No clean install possible on new Dell?

[81sc]

gregrocker- will do. Burning an ISO image will backup everything for me, right, since it copies everything on the drive? I need a program like imgburn to create then ISO and then I can use w7's burn program, right?

 

[gregrocker]

No, use Windows 7 backup imaging to image all partitions on the HD.

Type Backup in Start Search box, click on Create System Image, attach external HD or save to secondary internal HD. It will save an image which can be reimaged to the HD (or a replacement) using the DVD Repair console/Repair CD>"Recover Using A System Image."

 

[81sc]

gregrocker- So do you think I should wait for the OS disc to come before setting up the new pc? Is there a big enough difference that I would really notice?

 

[pparks1]

Personally, I would wait for the disk to arrive. Make the system recovery cd's now...play with it until then...then reload your OS clean and customize exactly how you want and then image yourself going forward for quick restores.

 

[81sc]

Yeah...I know I should wait too. But it's tempting to start loading stuff onto it, though! ha. Should I go through and uninstall the bloatware, update drivers (video etc), download microsoft updates, and all that stuff so that the backup is a little bit better than the factory setting?

 

[pparks1]

Yeah...I know I should wait too. But it's tempting to start loading stuff onto it, though! ha. Should I go through and uninstall the bloatware, update drivers (video etc), download microsoft updates, and all that stuff so that the backup is a little bit better than the factory setting?

Make the recovery disks now...then you can set it back just the way it was. Then play and customize and make some changes. Perhaps you are happy and stay with it...or you decide to format and start with your new disk. Either way I would make the images first before you start changing things and potentially run into an issue..

 

[gregrocker]

Agreed, you have plenty to do while waiting for the OS disk: make the Recov disks, uninstall bloatware with Revo in Advanced mode, install your programs, finish with the CCleaner "Run Cleaner" and Registry tabs, then Auslogics Disk and Registry Defraggers.

After you've got it cleaned up and ordered, run "sfc /scannow" to see if System Files were damaged beyond repair. If not, make a Win7 backup image of your optimized Win7, which can supercede your Recov disks - which then become a secondary backup.

By the time your DVD gets there, you should know if you want to move sooner or later on the clean reinstall.

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

 

[81sc]

Thanks guys, I made the recovery cd's (took two DVD-Rs), uninstalled the video driver and installed the latest ATI drivers, installed the windows updates, uninstalled what I thought I could easily get rid of, ran ccleaner and defragged using auslogics.

I figured I shouldn't touch the Dell Datasafe or Roxio programs because I need to make another backup before the OS disk arrives. Am I missing anything else? I didn't bother with the Bios because I think A15 is the latest one? I know there's probably a program or two still on there (Microsoft Silverlight, Dell Support Center, etc) that I could uninstall, but I didn't want to mess up the system if I didn't know I could definitely be fine without it.

 

[gregrocker]

If you don't want or use the Dell utilities, you can uncheck them in msconfig>Startup to speed your startup and eliminate any drag on performance.

The only thing I allow in my Startup list is AV, gadgets and stikynotes, resulting in a 20 second startup and instantaneous performance.

I'd also check your Event Viewer>Admin View to google repeat errors to solve them. And run sfc /scannow to make sure your System FIles aren't damaged.

Check your WEI score at Computer>Properties to get an idea of how your hardware stacks up to WIn7, click through that score link to Advanced Sys Tools to Generate a SYstem Health Report, and check Performance log for any drivers or apps affecting startup/shutdown.

 

[81sc]

Thanks for the tips gregrocker and pparks1. I didn't know about the system health report feature.

Two questions on reinstalling 7- Will I need to update the BIOS first before doing anything else, or might it be the current version already? And I don't have a separate sound card so do I need to worry about updating the sound drivers (realtek) since they are on the board already?

gregrocker- what AV program do you use? I had AVG on my XP system, but I've read Microsoft Security Essentials isn't too bad of a program.

 

[theog]

Q. 1) As your Dell came Win 7, I would say no need.

Q. 2) You may get 100's posts on this one. For a free AV go with MSE, for paid AV go with Norton 360 v4.

 

[pparks1]

With regards to BIOS updates...I'm conservative...I leave them alone unless I am having a problem that the BIOS version corrects. Most sites, Dell included..will tell you what issues the BIOS updates address.

With regards to AV...there are tons of threads on that subject here. I think any of them are fine..as long as you are using one. I use MSE on my Windows 7 box at home and Avast on my wife's Vista laptop and both have been just fine.

 

[81sc]

Ok, thanks pparks and theog. I thought I might be opening the door to tons of posts on AV programs. I downloaded MSE and I think I'll be sticking with it. I'm not going to mess with the BIOS now since everything works fine.

 

[theog]

You are welcome.

 

[81sc]

Hey guys- Dell shipped the OS overnight so I'm preparing to do a clean install. It looks like I just change the boot order so the cd drive is first and go from there? Do I not need to worry about using the drivers and utilities cd since I'll be installing drivers from my external drive? Or do I need to use it and then go through and replace drivers as needed?

Will I need to download another burning program in order to do backups since Roxio is probably on the other "applications" disk that Dell sent? Sorry for all the questions I just want to do this right the first time and get to a state where I can regularly do backups.

 

[pparks1]

Just boot from the disk, press any key when prompted to begin loading the OS.

Probably won't need the drivers or utilities CD...most everything will probably work just fine from the Windows OS. For anything that isn't work, support.dell.com is your friend and you just key in your service tag and you can get everything you need.

for CD burning, I wouldn't reload the bloated roxio app...but rather would get something leaner like IMGBURN (which is 4MB and FREE) and use that for your burning needs.

 

[81sc]

got it, thanks pparks1.

 

[81sc]

I thought of one more thing. Would it make sense to create a partition during the clean install and having one partition for the OS and another for other data? Or should I do the install on just the one active (wiped) partition.

Thanks

 

[pparks1]

I would do 2 partitions. This way, if down the road you want to reload your OS or restore an image that you make..you can just restore the C drive and keep the D drive with perhaps your internet downloads, drivers, etc.

 

[81sc]

So one partition would have the OS and anything I install on it and the other partition I would set up to have downloads go to (then I could move them over if I needed to) and any drivers I would need to keep for backup purposes, pictures, etc.?