New Win 7OS obliterated by XP image reinstallation - how to reinstall

[lvanderslice]

HI, hope someone can help.

Someone (helpfully) imaged the old XP hard drive and then installed in on the new Dell computer, successfully obliterating the Windows 7 version that came on the PC. We need to save the applications and data that are installed on the XP version, but re-install the factory default operating system, Windows 7.

Once I inventory the system and save the data / etc. to an external hard drive, can I re-install the factory operating system from the license number that is attached to the PC? Or from the Service number? I suspect that the D partition may have been overwritten - but not yet sure.

This is a church computer and I just got brought in to "help". Any guidance as to how to go forward to get Window 7 back on the system would be helpful. I don't think they have the original disks and probably didn't do a backup.

And the same helpful soul did the same thing to the new laptop.....

 

[Ztruker]

What is the full Dell model number? The Users Guide from the Dell web site will tell you how to do a Recovery. Normally with Dell you press Ctrl+F11 at boot to start the process but the users guide will tell us for sure.

 

[gregrocker]

If Dell Windows 7 PC Restore will not run after C was overwritten then you can follow these steps to get and keep a perfect Clean Reinstall Windows 7. Read the Special Note for Dell OWners at the end to help in dealing with the partitioning during reinstall.