Seeking advice on Windows 7 setup

[yoyoyojo]

Greetings,

I am currently running Windows 7 64 bit on a 4 year old Dell desktop.

Originally this machine had Windows Vista. The Windows 7 upgrade disk/license I bought required me to install Windows 7 over Windows Vista. I was unable to do a clean install. I researched this quite extensively and contacted support and apparently this is true, there is no way around it. I would have to buy a full (non-upgrade) license in order to do a clean install.

My issue is this: My system takes a long time to boot, or I should say there is a ton of disk activity for a good 10 mins and this disk activity takes a big bite out of performance. So I basically boot-up, login and walk away for 10 mins. I can't really use the machine while it is booting and to add to it the disk drives tend to be really loud in this box (I've repalced the system drives several times over the years to increase capacity and all seem loud).

Once the system is fully booted and the disk activity dies the PC runs like a champ. I play current high demanding graphical video games with no issue (I did upgrade my video card not too long ago). So it's a managble problem it's just very annoying and from a techy perspective less than ideal.

My thinking is a clean install would improve this some what. I assume I have a lot of Vista crap left over (and as a techy I never trusted upgrading OS's, always have done clean installs). Additionally SSD are now a viable option for the OS drive. So ...

Will doing a clean Windows 7 install and using a SSD make a big difference? Is one more impactful than the other.

What about Windows 8? I don't care for the interface but if it can run my programs as well as Windows 7 and if I can get a clean install for cheaper woudl this be a better alternative?

It seems at a glance that a full license for Windows 7 has come down a bit in cost. but i also recall that Windows 8 is much cheaper.

FWIW I have on several occasions attempted to clean up/reduce the amount of start-up services and programs but it does not have much impact on the long boot times.

 

[gregrocker]

You were told wrong as we have helped countless thousands of users Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version.

Using the Product Key on your Upgrade disk, follow these same steps now to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 and you will wind up with a perfect install IF you stick the the tools and methods given.

Be sure to read over each step and the Special Note to Dell Owners, ask back any questions.

Don't forget to delete all but the OEM Diagnostics partition during the booted install, create and format new as you please or just click Next to let the installer do it for you. The installer when booted will see an OS to allow use of Upgrade version key, even if you delete old OS during install as you should.

Also as shown put your network driver in your backup so if it isn't provided you can install it to to get online and run all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates which should deliver most drivers. Any missing in Device Manager after install can be found on the PC's Support Downloads webpage.

 

[yoyoyojo]

Interesting. Wish I found this site two years ago

FWIW I found several references to the link you provided in other forums, incuding Microsoft's.

Now I gotta research SSD configurations

 

[Pauly]

In answer to your original question you will see a massive difference with an SSD, once you have used one you can never go back they just make everything so snappy its definately worth the bucks, depending on budget you can always get a small to medium size one and use your existing spinner as a secondary drive for backups/data etc

Most popular at the moment are the samsung 840 series with the option of three levels, standard/pro/evo each priced accordingly

 

[SandeepP]

Greetings,

I am currently running Windows 7 64 bit on a 4 year old Dell desktop.

Originally this machine had Windows Vista. The Windows 7 upgrade disk/license I bought required me to install Windows 7 over Windows Vista. I was unable to do a clean install. I researched this quite extensively and contacted support and apparently this is true, there is no way around it. I would have to buy a full (non-upgrade) license in order to do a clean install.

My issue is this: My system takes a long time to boot, or I should say there is a ton of disk activity for a good 10 mins and this disk activity takes a big bite out of performance. So I basically boot-up, login and walk away for 10 mins. I can't really use the machine while it is booting and to add to it the disk drives tend to be really loud in this box (I've repalced the system drives several times over the years to increase capacity and all seem loud).

Once the system is fully booted and the disk activity dies the PC runs like a champ. I play current high demanding graphical video games with no issue (I did upgrade my video card not too long ago). So it's a managble problem it's just very annoying and from a techy perspective less than ideal.

My thinking is a clean install would improve this some what. I assume I have a lot of Vista crap left over (and as a techy I never trusted upgrading OS's, always have done clean installs). Additionally SSD are now a viable option for the OS drive. So ...

Will doing a clean Windows 7 install and using a SSD make a big difference? Is one more impactful than the other.

What about Windows 8? I don't care for the interface but if it can run my programs as well as Windows 7 and if I can get a clean install for cheaper woudl this be a better alternative?

It seems at a glance that a full license for Windows 7 has come down a bit in cost. but i also recall that Windows 8 is much cheaper.

FWIW I have on several occasions attempted to clean up/reduce the amount of start-up services and programs but it does not have much impact on the long boot times.

Hi yoyoyojo,

Welcome to Seven forums.

You should be able to clean install windows and activate them using the key provided on the upgrade disc. Also, follow the tutorial shared by Greg which would be of great help to you.

If you want to request Windows disk then you can check the link below:

Request Backup Disks

And to update all OEM drivers check this video:

Updating Dell Drivers

Lastly, you should consider adding an SSD drive as it would boost the operating speed of the system.

Check the link for installing OS on the SSD if you plan to do so:

Clean Install on MSATA

Keep us posted with the results so we can advise you further.