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Clean Install Win7 on Dell Vista


submix8c

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These instructions are intended to provide the reader with a method of “How to Clean Install Windows 7 to a Dell Factory Installed Windows Vista and Retain Recovery To Factory Facility”.

The instructions may also apply to HP (Hewlett-Packard) but are intended for Dell only as HP may have a variation not covered herein. HP definitely has a different method of “Factory Restore”.

If the reader wishes to proceed directly to the operation, then skip directly to “Instructions” section.

=== Intent

The intent is to allow for Dell Restore To Factory (Vista) if the reader wishes to restore the computer to the condition it was in when purchased
1- for resale
2- to keep and begin as if first unpacked and plugged in
thus retaining the License (Product Key) used to install Windows 7. This may involve using “Activate By Phone” Method if the reader uses the Install Media on another computer since Activation is generally tied to a given computer using Purchased Media.

Purchased Media in this context means a DVD that is
1- Full Product
2- Upgrade Only
3- or Generic OEM.
Note that this Topic is primarily intended for #3 above.

Purchasing such media is (apparently) legal for use on any computer but is generally used by Refurbishers to wipe the Hard Disk and begin fresh, thus disabling/invalidating the pre-existing OEM-installed Windows Vista (or any other OS, for that matter) Certificate Of Authenticity (COA).

In this case, the Purchased Computer has been logged in the Microsoft Activation Server Database as being no longer valid for further use and a New COA and Refurbisher OEM Media are issued along with the Refurbished Computer with NO SUPPORT beyond what the Refurbisher provides with the Sale Warranty.

In the case of this Topic the reader has purchased OEM Media and a Single Key (perhaps a hard-copy COA or Electronic Media COA) along with some form of Hardware (maybe even a USB Flash) to “keep it legal”.

Please note that this Topic does NOT include “Upgrade” or “Clean Install To Empty Hard Drive”. That information is elsewhere on the World Wide Web and is outside the scope of this Topic.

This Post and the following are attached in full as a Word 97-2003 Document and can be viewed and printed with free Word Viewer from Microsoft. I have broken it up into several posts for clarity.

===

Thanks to MSFN member Sophy for prompting me to test the scenario for her purposes. All the best wishes to her and her brand spanky new Windows 7 Home Premium.

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/175077-in-place-upgrade-to-windows-7-home-premium/

Instructions.doc

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=== Preamble (Dell Specific Information)

Dell has three partitions allocated from the factory.
http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/vista/
There could possibly be a fourth. In either case, the Instructions will (should) still apply. For the purposes of this Topic, only three partitions apply as described in the link. The first two MUST be retained in order to Factory Restore at a later date (see “Instructions” later).

1- The following link explains how to Restore To Factory using your Original Vista DVD or your newly purchased DVD Media.
http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/vista/vistarecovery.shtml
Please note that it’s not entirely accurate since Partition#3 must be Formatted at/before performing “Screen#14”. (More on that in next link.)
At Screen#14 –
1a- At the initial Command Prompt perform the following Command

format c: FS:NTFS /V:OS /Q
1b- Proceed with Step#14 and the following instructions given.

2- The following link (second “gooddells” link) is the Dell Approved Method.
http://www.dell.com/support/Article/us/en/04/50876/EN
Please note that the first link in the “gooddells” instructions will only work if your Original Dell Vista OS is still on Partition#3 and is still bootable to/via “F8” and the “Dell Factory Image Restore” Option still exists on the Recovery Screen.

The reason for the Dell Approved method implies that you have not wiped the Recovery Partition (a requirement for this topic) and the Dell Tools Folder (and all other Original OEM folders/files) has not been destroyed. Specifically, the program “PCRestore” (proprietary Dell program) performs the #1 (“gooddells) process described above (as corrected).

BE AWARE that after either of the above has been performed that the “F8” option “Dell Factory Image Restore” MAY NOT be present (but should be). This would normally occur if you have Imaged/Cloned your Original Hard Disk (Complete – all Three Partitions) to another to (e.g.) have a larger (smaller) HDD installed in place of the old one. This topic does NOT address (at this time) this scenario (which CAN be repaired). In addition, -IF- this is the situation then the BCD Store WILL be invalidated and further steps would need to be taken (also not addressed ATM).

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=== Instructions

= Preparation Steps.

1- Insert Install Media and perform a Hardware Compatibility Check. Note any Drivers or Software that are not compliant or will need upgraded. Pay PARTICULAR attention to Drivers. MINIMUM Drivers that will be needed are -
1a- Mouse and Keyboard. Normally, these are supplied on DVD and shouldn’t cause a problem.
1b- Network (NIC) Driver to allow access to the WWW. A MUST to update any other Drivers (as necessary) and to Activate Online.
Note1 - Generic Video Driver MAY be installed if your Driver isn’t supplied on the DVD. This can be dealt with later.
Note2 – Obtain and store OFFLINE (e.g. External USB Device) any drivers for your Hardware, in particular the MINIMUM ones listed above.

DO NOT attempt to Install at this time.

2- Ensure you have imaged/cloned (NOT COPIED!) your first two partitions to External Media. This can be done with DriveImage XML (Free).
http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm
2a- Make Partition#1 Visible to allow for Imaging. Start a CMD-Prompt
2a1- Start->All Program->Accessories-Command
2a2- Right-Click and “Run As Administrator”
2a3- Enter the following
2a4- Go to -
Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Computer Management
Select "Disk Management".
Click on the line that lists your Three Partitions (lower right).
Right-Click the First One.
"Change Drive Letters And Paths"
"Add Drive Letter" (any available).
2a5- Clone the Partition. Make note of the Volume Label. I suggest you give that as the Image Name.
2a6- Re-hide the Partition –
-Perform Step#2a4 above but THIS time (in last step) REMOVE drive letter (whatever one was assigned).
-Perform Step#2a1 through Step#2a3 above but THIS time use "id=DE" instead of "id=06".
2b- Normally the D-Drive (Recovery Parition#2) is not hidden. Create the Image directly. I also suggest using the Volume Label as the Image Name. After the Image is created I HIGHLY recommend hiding it using the “Hide” procedure as follows. Note that ORIGINAL should have been “id=07” (should a Complete Dell Factory Restore be done).
-Perform Step#2a4 above but THIS time (in last step) REMOVE drive letter “D” from Partition#2 (NOT Partition#1) which will be the SECOND one.
-Perform Step#2a1 through Step#2a3 above but THIS time use "id=DE" instead of "id=06".

(Apologies for the messed-up code box. don't know how to fix it. :(  Also THESE are the Commands used above. They're not positioned in the correct place.)

diskpart

	select disk 0

	select partition 1

	set id=06 override

	exit

	exit
Logoff/Reboot

Additional notes to all of Step#2 above –
The two Images can be created on the OS Partition first (preferably a separately created folder) and then burned to DVD’s if you don’t have a large enough USB Device to hold them. BE SURE that all files created by the Imaging Software are retained with the actual Image – INCLUDING whatever Software was used (just insurance).

3- The Running OS will be wiped out and replaced so be SURE
3a- you have ALL Software that you have currently installed placed on External Media
3b- you have ALL Personal Data (Picture, Videos, Music, Playlists, etc.) backed up to External Media
...so that the Personal Data can be copied back to your New OS and the Software can be re-installed. NOTE that you should ensure you have ALL SOFTWARE KEYS saved elsewhere (NOT on the OS) and any other Vendor-Specific Requirements fulfilled before proceeding. The method of backing up your Personal Data is UP TO YOU. It’s possible to use the Built-In Vista “File Settings And Transfer Wizard” to do this. BE AWARE that it’s NOT recommended to retain ANY Registry-oriented settings since there MAY be corrupted entries or some that may NOT be applicable to your New OS Install.

4- Remove ALL externally attached hardware devices (e.g. USB) except Mouse, Keyboard and Monitor. ADDITIONALLY, temporarily DISCONNECT (highly recommended) from your ISP’s Modem, Router (whatever) by unplugging your Network Cable. If necessary, temporarily TURN IT OFF (unplug from the wall) if you have Wireless Connection. If you have any other services (e.g. VOIP, Television) they will undoubtedly be off for a short period of time. Don’t worry, this won’t take long.

Edited by submix8c
Correcting formatting OMG! This new IPB is a pain in the a$$!!!
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= Installation Steps (meat and potatoes).

Perform Step#1 thru Step#10 of the following link.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/windows-7-clean-install-part-1.htm
- STOP! - Do NOT delete any partitions!

NOTE-
Q- Why was the above link given instead of using next one?
A- Simply to provide a screenshot of what pre-existing Partitions would look like (the next link shows an empty HDD).

Exit the above link and go to this one to continue.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

Skip past Step#1 through Step#7 (ref. previous link) and go directly to Step #8.
Observe the "Note". This is what we'll be doing.
1. Select the LARGEST Partition. It should be Partition #3.
2. Click on "Format" button. If confirmation requested, do it!
The above prepares the Original C-Drive for Installation.

DO NOT touch the FIRST TWO PARTITIONS in any way! These two have been described in “Preamble” above and backed up during “Preparation”.

Proceed with Step#9 through Step#21. DO NOT do Step#22 (“Activate”) at this time. Remember, your Internet Access is Temporarily Disabled.

-WARNING-
I HIGHLY recommend your creating a User-ID THE SAME NAME AND PASSWORD (if any) of your ORIGINAL Vista one to prevent any confusion during restoration of Backed Up Personal Data (done during Preparation).
-WARNING-

Go to this page to see how to get to Automatic Update Settings –
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/turn-automatic-updating-on-off#turn-automatic-updating-on-off=windows-7
TURN OFF Automatic Updates to prevent being interrupted during Driver Updates.

Install any/all Drivers that “Device Manager” indicates are missing that you obtained from “Preparation Step 1”.

Reconnect to your ISP (reverse Preparation Step#4 action), whether Network Cable or Turned Off/Unplugged Modem/Router. IOW, put it all back to before disconnecting.

Go to this page to see how to Manually Check For Updates –
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/install-windows-updates
Do it and DESELECT EVERYTHING except for any Updated Drivers and allow it to Install them. Note that there are TWO sections – Deselect ALL in BOTH sections and Re-Select the Drivers ONLY (second section)!

Go BACK to this link –
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html
and perform Step#22 (“Activate”).

Go BACK to “Windows Update” and install ALL Updates in the FIRST section. Disregard the Optional in second section. Repeat several times until no more Updates are offered.
-Note – You may install Optional if you wish, but be aware that they’re not necessary at this time.

Re-enable “Automatic Updates” if you wish (set it how you want it).

Restore your Backed Up Personal Data by reverse of whatever means you backed them up.

Reinstall any/all Software that you have Backed Up and wish to use again.

Congratulations! You’re all done! Have loads of fun enjoying your brand new Clean Install of Windows 7 and all the excitement for customizing it all over again like you had Vista set up!

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