Clean Install Windows 7

Brink · 09 Nov 2015

Hello Sebastian, :)

Usually it's best to have them enabled to be detected when installing the drivers.

jk22 · 20 Dec 2015

Nice tutorial.

peteinkent · 21 Dec 2015

The original hard disk died, so I installed a brand-new from the mfr hard disk. In the Tutorial, I got to Step 9, and no further. Repeated attempts only got me to "Windows Setup could not configure Windows to run on this computer's hardware"; clicking OK got me: "Windows could not complete the installation. To install Windows on this computer, restart the installation."

The new hard disk is a Seagate SSHD 1Tb, that came, of course, with nothing - kind of the "ultimate" Clean Install." I am using the CD that came with the Dell Studio, labeled "Reinstallation DVD Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit"; I also have the "Drivers and Utilities" and "Drivers and Documentation" DVDs that came with the computer.

I can't download (using another computer) anything from Microsoft because, altho the Product Key is recognized, it belongs to Dell - but with all the problems I have had with this machine, I'd rather take a hammer to it than call Dell.

Any help would be appreciated. My next step is to try to find a local shop.... Many thanks in advance

scop8 · 20 Jul 2016

Thank you for the tutorial. One question I have is about the goings on after the screen that lists the process of the installation, and then says computer will restart. At that point, I always used to take out the installation DVD and switch the boot in BIOS back to HDD. It has worked in the past, but now I am stuck at 'Windows is finalizing your settings' stage for several hours. Also, I didn't get the screen that asks about which network group I want to choose after choosing the time zone (I have disconnected my net cable during installation, so maybe that's why).

Should I be leaving the installation DVD throughout the process? Is the other method I mentioned preventing Win7 from getting past that 'finalizing your settings' stage? Thanks.

Brink · 20 Jul 2016

Hello scop8, :)

I always recommend to leave it as is until you see your desktop to make sure it no longer needs the installation media.

There's no need to change the boot priority from DVD 1st and HDD 2nd since it will give you the "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD" message. If you don't do anything, it'll boot from the HDD.

If it hasn't progressed any further by now, you could try changing things back and restarting the computer to see if it may pick up where it left off. If not, then you may need to clean install again.

scop8 · 20 Jul 2016

Hi Brink,

Thanks very much for the feedback.

The reason I had to reinstall in the first place was because i was stuck in a boot loop (sometimes it would load Windows after 3 restarts, sometimes after 8, sometimes it was endless...).

I will try this method of leaving the DVD in throughout today. What I've found before is that after being stuck on the 'Windows is finalizing your settings' stage, I restarted and Windows booted fine, performing the final desktop settings, etc. Is this ok as an install, then?

Brink · 20 Jul 2016

Sure, you could try restarting the computer to see if it may pick up where it left off and continue.

scop8 · 20 Jul 2016

Keeping the DVD in throughout worked perfectly! Absolutely fantastic, thanks very much

Brink · 20 Jul 2016

I'm glad to hear that it finished up for you. :)

scop8 · 27 Jul 2016

Since I'm still technically on Win7, I'm wondering whether you know, Brink, about getting around Win 10 installation hang ups? After updating Win 7 SP1 rather swiftly, all other updates scrawled to a standstill. I couldn't, then, update the Win 10 icon option that appears in the taskbar, and since I didn't want to miss the Win 10 deadline, I went to MS site to get the update.

All went smoothly until now it has been stuck at 99% installation complete for about 24 hours straight. The red HD flicks intermittently, every 10 or 6 or 12 seconds and so forth. Not sure if this means to leave it alone, or can I restart to continue it or will that stop the whole process? I've read about both happening to people in this situation, so I'm not sure how to proceed.

If this doesn't belong here, please disregard, and I'll find a Win 10 forum to ask. Thanks :)