How do you do a clean install of Win7 from an dell upgrade disk

[Captain Scarlet]

First post so please be gentle

I'm upgrading my Dell Studio XPS Desktop 435MT systems hard disk to an SSD & was wondering is it possible to to load Windows 7 from the dell upgrade disk or would i have to load vista first & then upgrade to Windows 7?

Just had a look at the clean install tutorial but it does state on the top of the page & is highlighted that this is from a "Retail" upgrade version & all i have is a dell upgrade disk from vista. Will this cause a problem?

TIA

OO

 

[Anthony]

Put the disk in the dvd drive then boot from dvd and see if it gives you the option.

 

[gregrocker]

MS required manufacturers to provide a clean-copy Win7 Installation DVD with the Upgrade kits, so it should be bootable to do a superior clean install.

Does it have the Product key on the Installation DVD? This needs to be checked first.

Keep in mind that this will reinstall only Win7 without the Dell factory bloatware and utilities. Check the Dell Support Downloads webpage for your model to see if there is a software installer for any of these if needed, or for any drivers missing after install and optional Windows Updates.

If not and you want the preinstalled software/utilities then you will need to run your Dell Recovery disks first then do an in-place upgrade by running the 7 Installation DVD from Vista.

 

[Captain Scarlet]

When this system was bought it came installed with 64bit vista with the option to upgrade to windows 7 when it was released, which i applied for.

Two disks arrived one was the Windows 7 upgrade assistant dvd which contains Dell Upgrade assistant, Windows 7 drivers & windows 7 applications & the second disk is the operating system which includes a product key

HTH

 

[Bill]

Also with Windows 7, Windows Update is quite handy in finding drivers. You can use that along with Dell's website, you shouldn't have any issues restoring drivers.

Bill

 

[gregrocker]

You can boot from the DVD to get the cleanest possible install. The key will be accepted up front during install even if you wipe the HD first of all code.

Make your Recovery Disks first, then either wipe the HD (cleanest) or use the installer's Custom>Drive options to delete all but the Recovery partition so it is left in case you ever need to run it from boot. Then create new partition(s) as desired, format and install to first partition.

Here are tips to look over for getting a purrfect clean reinstall of factory preinstall: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

Feel free to ask back all the questions you need..

 

[Captain Scarlet]

I do appreciated your answer but I still have worries.


From what i understand from the above article, these workarounds relates to the retail upgrade version, & as i have said the disks i have got were supplied by dell & are not retail versions but one disk does have a product key. Has anyone tried these workarounds with a dell upgrade disk?


OO

 

[Captain Scarlet]

Or is this another workaround the problem?
I have the genuine Win 7 home premium update product key from dell ok?
Been thinking about this (& getting splinters in my fingers) & my brother has a full version of Windows 7 home premium, now can i install this (deselecting activation during setup) & use my update product key from dell to manually activate this full version?

OO

 

[theog]

When this system was bought it came installed with 64bit vista with the option to upgrade to windows 7 when it was released, which i applied for.

Two disks arrived one was the Windows 7 upgrade assistant dvd which contains Dell Upgrade assistant, Windows 7 drivers & windows 7 applications & the second disk is the operating system which includes a product key

HTH

1) Boot your PC to Vista.
2) Insect Dell upgrade assistant DVD.
3) This will run a report on PC.
4) Post back with any problems.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Captain Scarlet, welcome to Seven Forums!



There is an excellent way to test this without losing your Vista install and it is a very easy way to remove Vista when that time comes; have a look at this tutorial at the link below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


Clean Install Windows 7 : Ahead of Vista

 

[gregrocker]

I do appreciated your answer but I still have worries.

From what i understand from the above article, these workarounds relates to the retail upgrade version, & as i have said the disks i have got were supplied by dell & are not retail versions but one disk does have a product key. Has anyone tried these workarounds with a dell upgrade disk?
OO

You only need to do one of the workarounds if you wipe the HD first.

Otherwise the DVD will scan the HD to see the prior OS and allow use of the Upgrade version key up front during install - even if you then go on to use Custom>Drive Options to delete, repartition and format during install.

Or is this another workaround the problem?
I have the genuine Win 7 home premium update product key from dell ok?
Been thinking about this (& getting splinters in my fingers) & my brother has a full version of Windows 7 home premium, now can i install this (deselecting activation during setup) & use my update product key from dell to manually activate this full version?
OO

There is no reason to use another DVD if you have a Win7 Installation DVD provided by Dell.

Check if DVD will boot now. Put the DVD in the tray and restart the computer, tap the Dell F12 key then choose DVD drive to boot DVD. See if it presents the following screens before using the Red X in top right of windows to cancel out:

​

​

​

​

Report back any differences from these screenshots. Does it have the Repair My Computer console on the second screen? Do you see where you will select where to install Win7 on the last screen shown? See the tools to select theere to delete any partitions you don't want, repartition and format?

This should confirm that you have a standard Win7 Installation DVD. If it were modified by Dell then it would have the activation key slipped in. As a standard retail installer, it will accept the key up front during install once it scans the HD to see Vista already on there.

Do you want to save any of the partitions on there now? The only one I would save is the factory Recovery partition which should still run from boot to recover Vista after reinstall if ever needed. But be sure to make your Recovery Disks anyway to have a backup.

If you delete all but Recovery partition using the Drive Options shown in last screenshot above, then create New partition in deleted space, format and install Win7 there.

 

[Hoppy100]

MBR and GPT

I am new at this so please understand.

I believed that all hard disks when new came with a MBR (Master bot record) . Windows 7 will only install on a Hard drive with a GPT boot record. Please advise and correct me. Thanks Hoppy