Solved How do I wipe clean and reinstall Windows from the recovery drive?

[Qukis]

Hello people,

Need some help here since I'm a Windows-format-virgin.

I recently got a used Windows 7 Home Premium laptop (HP Presario).

Basically I want to wipe out any information and user accounts that are on there.
And change the system's language to English. A fresh, clean start.

I don't have a Windows 7 disc, all I have is a Recovery drive D.
And a product code and product key.


So my question - how do I do that? How do I clean and reinstall/format/recover Windows 7 so it's like new?
Thank you in advance for your input, I really never have done this, so I don't want to mess it up.

 

[SIW2]

Not sure if English will be an option in the recovery drive image. Might be.

Do you know how to view the contents of the recovery drive?

 

[AddRAM]

The Recovery process is started when you 1st boot the PC, it should show you which key to push to start it, watch the screen.

If you seriously want to wipe the drive and do a clean install of Windows 7, then you have to create an install dvd.

Download the iso file of the windows version you need from here and burn to dvd at x4 speed.

Download Windows 7 ISOs, Legally and for Free | PCsteps.com

Free ISO Burner (or just use windows)

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[Qukis]

OK, yes, I can do that.

But before I try to do a clean install from a DVD, could the same be done with just a Recovery drive?

No, I wasn't able to access it and have a peek on what's in there.
Is it possible to see if English will be available?

 

[Qukis]

I opened the Recovery manager while it was booting (ESC).

There's an option for System Recovery (restore your computer to the out-of-box state) and another for Minimized Image Recovery (restore your computer to a clean Windows environment, with minimal software and drivers installed).

So I guess I need a former one. Because I probably need the drivers, etc. Unless that's just bloatware... ?

Thanks for your help.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yea it sounds like Last known good configuration ?
Tough call
Might be best to use Out of the box while you can :/ your call.

 

[Qukis]

OK.
Hope it's right.
Anyone else have any objections/suggestions, before I push the button?

 

[AddRAM]

I would do out of box state. You can always uninstall software you don`t use.

But, it is a tough call, you are fortunate to have 2 choices.

 

[Qukis]

It's all good!


I opted for the out-of-box recovery and it went smoothly - only 10 min or so, and it was all fresh and clean... Well, not exactly clean because I still have a lot of crapware to uninstall and fix an issue with ZA firewall eating up all the CPU which strangely didn't happen before the wipeout...

Anyway, thanks a bunch for your input, ya'll.

 

[ThrashZone]

Good deal amazing it still worked most of time restore to factory state gets corrupted and a new can of worms get opened instead

 

[Qukis]

Oh, so that's why it was a "tough call"...

Glad I dodged that one. Enough PC troubleshooting for me, there always seems to be something that begs for immediate attention... Still, I managed to accidentally uninstall PowerDirector... Grrr...
Should've done a backup restore point first, eh.

 

[AddRAM]

You can always use the recovery drive/partition again.

 

[Qukis]

Yesss. Thanks, Windows indeed had saved a backup. So I rolled it back to a certain restore point (glad I didn't clean them up). And after a few unlucky attempts I had to uninstall the antivirus and a firewall, and only then the recovery worked. All good.
(Lesson to take home: don't be too quick to clean old restore points.)

 

[AddRAM]

What anti virus and what firewall ?

All you need is MSE and MBAM

 

[Qukis]

A little follow-up...

OK, so it wasn't all good after all, because although the recovery did work, it's pretty much useless as there are files missing, like the .exe files, I guess defeats the purpose... *facepalm*


I had AVG and ZA firewall.
Now instead of ZA (had some issues) I downloaded GlassWire.
So you're saying I don't need them?

Kinda feels a little unsafe... Are MSE and MBAM (got it) really sufficient?

 

[ThrashZone]

Panda and MBAM are better.

 

[DavidE]

A little follow-up...

OK, so it wasn't all good after all, because although the recovery did work, it's pretty much useless as there are files missing, like the .exe files, I guess defeats the purpose... *facepalm*

I'm guessing by "recovery" you mean using the restore point you referred to in post #13.

I've seen many threads and problems where Restore Points don't work correctly, or at all.
That's why many folks here use System Image backups.

A System Image backup is a COMPLETE snapshot/backup of the system - drive. Restore Points are NOT a complete backup of the system. Also, Restore Points can be deleted at any time without your control for various reasons. And, they are always online, stored in the [C] drive, and can be corrupted by malware. If the HD crashes for a hardware fail, all recovery options that depend on that HD are gone. I use Macrium Reflect free for System Image backups, and that is recommended by many others here. When you get a stable system, consider creating System Image backups and storing backup images on an offline storage device. That way you can recover to the point in time you created the System Image backup. And, create a System Image backup periodically, as often as you want to. How much you change your system and how much you are willing to lose and redo is up to you to decide how often to create a System Image backup. The latest Macrium Reflect free version also has Differentials. These just save changes since the last FULL backup, are smaller, and run quicker. You can read about Macrium Reflect (free) here: [url=http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx]Macrium Reflect Free[/url] I prefer to download from MajorGeeks rather than the site Macrium uses for downloading. [url=http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/macrium_reflect_free_edition.html]Download Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - MajorGeeks[/url]

 

[Qukis]

I wish I had known of this before, thanks, saving that.


After these unsuccessful attempts at restore operation, Advanced Uninstaller cleaned up a hell lot of registry errors and bits of files...


Anyway, I'm starting to think about upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 10...
7 just doesn't run smoothly on this machine, always something eating up CPU - up to 100%; either update installers or .NET processes, etc.

I wonder if Win 10 is worth all the fuss.

 

[AddRAM]

I would just clean install 7 then, before trying 10.

Don`t do out of box this time, try the other recovery point you mentioned earlier, the near clean one.

Still not happy, then do a true clean install.

Create a windows 7 install disc from here, just download the iso file of the version you need and burn to dvd at no faster then x4 speed.

Download Windows 7 ISOs, Legally and for Free | PCsteps.com

Free ISO Burner

If you feel that the recovery partition/drive as you call it is useless the wipe it out (delete it to unallocated space) before you start your install.

Post a shot of disk management before you start.

 

[Qukis]

It's actually good to have options.

Thanks again, saving that too. If I run into further issues, I'll most likely do exactly that before upgrading.
I'm gonna wait till all the necessary Windows updates are installed on what I have now; sometimes it solves the hiccups.