Wipe Windows 7 to original setup condition?

[ratman]

Hi

I am going to sell my laptop (with windows 7 ultimate x64) and I am trying to completely wipe everything I have done to it other than tho OS.

Is there a way I can do this without reinstalling the OS? My windows seven disc is a one license and has been used up...

Thanks!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello.



Why can't it be reinstalled and reactivated with the key on the COA sticker attached to the PC?

 

[ratman]

Wow, I completely forgot I could do that! Thanks! The OS came from a disc (I installed 7 over vista) so does that mean I could reinstall and use the product key to activate it?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

You won't be able to activate a Windows 7 install with a Vista COA sticker key.

 

[gregrocker]

You can keep a retail copy of Win7 (upgrade or full version) to migrate to any computer of your choice as many times as you want, as long as it's only on one at a time.

If you want to return the laptop to its factory condition, run the Recovery Partition by restarting and tapping the key given on first boot screen or in the manual on the Support Downloads webpage for your computer model. If this partition was wiped or can no longer run, use the Recovery Disks you should have received or made when you got the laptop.

If you don't have Recovery disks, you can order them or use any Vista Retail installer for your version to reinstall with the Product key on COA sticker.

If you decide to sell the laptop with Win7, then uninstall the programs you dont' want in Control Panel>Programs and Features, or using Revo Uninstaller in Advanced mode to get it cleaner. Then delete the contents of your active User files (Documents, Pictures, etc). Unhide Hidden Files in Control Panel>Folder options>View tab to delete the contents of the Appdata folders which hold your program settings.

Then clean up the HD with CCleaner and defrag with Auslogics Disk Defragger.