I reinstalled Windows 7 from the DVD, having problems

[funkyguitar]

I have a Dell N5110 laptop that came with Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64 bit. Since the computer is over three years old now, and have been experiencing a handful of issues, I decided to reinstall Windows 7. The only way I was able to do it was through the DVDs I got when I bought the laptop. And the only way I was able to get the DVD to reinstall was to click on My Computer and select the C drive (rather than by pressing F12 as the computer is booting up, which is what the online tutorial said to do).

I don't remember the exact option I chose, but after the reinstall, I don't have access to my library items (music, videos, pictures, documents), even though all those files are apparently still on the hard drive since I have the same amount of free space as I did before the reinstall (250 MB. The drive has 750 MB capacity). Additionally, after I installed some drivers from the included drivers disk, I am able to connect to the Internet, but it's moving really slowly and isn't always connecting to webpages.

I have backed up all of my files, so my goal with the reinstall was to get rid of everything on the hard drive and have a speedy, like new laptop, then pick and choose which files and programs I wanted to put back on, starting with a clean slate. But I seem to be having some problems. What should my next step be? Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[Elljay]

I have a Dell N5110 laptop that came with Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64 bit. Since the computer is over three years old now, and have been experiencing a handful of issues, I decided to reinstall Windows 7. The only way I was able to do it was through the DVDs I got when I bought the laptop. And the only way I was able to get the DVD to reinstall was to click on My Computer and select the C drive (rather than by pressing F12 as the computer is booting up, which is what the online tutorial said to do).

I don't remember the exact option I chose, but after the reinstall, I don't have access to my library items (music, videos, pictures, documents), even though all those files are apparently still on the hard drive since I have the same amount of free space as I did before the reinstall (250 MB. The drive has 750 MB capacity). Additionally, after I installed some drivers from the included drivers disk, I am able to connect to the Internet, but it's moving really slowly and isn't always connecting to webpages.

I have backed up all of my files, so my goal with the reinstall was to get rid of everything on the hard drive and have a speedy, like new laptop, then pick and choose which files and programs I wanted to put back on, starting with a clean slate. But I seem to be having some problems. What should my next step be? Any help would be much appreciated!

Hello Funkyguitar,
I had to do one too, a while back.
The experts here can probably help you more than I can but I'll give you a couple links to
Tutorials on how to do it correctly. Hope this helps. Cheers.
This one by Brink.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html
This one by gregrocker.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

 

[funkyguitar]

Thanks for the response Elljay. Since I've already done the reinstall, I'm hoping there's something else I can do at this point rather than do it a second time.

 

[Elljay]

Thanks for the response Elljay. Since I've already done the reinstall, I'm hoping there's something else I can do at this point rather than do it a second time.

Ya OK. I hear you. I doesn't hurt to check the Tutorials out though. Might find give you some info. Maybe someone here can help you. Good Luck.

 

[AddRAM]

Well if you want a speedy new laptop like when you 1st got it you have to do a clean install, it will never be right until you do

 

[ignatzatsonic]

And the only way I was able to get the DVD to reinstall was to click on My Computer and select the C drive (rather than by pressing F12 as the computer is booting up, which is what the online tutorial said to do).

My guess would be that you didn't do a clean install and didn't do the necessary to bring up the menu to choose the DVD as the boot device.

Maybe F12 doesn't apply to your PC; maybe F12 does apply but you didn't manipulate the key correctly to bring up the menu. That can be tricky and might call for holding the key down, pressing it once per second, twice per second, etc. Cranky and finicky. Try and try again, with varying sequences.

 

[Layback Bear]

From post #1

The only way I was able to do it was through the DVDs I got when I bought the laptop. And the only way I was able to get the DVD to reinstall was to click on My Computer and select the C drive

If you were in Windows 7 you did not do a Clean Install. You might of done a Repair Install but it all depends on the DVD you used.

Exactly what DVD did you use. What did the DVD label indicate. Please give complete name on the DVD and who made the DVD.

 

[AddRAM]

He is most likely talking about his Recovery Discs, and as Ignatz says, he did not boot from them.

 

[funkyguitar]

I used the reinstallation DVD that came with my Dell laptop. See the attached photo.

 

[gregrocker]

Then do it right this time following Clean Reinstall Windows 7.

Read the Special Note for Dell Owners at the end to understand which partitions to keep, something you didnt even consider when running the install from Win7 incorrectly.

Please don't ask us how to save an install that was done abjectly wrong to begin wtih. We specialize in the best installs in the world here, something which that tutorial alone has accomplished for over 1.5 million consumers who haven't had a single complaint or return here with problems.

Proceed.

 

[AddRAM]

That install DVD is fine if that`s all you have, but you have to boot from it, you can`t run it from within windows, there should be no reason you can`t bring up the boot menu to boot from the optical drive with the disc inside.

Either that or change the boot order in the bios to boot from the dvd drive 1st and the hard drive/ssd 2nd.

Don`t forget to save changes and exit.

When you reboot, you have to see the words "Press any key to boot from dvd/cd" when you see that, hit any key on the keyboard to start the install process.