How to wipe out everything on computer for reinstallation of Windows 7

[ignatzatsonic]

I'd just like to confirm what partitions you ended up with.

I assume you burned that ISO download and used it for the install, rather than using the Dell disk??

The first things I'd do on a new install is get anti-virus and Internet going.

Then update Windows from Windows update.

Then install drivers.

But I'd like to see Disk Management first. At least describe your partition layout.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If you did a clean install with the downloaded ISO, I would NOT use that Dell drivers disc.

 

[gregrocker]

Use the drivers given by the installer and updated by optional Windows updates. Then only import drivers which are missing in Device Manager after several rounds of optional Windows Updates, from the Dell Support Downloads webpage for your tag number which is most current.

Later we can help you restore the Recovery partition hotlink if it will not boot after testing it to see. But the space is hardly worth deciding to recover now.
Dell Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings
Dell Recovery Partition - restoring F8 link

Many decide to scuttle the Recovery partition and go with their own Win7 backup image, however it might be useful to recover to factory condition if you decide to sell the PC since Dell's junkware might be useful to someone else.

 

[dynamite140]

No, i did not burn that iso download. I used the windows 7 reinstallation cd. Thats what deri told me to do.


Disk Management is like this


Volume Layout Type File System Status Capacity Free Space %Free Fault Tolerance
C Drive Simple Basic NYFS Healthy 465.66GB 451.35GB 97% NO
System Reserved Simple Basic NYFS Healthy 100MB 72MB 72% NO
Window 7 Prem Simple Basic UDF Healthy 5.75GB 0MB 0% NO

Disk 0
Basic System Reserved C Drive
465.76GB 100 MB NTFS 465.66 GB NTFS
Healthy (system, Active, Primary) Healthy (Boot, Page File, Crash Dump, Primary Partition)
online

Disk 1
Removable E drive
No Media

The same removable E drive no media for Disk 2, 3 and 4

CD-ROM 0 Win 7 Homepremium Drive
DVD 5.75 GB UDF
5.75 GB Healthy Primary Partition
ONLINE

 

[dynamite140]

So based on this... am i suppose to install the applications cd driver now? Or create the partition first?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Greg:

Can't he use the downloaded ISO from My Digital Life (home premium 64) and activate it using Dell product key??

I think he has reinstalled using Dell's Windows disk which is actually a recovery disk, with bloat, crapware, etc.

Dynamite: how many total partitions do you now see in Disk Management? Do you still see a "recovery" partition of 10 or 15 GB???

 

[ignatzatsonic]

So based on this... am i suppose to install the applications cd driver now? Or create the partition first?

Hang on for a minute, dynamite. We need to hear from Greg.

How many total partitions do you now have? Do you still have a recovery partition?

 

[gregrocker]

A Dell Reinstallation DVD normally only contains extra the SLP factory mass-activation file so that it self-activates, and the Dell branding on Computer Properties page.

If these were recovery disks they'd not fit on one DVD, another reason they're called bloatware.

 

[dynamite140]

I only had 1 partition. It was disk 0 partition and it had like 465gb. No i didn't see a recovery partition.

Do you see what i typed up above? I wrote what i have in the disk management...

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I provided the link in case the ISO had become corrupted, to be sure he had a pristine one.

However a Dell Reinstallation DVD normally only contains the SLP factory mass-activation file so that it self-activates, and the Dell branding on Computer Properties page.

If these were recovery disks they'd not fit on one DVD, another reason they're called bloatware.

Greg: he did not use the My Digital Life ISO.

He appears to have reinstalled with a Dell disk.

He does not have a retail disc. He has 3 discs from Dell: Windows, drivers, and utility.

Isn't he better off using My Digital Life ISO and then using Dell product key to activate it. Can't he do that?

Or would the Dell disk give a true clean install, like a retail Windows disk?

 

[derekimo]

Did it ask you for a product key when you installed before?

Nope. Never did.

That's what I thought. If you have that 25 digit product key you can try a clean install using that key in a retail iso.

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/151566-reinstalling-windows-7-a.html#post1300819

What version do you have (Home Premium, Pro...) 32 or 64 bit?

Download Windows 7 ISO (Official 32-bit and 64-bit Direct Download Links) « My Digital Life

Scroll down till you see the Home Premium 64 bit English and grab it.

The clean versus clean all thing shouldn't have mattered. Clean works as well as clean all for what you need to do with Diskpart. But you don't need diskpart at all. No harm in using it if you want to.

From these two posts on, I thought the downloaded ISO was being used.

 

[gregrocker]

Dell Reinstallation DVD is normally a Win7 installer with only Dell branding and SLP auto-activation added. Check now that Win7 is Activated at Computer>Properties.

You've have been asked repeatedly for a Disk mgmt screenshot, which is actually easier than typing out those jumbled listings.

Maxmimize your Disk Mgmt screen, open the Snipping Tool in Start Menu, draw a rectangular Snip around the entire drive map with listings, Save the file. Attach it using paper clip in reply box. Screen Shots

 

[dynamite140]

I have 2 discs from dell. The windows reinstallation cd and the applications. The applications is drivers and utitilies since i needed to install those things to get my internet working.

From talking to deri earlier... isn't this all i need to do now?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2674-partition-volume-create-new.html

 

[ignatzatsonic]

He has no current Internet connection and cannot post Disk Management.

He did NOT use downloaded ISO.

He used Dell "Windows" disk.

But he claims to now have only 1 partiton after the install, so maybe the Dell disk did NOT simply restore him to factory specs with 3 partitions (system reserved, C, and recovery)???

 

[derekimo]

I have 2 discs from dell. The windows reinstallation cd and the applications. The applications is drivers and utitilies since i needed to install those things to get my internet working.

From talking to deri earlier... isn't this all i need to do now?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2674-partition-volume-create-new.html

I never mentioned that. You should really slow down and answer each question.

 

[dynamite140]

Heres the disk management picture

 

[dynamite140]

I forgot that i could save a picture on my desktop, then put it on usb and save it and post on laptop. Excuse me for that mistake.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

The pic looks OK to me.

Wait for Greg's comment.

I just don't know what that Dell disk is. It appears to have given you a clean install with no crap or bloat, just like a retail disc. I don't see the "recovery" partition, so it did NOT restore you to factory specs.

Greg???

 

[gregrocker]

Perfect.

Are you missing wireless driver? In the steps I gave you it says "just in case put your wireless driver on a stick or CD so you can get online quickly to get Updates and drivers via optional Windows Updates."

Go to Dell's Downloads website and put in your Tag number to find the wireless driver. Unzip it to Downloads folder and rightclick .exe file to Run As Administrator.

 

[dynamite140]

The Dell disc is the windows 7 reinstallation cd....