And the Install & boot.wims seem to be available, but the (i.e.) X14-6345....exe's download as 'Microsoftinstaller.exe'. Same file, universal name? Or something else?

At any rate, I do have a few copies of vista, and plan to make an All-in-One as per this link:

How to create Vista x.. AIO

Thanks! (best I can do atm...server feels I need to spread it around). :shock:

 

[msalton1]

Just to update, the Sony Factory Restore disks couldn't/wouldn't recover (they're on their way back to Sony for credit). I wound up installing Vista Business clean, LibreOffice and other free software. Runs great and I think Sony's failed RDs did my friend a service.

At any rate, thanks again AddRAM & Greg.