How IT people perfrom reformats?

[Derekuuda]

Hi all,
I'm an IT Major at Boise State University and I often get a lot of people coming to me asking if I can reformat their PC for them. I was just wondering how most IT Professionals are able to reformat peoples PC's. Other then buying a new version of Microsoft Windows for every client, what service (if any) do IT professionals use? I know that Windows 7 Iso's are available online directly from microsoft, so theoretically if the person had their License sticker on their PC, you could reformat it using that. But as far as other software goes, (vista, office, XP, ect....) How do IT Pros do it?
I've heard about Technet, but am not sure if thats what it's purpose is for.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[gregrocker]

A lot of pro's use imaging, even a SysPrepped image which can start up on any hardware:

SysPrep to move HD to another computer
Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
System Image Recovery
Macrium - Image your system

I prefer premium Acronis True Image for cloning or imaging. You can use their free version if there is a WD or Seagate HD in the mix. The manual is on the WD/Seagate downloads page and easy to understand.

The basics for getting a baseline perfect reinstall are in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

 

[pparks1]

If it were for a friend, I would use an ISO from my MSDN susbscription and their key from their machine.

If it were myself or at work, I use a sysprepped generalized image.

 

[z3r010]

If it was me, I'd tell them I was far too busy and to take it to a shop

 

[karlsnooks]

Suggest that they:
Download PartitionWizaard to a CD, boot from the CD and use partition wizard to do the job.

Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online

 

[Derekuuda]

I think maybe some people are misunderstanding my question. I know how to reformat a PC. My question is more about what sources do IT Professionals use to obtain ISO's, registration keys, software, ect... I'm not even sure if their is such a service that even exists that Microsoft offers to IT Professionals. But I would imagine there is. I highly doubt that People that own PC repair shops go out and purchase a new copy of Windows XP, Vista, 7, Word, ect... everytime they reformat a customers PC.

 

[richnrockville]

If it was me, I'd tell them I was far too busy and to take it to a shop

But your a hard arse

Rich

 

[karlsnooks]

I think maybe some people are misunderstanding my question. I know how to reformat a PC. My question is more about what sources do IT Professionals use to obtain ISO's, registration keys, software, ect... I'm not even sure if their is such a service that even exists that Microsoft offers to IT Professionals. But I would imagine there is. I highly doubt that People that own PC repair shops go out and purchase a new copy of Windows XP, Vista, 7, Word, ect... everytime they reformat a customers PC.

Excellent question.

The simple and straighforward answer:
their company pays for it,
they have a MSDN subscription,
they have a TechNet subscription ( i fiit in this category.),
or they download the ISO (if they already have a key) from Download Windows 7 ISO (Official 32-bit and 64-bit Direct Download Links) « My Digital Life



Win 7 is a much tighter setup than you had with XP. Win 8 is going to be even tighter.

Although the microsoft rule regarding installing of OEM version (which is cheaper) has not held up in Europe, that is another alternative.

We get a lots of questions here which are the result of a comute shop instgalling a version of Win 7 with a key that is already in use, which hasn't beeen validated, or which a crack has been applied to get by until Microsoft makes their periodical check if your version is valid.

When we detect that someone haas an illegal versioon of Win 7, then its Adios Amigo from SevenForums. For the record, If I could, I'd line all of the hackers up against the wall and give the machine gun a good workout.

karl

 

[Derekuuda]

Thanks for your response Karl.
So my next question is, as an up and coming IT Student. Do you think a Technet subscription would be a good investment? I fix alot of peoples PC's. I also have a MSDNAA account but, that is only used for my educational purposes.

 

[karlsnooks]

See no advantage. The keys you receive from Microsoft are not for sale and are only provided for your personal use in testing and the likes thereof.

The technet subscriptions enables me to 100% legally install more times on more computers than I need, but doing so save me money in the long run since I never install any software without a legal license. And that includes that I do not install hacked or illegal software that someone else has.

 

[gregrocker]

I think maybe some people are misunderstanding my question. I know how to reformat a PC. My question is more about what sources do IT Professionals use to obtain ISO's, registration keys, software, ect... I'm not even sure if their is such a service that even exists that Microsoft offers to IT Professionals. But I would imagine there is. I highly doubt that People that own PC repair shops go out and purchase a new copy of Windows XP, Vista, 7, Word, ect... everytime they reformat a customers PC.

Everything you need including links to the installer ISO's is in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7, even for a retail installation.

 

[Trucidation]

You're conflating a simple reformat with reinstalling all the crap said user wants. Also, corporate IT has an asset database, we have the ID#s for registering all that software. This is why we keep track of what people install on their work machines.

When someone brings a machine to be reformatted back to us, we simply pull their employee ID and verify it with that machine's asset number. Then we use the appropriate image. Finally we set up a couple of work settings (Lotus Notes stuff, email crap, etc).

Outside of a corporate environment... I used to work at a "PC repair shop" (temp job during college). We simply formatted the machine when the customer said to, and we'd set it up so that it'll be just like when you purchased it: you'd get to do all the settings again during your first boot. We DON'T reinstall all your crap; how would we know whether you had MS Office, Adobe Acrobat, etc installed? You would have to supply us with your install discs as well as the registration ID#s. Most of the time we'd advise you to do it yourself, unless you really want to pay us to do it and have your software installer discs & registration serial #s on hand.

 

[karlsnooks]

Trucidation,
Please see post #6.

Incidentally, many of us have more experience in all kinds of situations than others can dream of. We are either professionals or retired professionals.

I wish you a good day.

 

[FuturDreamz]

Usually I just make a note of all of the software that needs to be reinstalled, and the ones with keys; I go through the application for the key (usually they will have a means of finding the key). Then I do a complete backup first so i can do a clean wipe and have a contingency plan in case something goes wrong.



Though normally I just go through Control panel and uninstall all of the toolbars and crapware, and set the wallpaper to default. Usually that's good enough.

 

[Layback Bear]

If it was me, I'd tell them I was far too busy and to take it to a shop

That has got to be the post of the day. I'm still laughing.