How do I create image of DELL Laptop OS + drivers

[uandme72]

I want to install Windows 7 Ultimate purchased from a retail store, onto my DELL Laptop which was supplied with Ubuntu.
After installing the Windows OS and all the drivers for Windows 7 downloaded from the website, which is a time consuming process when done manually one by one for each driver, I want to create an image of the OS + drivers. Then fromnext time I want to only use that image file to install Windows 7 and all the drivers on the Laptop without having to do it manually and individually for each driver.
Kindly advise on how to do it.

 

[richc46]

Welcome
Download and use the free Macrium Reflect.
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
Put the image on an external hard drive and update once a month.
It has saved me twice, and many others here.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html
As a little bit extra, the free Karens Replicator can image just your stuff.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello uandme72, welcome to Seven Forums!


You may need to do a wipe / secure erase of the HDD to completely over-write the Linux code to get the install to finish correctly; have a look through the information below for some additional ideas and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

   Information

As a start and to rule out format errors up front, boot the Windows 7 installation media to diskpart and run the clean command, once the clean finishes, exit diskpart and use the Windows 7 installer to create and format a single 100GB partition to do the install to.

If that does't work, after another clean, use diskpart to create, format and mark Active a single 100GB partition to see if that works, use Step #2 in the SSD/HDD tutorial for reference.

Once the clean finishes, exit diskpart and use the Windows 7 installer to create and format a single 100GB partition to do the install to and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

After you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to external media and want to start fresh with a clean installation or clean install with an upgrade version of Windows 7 have a look through the information below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

It may be a help to over-write the HDD Master Boot Record (MBR) before you start any other procedure using the diskpart clean command, rather than the clean all; it takes just seconds to complete so you will have "unallocated" space to use either the Windows installer to create and format the partition(s) or use diskpart to create them, however you choose.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

DISKPART : At PC Startup
​

If you want to completely wipe / over-write the entire Hard Disk Drive of any possible format errors, malware infection, for security purposes or just to get the best possible place to install Windows to, have a look at these tutorials.

Secure Erase / Wipe : Definition and Methods

Additional Secure Erase / Wipe Information
​

 

[AddRAM]

Where are you going to save the image ? DVDs ? On another partition of your current hard drive, which you will have to create. Or on an external hard drive ?

Just use windows built in disc image program located in Control panel>Backup and Restore.

 

[fireberd]

I do full hard drive backups with Acronis True Image. Its not a free program but it works well for my uses.

 

[mjf]

I want to install Windows 7 Ultimate purchased from a retail store, onto my DELL Laptop which was supplied with Ubuntu.

Was the laptop bought second hand? I didn't know Dell sold laptops with Ubuntu.

 

[uandme72]

DELL Laptops supplied with Ubuntu

Please see the link below for DELL models supplied with Ubuntu Linux

Latitude E5430

 

[mjf]

Please see the link below for DELL models supplied with Ubuntu Linux

Latitude E5430

I find it surprising but you are quite correct. Since it a free OS the laptop should have been a lot cheaper. But I might have expected a Dell Windows 7 OEM OS supplied with the PC would have been a lot cheaper than a genuine retail Windows 7 Ultimate.