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    Help with Win7 Clean Install mSATA (Alienware 14)

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Raiden8816, Sep 4, 2015.

  1. Raiden8816

    Raiden8816 Newbie

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    Hello all,

    I purchased a second hand Alienware 14 (Mid 2013) model from a local computer shop. It initially had Windows 8 installed, but the previous owner had installed Windows 7 Professional.

    I just installed a Samsung 850 EVO MZ-M5E120BW in my mSATA port, so I can have the OS run off it and everything else will be on the WD750GB.

    My problem is that the computer did not come with any recover media, so I proceeded into getting AlienRespawn started. However, in order to create a recovery media, the size is 75GB which doesn't sound right for just a factory image (could be wrong).

    Obviously the warranty is expired so I can't order any recovery media from Dell. I do have all the newest drivers downloaded onto my flash drive ready to go.

    I guess my biggest problem after I get the OS installed is to figure out how to use my same product key. I used a third party application called NirSoft’s ProduKey. I have the product keys for both Windows 8.1 and 7.

    Any help is appreciated.

    EDIT: Or can I just download the Windows 10 ISO, and use either Win7 or Win8 product key? In order to complete a clean install.
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2015
    Raiden8816, Sep 4, 2015
    #1
  2. Raiden8816

    Raiden8816 Newbie

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    Just an update, tried to use both keys from Win8.1 and Win7 during the Win10 install process, neither worked for some reason. Any other ideas?
     
    Raiden8816, Sep 4, 2015
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  3. xKilXlerx

    xKilXlerx Notebook Geek

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    Not sure what to say but you can image the hdd and move it to your ssd. I saw some procedures somewhere in the forums but can't remember where it is. I also had difficulty in using Alien Respawn in msata
     
    xKilXlerx, Sep 4, 2015
    #3
  4. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    I just used the trial version of EaseUS Todo backup a couple days ago to clone an HDD to a SSD. I can say it was the smoothest upgrade process I've done.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, Sep 9, 2015
    #4