Can somebody help with a clean install?

Hello guys, would somebody be so kind as to walk me through a clean install of windows 7 from the very beginning to the end. Basically will somebody write a short tutorial...I tried once and failed so I had to Respawn my m14x. So if anyone can write up a quick tut from clean install to driver installs/order, I would be very grateful.

Thanks..if you need compensation, I will oblige.

 

Theres a post somewhere here about just that. It's a very extensive tut on this with links to drivers and everything. I would link it to you but I can't seem to find it.

 

Yeah I can't seem to find it either, that's the problem.

 

I also would like to add, if someone can answer, if you do a clean install, would you still get the alienware welcome/sign in background? (where you have to enter your password) Or is that located in the resource cd? Or if you do a clean install is it gone until you set it again somehow?

 

1 Put the windows 7 Disk in
2 turn your pc on
3 press f12 while booting
4 select boot from CD
5 you will get a message saying press any key to boot from disk
6 you will get windows messages up which are really simple ( basicly just press next and select your language )
7 when you get the option to select HDD choose advance options and click reformat on your HDD
8 select hard drive and press next
9 you will then see it loading files which will take about 15-20 mins
10 you will be asked what you want to call your pc
11 you will have completed your complete windows re installation
12 install your drivers ( get your wireless network driver from the resource disk think its called either 6205 or 6250 depending on your spec)
13 get all your other drivers from dell web page ( link bellow )

Dell - Drivers and Downloads

hope this helps

 

just do a factory restore using alienRespawn and you'll get all the alienware stuff you had when you first open your m14 (assuming what you have is not a refurb).

for a refurb, i don't think youll have all those alienware stuff... but there's a guide here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...ook-feel-after-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

Great, thank you, this will be perfect for when i get my new ssd.

 

So let me get this straight...after doing a clean install, the alienware "look and feel" wont be the same as it was out of the box?? So you are saying we should use alienrespawn to do a factory restore AFTER doing a clean install, and it shud be back to original ???

 

I want to know this too because I want to do a clean install on my m14x too

I used alien respawn but after that my Realtek HD audio manager can't be started. I did the respawn twice and it's still not working. There is sound coming out from speaker but it's just the Realtek HD audio manager won't start and I can't adjust bass EQ and stuff anymore.
Also, on my first try to respawn, there was something wrong with Internet Explorer. It would not load any website and would crash. It's not the internet because other programs can connect to the internet. So I respawn it again and the internet explorer is working fine now.

I haven't update windows and other drivers yet because I want to make sure everything is working fine before I spend hours updating.

Anyone know how to fix these?

 

sorry for bumping this thread again but the "HOW TO: Clean Windows 7 Install (Driver Install Order) Guide for Alienware Systems" thread is very helpfull but is a little unclear about how to exactly restore the alien look and feel after doing a clean install....there seem to be a number of ways and methods that people are using. I would reallly appreciate a clear and concise tutorial on how to clean install W7 as well as be able to reinstall the alienware look and feel as well as all the original dirvers necesary....I don't want to use secondary programs to run my devices , I want the official alienware material after a clean install

 

Well, the "Look and Feel" you will do it After you done the "Driver install Order", because after you do the clean install, most stuff on you computer wont work until you install its driver which contain on the M14x Resource DVD.

After you done the Driver Install Order, then the Look and Feel is next but this step is Optional only, it is not a requirement though.

And what do you mean by "there seem to be a number of ways and methods that people are using" Because I can see only one method in that thread. But if there is any other way, I'd suggest the one on the thread is the best and very user-friendly one.

 

thanks, some have suggested to use alienrespawn to get the look and feel backwhile the install guide says a separate way

 

Well the Respawn is like a form of System Recovery, but just different in name, so If you use the Respawn, it will be like doing a factory install - returning to the point where u receive your laptop. So all the driver and stuff is already there.

 

Why is that most people do a fresh install when you get it straight from the factory? I just got my m14x and I keep hearing everything doing a fresh w7 install and I don't know what's wrong with the way the it was shipped?

Is it more of an OCD thing because I feel like the factory shipped came with bare bones stuff. Not sure what I would need to "uninstall" from factory settings.

 

As I mentioned, our m14x's come relatively free of bloatware from teh factory, but that not the case with most notebooks. Usually they are packed with useless marketing and other types of programs that arent necessary and clog the threads of your computer. However, there are a few programs that arent necessary whcih someone may want to erase. Also you can rearrange the partitions how you like, which a lot of people do.

 

I had to format my system and when i loaded the drivers from the CD given, the sound that came out was crappy and i couldnt start realtek too......i then downloaded the drivers of the website and now everything works perfect ..CheerS!!