Dell System Recovery Guide

[booboo12]

Hi

Is it true that, when a clean Windows 7 install is done on a new Dell notebook, the MBR will be overwritten and the built-in diagnostics option (by virtue of a tiny unlabelled FAT16 partition at the front of the disk drive) in the pre-boot phase will cease to work?

Thanks.

If you do a clean install formatting the entire drive, you'll lose the partition, but you can get the utility from support.dell.com if you ever need it.

[MacisBack]

Nice job with this guide, it was very helpful for a dell noob like me

[lithnights]

Unfortunately, because the Recovery DVD's created with DataSafe are an image of the drive as it came from Dell, there's no way to get a completely clean install using them, unlike when you use the OS DVD and Drivers disc.

You could run the PC Decrapfier after running the DataSafe Recovery DVD's to remove most if not all of the bloatware, however the install will never be as clean (thanks to left behind files from removing the bloatware) as a clean install.



Some people (admittedly newbies) aren't comfortable doing that.

Hey Booboo12,

I'm in the same boat as many others..first laptop in awhile and wasn't sent the W7 disk. So, if we don't get the W7 disk from Dell, we'll never be able to do a complete clean install. Should that be? If you're spending $1000 or so on a laptop and you're paying for Windows 7, why does the manufacturer not send the disks? It just seems silly.

Anyway, should I just call and request them to send it? I did ask when I ordered and the sales rep sort of blew off the request saying that it can be easily burned myself. I wish I had read all this first.

Oh yea, from one Ship grad/student to another, great work!

[booboo12]

Nice job with this guide, it was very helpful for a dell noob like me

No Problem! Glad it helped!

Hey Booboo12,

I'm in the same boat as many others..first laptop in awhile and wasn't sent the W7 disk. So, if we don't get the W7 disk from Dell, we'll never be able to do a complete clean install. Should that be? If you're spending $1000 or so on a laptop and you're paying for Windows 7, why does the manufacturer not send the disks? It just seems silly.

Anyway, should I just call and request them to send it? I did ask when I ordered and the sales rep sort of blew off the request saying that it can be easily burned myself. I wish I had read all this first.

Oh yea, from one Ship grad/student to another, great work!

Your correct, without a Windows 7 DVD, you can't do a clean install. You can always use an application like the magic jellybean keyfinder on your Dell to snag the key Dell used on your particular machine, then grab the appropriate Windows 7 Microsoft sourced disc image from the Windows section of NBR.

Since the guide was designed to be useful and approachable to anyone, even those who are new to the Dell family/computers in general, I recommend that they contact Dell support if they want physical Windows 7 media.

IMO, Dell should have continued to provide Windows 7 media across the board. It was a little thing, out of several like the ability to opt out of bloatware, color choices, etc. that set them apart from the other computer makers like HP and Acer. I believe it's simply a victim of cost cutting. By not providing the DVD's unless asked, they don't have to account for so many envelopes, blank dvd's ...etc.

Also, Go Raiders!

[bozydar]

Dell's Windows 7 HP 64-bit Reinstallation DVD allows us to select language. Is is possible and legal to change language on clean install? Did anyone try it? Does product key fit for a new language?

[aldam]

@bozydar
product key fits but I'm not sure it is legal.

My question.

I've ordered my first dell. Now I'm waiting for delivery. I have W7P 32 on it. I'd like to do a clean install of Win7 64. Before I had HP HDX and I used ABR
ABR (Activation Backup and Restore) | directedge.us

Can I do the same now with dell?

[booboo12]

@bozydar
product key fits but I'm not sure it is legal.

My question.

I've ordered my first dell. Now I'm waiting for delivery. I have W7P 32 on it. I'd like to do a clean install of Win7 64. Before I had HP HDX and I used ABR
ABR (Activation Backup and Restore) | directedge.us

Can I do the same now with dell?

It shouldn't be an issue to use ABR. I've personally never tried it though.

[Kaloo]

Did a clean install of 7 and restored with ABR the dell certificates and key I saved before.

Fresh install of 7 is activated and genuine.

[booboo12]

Did a clean install of 7 and restored with ABR the dell certificates and key I saved before.

Fresh install of 7 is activated and genuine.

Awesome! Good to hear his solution worked for you.

[aldam]

Is there any option (preinstalled software) to burn dvds with the recovery partition (recovery form hdd)?