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    Made the mistake of trying to clean install

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by MacGyver1, Apr 1, 2008.

  1. MacGyver1

    MacGyver1 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Got a new DELL, decided to do a clean install, figured what could go wrong with all the discs.

    Bad idea ;(

    Went through the step-by-step instructions on the DELL forum, but it wouldn't start up without a VISTA disc.

    So I went through the steps all over again.

    Same result.

    So I only put in the vista disc (without clearing the drive before) and tried to 'repair' it....it couldn't identify the problem, nor fix it.

    Did I just screw up my computer? I thought the clean install wouldn't damage anything...


    On the bright side, if I insert the vista disc and totally turn the computer off, when I restart it, it turns on just fine. But not without the disc.

    Thanks lifesavers!
     
    MacGyver1, Apr 1, 2008
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  2. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    Lithus, Apr 1, 2008
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  3. MacGyver1

    MacGyver1 Notebook Enthusiast

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    That guide tells me to save stuff before I do the clean install....too late for that...
     
    MacGyver1, Apr 1, 2008
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  4. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    Well yeah, obviously skip that part. Just type in your key for activation and call MS.
     
    Lithus, Apr 1, 2008
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  5. MacGyver1

    MacGyver1 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Under "Control Panel / System and Maintenance / System. At the bottom you'll see the activation status " ...it shows my system as 'activated' and shows the product key?
     
    MacGyver1, Apr 1, 2008
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  6. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    No. The one on the bottom of your computer.
     
    Lithus, Apr 1, 2008
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  7. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    Uh... If you turn it on without the disc, what happens? Is there an error message?
     
    swarmer, Apr 1, 2008
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  8. MacGyver1

    MacGyver1 Notebook Enthusiast

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    YES!

    I did nothing, was about to give it a 3rd times the charm effort(with Lithus' link)...when I restarted it w/o disc to answer swarmer. (it said something along the lines with 'missing file....instert windows disc and repair....start in safe mode, ect). I had said this to me about 10 different start ups (whenever I tried without the disc)

    No complaints here! Lets hope it stays like this...once with a clean start up should make me safe!
     
    MacGyver1, Apr 1, 2008
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  9. MacGyver1

    MacGyver1 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks a bunch, though! I was getting really fatigued ;)
     
    MacGyver1, Apr 1, 2008
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  10. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    Uh... well... glad I could help! ;)
     
    swarmer, Apr 1, 2008
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