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    Upgrading hard disk and clean installing Windows 7

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by MrCrispy, Jan 11, 2011.

  1. MrCrispy

    MrCrispy Notebook Enthusiast

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    I want to upgrade my hard disk to 7200rpm and also do a clean install of Windows 7 Home Premium that came with it (but not using the Dell recovery image).

    1. Is Activation Backup and Restore (using the ABR tool) going to work?
    2. If not can someone tell me how to activate it again - e.g. using the serial number on the laptop, if I call Dell will that be enough?
     
    MrCrispy, Jan 11, 2011
    #1
  2. atbnet

    atbnet Notebook Prophet

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    You don't need to call Dell to activate Windows, just reinstall the system.
     
    atbnet, Jan 11, 2011
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  3. Mikazukinoyaiba

    Mikazukinoyaiba Notebook Evangelist

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    Make sure you still have the product key, I know on my aunt's dell she needed me to replace her harddrive but the product key on the bottom faded.

    Luckily I noticed this before wiping the drive and used winkeyfinder to discover what the product key was. Since you have a Dell they should have included a Windows 7 Recovery disc with the notebook, look for that. I'm not sure but I think the recovery disc you burn from recovery comes with the bloatware that your notebook had at original installation

    As always, don't just format the drive and think that counts as erasing it. Use DBAN or something similar.
     
    Mikazukinoyaiba, Jan 11, 2011
    #3
  4. atbnet

    atbnet Notebook Prophet

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    If you use the Dell system recovery disc then you don't need to enter a key because they just look for the Dell BIOS. The Dell recovery disc is only the OS so you will need your driver CD or download the drivers before you reinstall.
     
    atbnet, Jan 11, 2011
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  5. WeAreNotAlone

    WeAreNotAlone Notebook Deity

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    There are various issues you will run into... How you address those issues depends on what model computer you have.


    Please post in the BODY of your OPENING post (EDIT if possible):

    Mfg
    Model
    How OLD computer is.
    What version of Media Direct the unit shipped with.

    Additionally when talking about your computer, refer to it by it's model id - reduces confusion.
    ***********************

    FYI: Some of this info is in the BIOS setup screens-
    As EASY way to obatin the above info so you can COPY and PASTE this info into your post is via going to Dell and entering your service tag
    .


    PS: When talking about your computer, refer to it by it's model id - reduces confusion.
     
    WeAreNotAlone, Jan 15, 2011
    #5