Need to clean install Windows 7...why so complicated? frustrated...

[Sharp4564]

My laptop originally came with Vista few years back and I purchased an upgrade to Windows 7 and been using it ever since.

Few days ago I've encountered a problem with my laptop and now the system won't start normally. All I get is a "Preparing your desktop" message than a blank blue screen. After many attempts at restoring and repairing, nothing worked.

I've managed to login using "safe mode" to access my files and backup the important files. I'm glad that I was able to do that.

Now, there is nothing I need on my laptop so I want to erase everything and re-install Windows.

I've downloaded the ISO for Windows 7 and burned the image to a DVD to do a boot up, however, it did not work. I tried to boot from USB and that didn't work either.

I've seen on forums that I should be using "Microsoft Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool" ,however, I'm only able to access my computer through Safe Mode and when I go to install that tool program, it gives me an error saying that I cannot access that program in Safe Mode. How else am I supposed to access it?

Also, when I upgrade it from Vista to 7, now I have a partition with D drive having the old Vista files. Do I have to reinstall Vista first before installing 7 ?

And, can't I just format and erase C drive and boot from scratch?

Finally, how can I be sure that the ISO file I burn to DVD is correctly done?

 

[AddRAM]

Why don`t you use your upgrade disc ?

Do you have the disc in the tray and are you choosing to boot from the dvd drive ?

Do you see the words "Press any key to boot from dvd" on the screen ?

If you use an iso, how are you gonna activate windows ?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/548-burn-disc-image-iso-img-file.html


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

 

[Sharp4564]

I bought the 7 upgrade from online, no hard disk. I have the Application files with Setup.exe but that's about it.

 

[Sharp4564]

Yeah CD starts but it doesn't do anything. It attempts to start Windows normally and I'm back to "blue" screen preparing your desktop screen.

No I do not see any message that says "press any key to boot from DVD"

I even attempted to disable all other startup options and have it boot from CD only and that didn't do anything either.

To activate windows, don't I just need the key that I received when I purchased the product?

 

[AddRAM]

If you don`t see the words then it wasn`t burned correctly.

Yes, but that was an upgrade key, not sure if it will work with an iso file, others will know for sure.

Delete whatever iso you have and download the proper version of windows you need and try again.

 

[Sharp4564]

Probably. I used Power2Go burner from Cyberlink. And now I'm thinking that since I can only access Safe Mode maybe burning the files in Safe Mode may not work? I'm going to use my friends computer to create the boot disk and see if that would make a difference.

 

[gregrocker]

Do you have the Upgrade key which is needed to reinstall? Check your emailed receipt. You might be able to retrieve it with bank information from the seller.

If so then follow these same steps to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
which compiles many tips, tools and methods which will help you to get and keep a perfect install.

I would back up all of my files and during the booted install delete all partitions to get the cleanest install. This is shown in Steps 7 and 8 of the illustrated steps for doing the actual Clean Install Windows 7

Once you boot the installer it will detect an OS on the drive and even if you delete it during install allow you to use the Upgrade key during install. If not leave the key blank and afterwards do the quick workaround in Option 3 of Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version to activate Upgrade version on a cleaned HD.