Trying to return to factory settings my Dell Inspiron mini 1011

[jeffad83]

I have a Dell Inspiron Mini 1011. It has installed on it Windows 7 Starter 32 bit. I'm trying to do a complete system reset on it to wipe everything and bring it back to factory settings. The computer doesn't have a cd/dvd drive. I don't have an external cd/dvd drive. The computer doesn't have a restore partition.

From what I gather I need to download or create the iso for Windows 7 Starter. Herein lies my problem. I can't find this iso. I can find the iso for home premium and professional, but not for starter.

Another question would is will my product key work with windows home premium or only with the starter???

I do have written down my product key.

Any suggestions?

 

[derekimo]

Welcome to the forum,

This tutorial will help you get a superior clean install using your Starter product key,

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

In step 1 you will have to download the x86 Home Premium ISO, and use this Ei.cfg removal tool tool to unlock all versions, which will make Starter an available option

on that ISO as shown here http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85813-windows-7-universal-installation-disc-create.html

In step 2 http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html it will show you how to create a bootable USB with your now all in one version to install from.

Any other questions, feel free to ask.

 

[jeffad83]

I downloaded the ISO
I downloaded and applied the ei.cfg tool (worked perfectly)
I downloaded the DVD/USB burner
When I ran this program and tried to put the ISO onto my usb I got this error message:
"We were unable to copy your files. Please check your USB device and the selected ISO file and try again."
by USB drive is plenty big enough at 16gb and it's completely empty.... What now???

 

[derekimo]

Did it format your USB to NTFS first?

 

[Kaktussoft]

I downloaded the DVD/USB burner
=>which one?

 

[jeffad83]

I downloaded the DVD/USB tool from this website:
Microsoft Store Online

It did say that it was formatting my USB drive right before I got the error message... but I don't know if it was formatting it to NTFS format

 

[Kaktussoft]

I downloaded the DVD/USB tool from this website:
Microsoft Store Online

It did say that it was formatting my USB drive right before I got the error message... but I don't know if it was formatting it to NTFS format

please confirm it has 1 large ntfs partition now

 

[gregrocker]

If Win7 Download tool fails then use Universal USB Installer with Win7 in dropdown menu.