Nothing will open (programs, files, etc..)

[whs]

Greg, if you can do it remotely, go ahead. I am going to bed in a few minutes anyhow.

 

[Stevethaboss]

You can also try tapping the F8 key to get into Repair My Computer, Choose Dell Factory Recovery and see if the Dell DataSafe Options allow you to back up your files first. It should present a menu of files to choose.

Here are the steps from the Dell site for the Inspiron:

To restore your computer to the original factory installation, follow these steps:
1. Turn on the computer, after the Dell logo press F8 key repeatedly until the
Advanced Boot Options menu (Advanced Startup Options). 2. In Advanced Boot Options, highlight Repair Your Computer and press Enter. 3. Click Next and logon to the administrator account in the computer. 4. Click Dell Factory Image Recovery and DataSafe Options; Follow the directions provided.

Source: Dell Windows 7 PC Restore

I would be very hesitant to rely on that. I have made very bad experience with that and once lost all my files.

geez.. Ugh I dont know what I should do now..

 

[Stevethaboss]

Greg, if you can do it remotely, go ahead. I am going to bed in a few minutes anyhow.

I am able to burn files onto the discs. Is there any files that are 100% necessary in order to fix my computer in the end like when we reinstall the OS?

 

[Stevethaboss]

You can also try tapping the F8 key to get into Repair My Computer, Choose Dell Factory Recovery and see if the Dell DataSafe Options allow you to back up your files first. It should present a menu of files to choose.

Here are the steps from the Dell site for the Inspiron:

To restore your computer to the original factory installation, follow these steps:
1. Turn on the computer, after the Dell logo press F8 key repeatedly until the
Advanced Boot Options menu (Advanced Startup Options). 2. In Advanced Boot Options, highlight Repair Your Computer and press Enter. 3. Click Next and logon to the administrator account in the computer. 4. Click Dell Factory Image Recovery and DataSafe Options; Follow the directions provided.

Source: Dell Windows 7 PC Restore

I am able to burn files onto the discs. Is there any files that are 100% necessary in order to fix my computer in the end like when we reinstall the OS?

 

[whs]

You should only burn your own data files to DVD - no system files.

 

[Stevethaboss]

You should only burn your own data files to DVD - no system files.

Okay sweet. the next step now that I have my files on the disks?

 

[gregrocker]

Put the disks in another PC and scan them for viruses using Malwarebytes and the PC's AV. Then check that the files are intact and will open.

Once you visually confirm that your files are there, you can continue with Dell Windows 7 PC Restore having it wipe your HD to completely reinstall the OS.

But once again, this is the factory preinstalled Win7 which is not the best install, so after it's set up I would Clean Up Factory Bloatware to optimize your System.

Or if you want to do the Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 we can help you with that.

 

[Stevethaboss]

Put the disks in another PC and scan them for viruses using Malwarebytes and the PC's AV. Then check that the files are intact and will open.

Once you visually confirm that your files are there, you can continue with Dell Windows 7 PC Restore having it wipe your HD to completely reinstall the OS.

But once again, this is the factory preinstalled Win7 which is not the best install, so after it's set up I would Clean Up Factory Bloatware to optimize your System.

Or if you want to do the Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 we can help you with that.

Okay.. I just found a cd that came with my laptop. Its Green and says "Reinstallation DVD" Operating System on the top then under it says already installed on your computer.. Do I need to use this ?

 

[gregrocker]

A Dell Reinstallation DVD is a clean copy of Win7 with only activation and a Dell logo added, so it will not have any of the pre-installed crapware. However unless it says SP1 on it I would instead use the most recent official Win7 installer for your version in Step 1 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. This will save hours of updating if the DVD doesn't have SP1.

Did you locate the installers and Product Keys for your paid software which you'll need to reinstall afterwards?

Look over the steps for the Reinstall to see if you have everything needed for your backup, then ask back any questions to make absolutely sure before you boot the disk, delete all partitions and create new one(s) as you wish to reinstall.

Be sure to put your wireless driver in your backup so if it isn't provided during install you can get online quickly afterward to do all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates, after enabling Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3). This is very important as it will provide critical Security and Performance Updates and most of your latest drivers during these repeated rounds of Updates, after which each will request a restart.

One other thing I would do before reinstall is to run Dell Diagnostics Utility - How to Run
to check over your hardware to make sure its all good. If this will run then I would save only the tiny Dell OEM partition at the end of the drive, but you do not need to save the Recovery or any other partition and should delete them during install as Recovery will no longer run after a Clean Reinstall.

If you'd prefer to run Factory recovery from its partition then you have the steps for that too, and I see Wolfgang is here to help you.

 

[Stevethaboss]

A Dell Reinstallation DVD is a clean copy of Win7 with only activation and a Dell logo added, so it will not have any of the pre-installed crapware. However unless it says SP1 on it I would instead use the most recent official Win7 installer for your version in Step 1 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. This will save hours of updating if the DVD doesn't have SP1.

Did you locate the installers and Product Keys for your paid software which you'll need to reinstall afterwards?

Look over the steps for the Reinstall to see if you have everything needed for your backup, then ask back any questions to make absolutely sure before you boot the disk, delete all partitions and create new one(s) as you wish to reinstall.

Be sure to put your wireless driver in your backup so if it isn't provided during install you can get online quickly afterward to do all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates, after enabling Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3). This is very important as it will provide critical Security and Performance Updates and most of your latest drivers during these repeated rounds of Updates, after which each will request a restart.

One other thing I would do before reinstall is to run Dell Diagnostics Utility - How to Run
to check over your hardware to make sure its all good. If this will run then I would save only the tiny Dell OEM partition at the end of the drive, but you do not need to save the Recovery or any other partition and should delete them during install as Recovery will no longer run after a Clean Reinstall.

If you'd prefer to run Factory recovery from its partition then you have the steps for that too, and I see Wolfgang is here to help you.

What is the wireless driver and how do i put it in the backup?

 

[gregrocker]

Go to the Dell Support Downloads website, input your Tag number from the bottom of laptop, download the Wireless driver and rightclick to Extract it to your backup so you have it handy to install if Win7 starts up without the wireless driver.

Another method: Driver Install - Device Manager

Once you install the driver, click the Connection icon in the bottom right system tray to connect to your network.

If during install it asks for your network information then it already has the wireless driver and will be ready to connect to your network when it starts up.

 

[Stevethaboss]

Go to the Dell Support Downloads website, input your Tag number from the bottom of laptop, download the Wireless driver and rightclick to Extract it to your backup so you have it handy to install if Win7 starts up without the wireless driver.

Another method: Driver Install - Device Manager

Once you install the driver, click the Connection icon in the bottom right system tray to connect to your network.

If during install it asks for your network information then it already has the wireless driver and will be ready to connect to your network when it starts up.

I typed in my code but where is the wireless driver to download?

 

[gregrocker]

Under Driver Downloads.

Do you know if you had 32- or 64-bit? What does the Dell Reinstallation DVD say? If you have more than 4gb RAM I would reinstall with 64 bit.

Then download the wireless driver which should be listed under wireless LAN.

If you want to give us your tag number we can help you more.

You can also run Dell Windows 7 PC Restore which will start up with the drivers already installed, only requiring running all of your Important and Optional Windows Updates to get everything current.

 

[Stevethaboss]

Under Driver Downloads.

Do you know if you had 32- or 64-bit? What does the Dell Reinstallation DVD say? If you have more than 4gb RAM I would reinstall with 64 bit.

Then download the wireless driver which should be listed under wireless LAN.

If you want to give us your tag number we can help you more.

You can also run Dell Windows 7 PC Restore which will start up with the drivers already installed, only requiring running all of your Important and Optional Windows Updates to get everything current.

64-bit but like i still cant find the wireless driver.. ://

 

[gregrocker]

I asked you for the Tag # so we could look it up for you.

Last night I sat for four hours waiting for you to reply to my message offering to connect, back up your files for you and reintsall the OS. It would have been done by midnight last night. But you either didn't see the message, didn't have the courtesy to repsond, or can't keep up.

Now I'm off on a 50 mile bike ride and then gone tonight so you'll have to wait for someone else to help you, or finally figure it out since I always type out 2 or 3 different ways to get the same thing done.

 

[Stevethaboss]

I asked you for the Tag # so we could look it up for you.

Last night I sat for four hours waiting for you to reply to my message offering to connect, back up your files for you and reintsall the OS. It would have been done by midnight last night. But you either didn't see the message, didn't have the courtesy to repsond, or can't keep up.

Now I'm off on a 50 mile bike ride and then gone tonight so you'll have to wait for someone else to help you, or finally figure it out since I always type out 2 or 3 different ways to get the same thing done.

Ohh gosh Im sorry I didnt realize. I was out most of the night last night. Anyway I rebooted everything is all fine now. I set up norton for free from Xfinity. Is there something that will make sure the files I am about to download are virus free each time?

 

[gregrocker]

You ran Factory Recovery or Clean Reinstalled?

If not then I would run a full scan with your AV, Malwarebytes and SUPERAntiSpyware which digs into the registry to root out spyware lodged in the browser. Then run SFC /SCANNOW Command to check System Files for damage.

Your AV should scan the files being downlloaded, as well as your browser. If you download Torrents then rightclick their folder to scan with your AV and Malwarebytes. I would run regular Malwarebytes scans.

Norton can overwhelm Win7 so if you experience any performance problems I would uninstall it and use lightweight Microsoft Security Essentials.

 

[Stevethaboss]

You ran Factory Recovery or Clean Reinstalled?

If not then I would run a full scan with your AV, Malwarebytes and SUPERAntiSpyware which digs into the registry to root out spyware lodged in the browser. Then run SFC /SCANNOW Command to check System Files for damage.

Your AV should scan the files being downlloaded, as well as your browser. If you download Torrents then rightclick their folder to scan with your AV and Malwarebytes. I would run regular Malwarebytes scans.

Norton can overwhelm Win7 so if you experience any performance problems I would uninstall it and use lightweight Microsoft Security Essentials.

factory recovery, and okay I am about to do that

 

[gregrocker]

About to do what?

Have you already done Factory Recovery, running it from its partition using the F8 key as you did to back up your files to DVD?

If so I would Clean Up Factory Bloatware which will improve performance.

It isn't necessary to do all of those scans on a new install, but I'd have your A/V always standing guard and updated, run regular Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware scans.