Solved Installing windows 7 on top af existing windows 7

[ngr]

2 years ago I bought a laptop with preinstalled Windows 7 and a D: partition with installation files.
Now I wanted to 'format' or recover my HD to remove all kind of dirt etc., but I cannot get recovery files for it (and did not make any, when I bought it) - it's a very long story.

So I have bought a NEW Windows 7.

BUT now I am not sure, what happens when I try to install that on top of the existing.

Would it not best to make a good old formatting of the HD first, and how do I do that?

 

[gregrocker]

Why would you buy new Win7? You own the license which came with it for the life of the laptop. You can run Factory Recovery from its partition using the hotkey given at boot for Recovery, or clean reinstall as often as you wish.

Clean reinstall using the Product Key on COA sticker on bottom, following these steps to get a perfect reinstall: Reinstalling Windows 7

If you like the current partitioning then leave it. However if Recovery Partition doesn't work anyway, or you want a clean slate, then follow the steps to delete partitions during install and repartition as desired, or just delete them all and click next and Win7 will partition and format one large install partition for you.

Save the Product Key you bought separately to use on another machine so you don't waste the $100+ value of the one which came with the machine and you own for it's life. You can use the installer for this clean reinstall - just follow the steps given.

 

[ngr]

That's a very, very long story.

 

[ngr]

But are you saying, that I CAN install my new windows on top of the existing?

 

[gregrocker]

Yes. Did you read the steps I gave you?

 

[ngr]

Some, but I don't understand. What do you mean with "clean reinstall"?

 

[ngr]

And what is COA sticker?

 

[Dwarf]

Certificate Of Authenticity

COA and Hologram

 

[ngr]

It cannot be read - scrubbed off

 

[ngr]

But I owe the pc, not Bill Gates. So can't I get out to some kind of DOS and format the whole thing -and THEN install my new W7

 

[emaraszek]

If you have the new Windows 7 disc you just bought then this is pretty straightforward.

- Boot to the new disc
- Accept the terms, etc.
- Select "Custom"
- Use the drive menu that comes up to format the destination drive
- Install (kick back and relax)

That's it. Normally, "installing over" represents the process of upgrading from Vista to 7 or upgrading from a lower-end version of 7 to a higher-end version. This will preserve all of your files, settings, programs, etc and can be done by selecting "Upgrade" instead of "Custom"

 

[ngr]

But I don't want to preserve anything, the whole thing started because I wanted to 'clean up' my HD

 

[ngr]

Oh, now I see, what you wrote

 

[ngr]

So I will start now and you will hopefully hear good news from me in a couple of hours.
Please pray for me

 

[emaraszek]

So I will start now and you will hopefully hear good news from me in a couple of hours.
Please pray for me

Good luck! And be sure to keep that new sticker safe in case you ever need to reinstall again, no use spending all that money for something you already own

 

[ngr]

I surely will. It's expensive to be an old fool

 

[ngr]

I put the dvd in the drive, restart the computer - and it just start Windows like normally.
And now I see, that this is written on the DVD: "Contains Windows Anytime Upgrade" and "Contains Service Pack 1"
Does that not sound strange?

 

[emaraszek]

I put the dvd in the drive, restart the computer - and it just start Windows like normally.
And now I see, that this is written on the DVD: "Contains Windows Anytime Upgrade" and "Contains Service Pack 1"
Does that not sound strange?

That only means that is a more up to date version so you won't have to download as many windows updates. Anytime upgrade is what I described before, where you keep all of your old files and switch versions of windows 7. You said you want to get rid of everything and start over so that doesn't apply to you.

The reason it booted into Windows and not the disc is because your PC must be set to boot from the hard drive before the optical drive. When first turn on the computer, there should be something on the bios screen that says which key you need to press to bring up the boot menu (for me it's F12). Simply turn on the computer and press the correct key repeatedly to bring up the boot menu and then select your optical drive

 

[gregrocker]

Win7 Anytime Upgrade is only used to change to a higher version of Win7, not to clean reinstall Win7 as you wish.

If the COA sticker was wiped off the machine thus losing the Product Key which is needed to clean reintstall Win7, I would suggest you try running Factory Recovery from its partition or disks which should have been made when you set up your computer. These will self-activate so you don't have to buy a new Win7 license and lose the one which came with your computer.

Here's how to run Dell factory recovery: Dell Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings

If it won't run then your options are to call Dell Tech Support to order Recovery Disks or a Reinstallation DVD which will also self activate for a nominal charge, or try clean reinstalling with the Product Key audited off the HD which sometimes works when you call MS to Activate after install: Belarc Advisor - Use to Audit Product Key

 

[ngr]

HELLOOOOOOOO
It worked!
Thank you VERY MUCH for your assistance, I really apprecaite it!
I have not installed mail yet, so I will not ne notified, but I'll be back later!
Niels