Formatting Windows 7 Questions

Hey guys. Not sure if formatting is the right word since i'm not computer savy. But i basically want to delete everything on my computer and start brand new like when i first got it.

I have a desktop that was bought from dell brand new last year. Its an i5-750m processor 4gb ram 7200rpm hard drive. Its the Dell xps 8100. I noticed that the day i got it, it was really slow. Takes a while for programs to load and firefox always frozed. Even when i use explorer, it takes so long and my computer lags so much.

I want to format my desktop now so it can be like it was brand new. My windows 7 is 64 bit. I don't mind erasing everything from my computer and starting brand new with nothing in it. I would just save those files into a usb. My question is how would i be able to do this if i don't have a windows 7 cd? Dell never gave me one and many people in the forums said the same thing for the xps 8100.

Can someone answer my questions? And about how long would it take to do the format? I also have an asus laptop that i bought last year and bought the recovery cd for it that allow you to format windows 7. Would i be able to use that cd on my dell desktop? Someone tells me i cannot do this.

I do see however Dell database backup as a program on my computer. So is this my only option burn the recovery discs and then use the cd to format
it? I'm also confused because i heard it takes at least 3 hours and many people said it is quite a few cds? Because when i format my xp in my old computer, it was just one cd.

Can someone help me out?

Thank you.

 

I wonder if you still have your factory image partition on your dell.
I would recommend using that since you feel not confident in your ability to do a clean install, but your prior experience indicate that you could.

It is the most easiest way without the hassle of finding working drivers and without fuss.

Dell does provide the original install dvds but at an extra cost, but they do provide an image preinstalled that you could use or burn them into dvd(?) at no additional cost.

 

falco, i never ever formatted a computer ever. I always had a friend help me do it because i am worried i would mess up the computer. This is for my old desktop that was windows xp.

how would i know if i have factory image partition on my dell? I am very bad with computers.

 

Ok.

Open up my computer, can you post what are the names and labels ie C:, D: System Restore


Heres the instruction ... look for dell

http://www.w7forums.com/windows-7-recovery-partition-t4534.html

 

May want to 'low level format" check this out,look at zero fill utility too.

Low-Level Formatting

Cheers
3Fees

 

Why would you recommend that something of that retarded and extreme to a novice?? You're not really helping at all.

 

When i open my computer, i see

OS (C) for hard drive.

DVD RW DRIVE (D: )

SD/Mini-MMC/RS (E )

CF/MD (F: )

SM/xD (G: )

MS/Pro/Duo (H: )


Is this what you mean? Yes i the website you gave with the partition for dell . So that is really all i need to do?

 

Most vendors like Dell has a special coded function key which when you press(during boot) would present you an option to restore the factory image. My Samsung is F4, not sure about Dell. That should be the easiest way to make it like when it was bought.

 

Ugh .. the "my computer" was a bad check ... Can you check via Disk Management ... It can be accessed by right clicking "My computer", click on Manage -> Storage -> Disk Management ... Read off the labels.

I don't have a W7 era dell, so I'm basing this off my Vista era dell.
If there exist a partition that is not mentioned above but has something called i think Recovery.

If exist, that should work. What it does is to bring the computer back to the same factory install state when you first turn on the machine.

 

Simple BAsic Healthy (OEM PARTITION) 39mb

OS Simple Basic NTFS Healthy (boot, page file, crash dump, primary partiton 451.07 GB 369.81 GB FRee

REcovery Simple Basic NTFS Healthy (system, active, primary partition) 14.65gb 9.22 gb free


Is this what you want?

Below it i see disk 0 , disk 1 etc Or do you need that information?

 

you should be able to recover either from their recovery DVD or function key.

The Recovery is where the OS image is store and the Simple is most likely some boot loader thing given its size.

Is the restore key Ctrl+F11 ?

 

someone on another forum said to me


just had a cursory look at the link you posted and a
couple of the recovery methods they list are incorrect.


Here are the newer instructions for a Dell, this will over-write the data on the machine so back-up anything you do not want to lose first.


information Information

New Dell
Turn on the computer.

2 As the computer starts, press <F8> on the keyboard until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears on the screen.

Note:
You must press <F8> before the Windows logo appears on the screen. If you press <F8> after the Windows logo appears on the screen, the Advanced Boot Options menu will not appear on the screen. If you do not see the Advanced Boot Options menu, restart the computer, and then repeat this step until you see the menu on the screen.

3 Press the <Down Arrow> on the keyboard to select Repair Your Computer on the Advanced Boot Options menu, and then press <Enter>.

4 Specify the language settings that you want, and then click Next.

5 Log in as a user who has administrative credentials, and then click OK.

6 Click Dell Factory Image Restore.

7 In the Dell Factory Image Restore window, click Next.

8 Click to select the Yes, reformat hard drive and restore system software to factory condition check box.

9 Click Next.
The computer is restored to the default factory configuration.

10 When the restore operation is completed, click Finish to restart the computer.
The software is now installed as it was when the computer was first received.

 

Ok, you're in the game

Well, that also another way to enter it as well.

 

okay falco, so i just follow the steps above that they guy posted and everything should go smoothly?

 

FALCO or anyone else is all i have to do just follow those steps above?

 

You are fine... just make sure you backup anything important before doing so.

 

Hey falco or anyone else. I already put everything i need into my usb drive so everything is backed now.

I haven't tried this yet because these steps sounds too simple. I asked my friend who knows computers and he said he didn't think it was possible to reformat a computer without a CD. Do you know if this is true or not? I also don't want to risk doing all this and then my computer not working .

 

okay i burned the system repair disc. It only took about 5 minutes. Is that the back up cd?

I'm confused. Should i just do the dell factory restore now or plug this cd to restore it? also, i'm confused. If i do the factory restore, it would have the bloatware but if i use the cd, it won't? Someone tells me this on another forum...

 

Both will have the dell preinstalled bloatware.

wait what? 5 mins to make?

system repair disc? Did you just do the standard W7 repair disc instead of the Dell's backup?

Easiest to do a factory image by the steps above and uninstall any unnecessary software before installing your choice of software.
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It is possible install different types of os using different mediums ie network, dvd, flash, tapes. Just different steps.