Wiping Out Everything on Dell XPS 8100 Desktop

[gregrocker]

Use your Dell Service Tag number to get the most specific driver for your Ethernet LAN now. Confirm it is the make/model that is listed in Device Manager under Network Adapter.

Probably the Broadcom if those are what is offered for your Service Tag. But confirm in Device Manager.

 

[paulyjames]

Device Manager shows


Broadband Netlink Gigabit Ethernet


I put service tag in the site but it only shows BIOS, doesn't mention the ethernet...


It shows

Dell Studio XPS 8100 System BIOS, A05
n/a
View details
S8100-A05.EXE | Non-Packaged (5 MB)
BIOS|Release date 18 Nov 2010|Last Updated 03 Nov 2011|Recommended
Version A05

 

[gregrocker]

There should be a dropdown menu to choose specific drivers. It would not only show the BIOS. The Service Tag should refine all of the drivers that are installed on your build. If not go back to choosing it by model number.

Anyway the Broadcom was in the list you showed earlier. That should be it.

 

[paulyjames]

This is the broadband driver

Broadcom BCM57780 LOM, v.12.2.2.2, A00 Driver Details | Dell US


So no point in downloading the other 2 network drivers?

The other 2 are

Atheros Wireless 1525 WLAN Mini Card Desktops, v.8.0.0.376, A02View details
R290807.exe | Hard-Drive (7 MB)



Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth Module Application
This package provides the Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth Module Application and is supported on Inspiron, Latitude, XPS Desktop, Vostro, Precis...
View details
R235168.exe | Hard-Drive (62 MB)
Network|Release date 08 Jan 2010|Last Updated 19 Dec 2013|Recommended
Version 6.2.0.9603,A03-1


So save that broadband driver into my usb flash drive right? I could just drag it to the usb or would i have to do that similar thing with the isofile?

 

[gregrocker]

Why would you download the wireless drivers? Two of them say wireless.

I asked you to twice now to check what the make and model of the Ethernet adapter is in Device Manager. This will confirm if its that Broadcom device.

If you're sure you have the exact model chosen, or the Tag number, then that should be it.

 

[paulyjames]

broadband netlink gigabit ethernet driver is is the name of it under device manager


the one i downloaded is

Broadcom BCM57780 LOM, v.12.2.2.2, A00 Driver Details | Dell US


It says dell xps 8100 on it so i assume its the right one.


Well i figure whats the issue of downloading the other 2 drivers even if its wifi...


So i could just drag that ethernet driver file from my downloads folder to the usb flash drive just like that then right? I know with the windows 7 iso file, i couldn't do that so just want to make sure.

 

[paulyjames]

Okay i did that.



So now at step 8, i see mention windows 7 installer. So since im going to be using the windows 7 isofile from the usb flash drive as oppose to the windows 7 cd, so basically right now just put the usb drive into it and run it from REMOVABLE DEVICE?

 

[paulyjames]

At the moment, i have the windows 7 isofile and the xps 8100 broadcom ethernet driver on it.


And i have no documents on my dell xps that i need anymore so i want to wipe everything off. Also this will be the first time i am going to wipe everything off including the old windows folder b/c i think after 10 plus times doing this, each time it still had that old windows folder.

 

[gregrocker]

If you had the windows.old folder then the install isn't as clean as you can get.

Did you test Dell Diagnostics via F12 key at boot to see if it will run and the condition of your hardware? This tells you if you should save the Dell Utility partition. I've now written this 3 times awaiting your reply.

Yes, you can even add the driver and other files to the Win7 installation flash stick as long as you don't touch the files it put in the root. That is a massive image file which requires special tool to write to stick.

 

[paulyjames]

Yes the thing is everytime i had done this, i didn't do it right b/c i didnt know how to clean it completely. Also last time i tried to do it and follow instructions, but there was an issue where i was following a step but i couldnt do it and thus the old windows file didnt get deleted and thus computer isn't wiped fully.

No i did not do that. Im going to do it right now the f12 but can you tell me what im suppose to look for when i do this? Will type what i see on it on the other computer as right now im using the desktop that i want to wipe out fully first.

 

[gregrocker]

I explained to reboot and tap F12 to choose Dell Diagnostics, see if it will run to completion and what it says about your hardware.

Then repeat and look for Utility Partition to see if it has more Diagnostics choices to run.

If either or both run then you'll want to save the utility partition. Look at it now in Disk Mgmt so you know where it will be when you are doing the reinstall and using the Drive Options in Steps 7/8 of http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html to delete partitions and create new one(s) in their place.

 

[paulyjames]

Restarted it and pressed f12


Please select boot device

Cd/dvd1-hl-dt-st DVD+/-rw gh5
RAID: WDC WD5000AAKS-75VOA
Diagnostics
Boot to utility partition
enter setup


Thats what i see. Currently typing this on the laptop at the moment.

 

[paulyjames]

Clicked on diagnostics now and waiting.

 

[gregrocker]

Observe results of Diagnostics tests.

Then after it completes try Boot to Utility partition and each option that gives you. Take note of the extra diagnostics it may offer. These are valuable and should cause you to keep the Utility partition during the reinstall. No other partitions will work after install so they can all be deleted, replaced with a new partition(s) or two if you want data.

 

[paulyjames]

No problems have been found on system so far. Do you want to run the remaining memory tests? This will take about 30 minutes or more. Do you want to continu? (Recommended)

Yes or no

 

[gregrocker]

Up to you. It's never wasted time testing your hardware, and it's free.

 

[paulyjames]

okay will do so now.

 

[paulyjames]

Preboot system assessement completed. NO diagnositc utility partition identified. Please select okay to reboot the system.

 

[paulyjames]

So do i f12 again and click on diagnostics or not anymore because of this message?

 

[gregrocker]

I'm not understanding. I thought it was already testing hardware. Did Diagnostics run but now you are trying to access Utility partition via F12?

If it won't run Diagnostics then that error indicates the Utility partition has been deleted. That's why I asked you several times to check in Disk Mgmt to see if it is there which would have saved having to test it via F12.