Need help with clean installation of OS

sindersoot

Would appreciate any help as regards what will be lost when the clean re-installation of OS is complete. I'm just getting all information together prior to doing the re-installation.

I know I have to back up all documents, pictures, etc and drivers.

What happens to printer, broadband, camera, etc is that all lost too?

If anyone could list the things I will need to do after a clean re-installation of OS it would be appreciated?

tronator

sindersoot wrote: »

Would appreciate any help as regards what will be lost when the clean re-installation of OS is complete. I'm just getting all information together prior to doing the re-installation.

I know I have to back up all documents, pictures, etc and drivers.

What happens to printer, broadband, camera, etc is that all lost too?

If anyone could list the things I will need to do after a clean re-installation of OS it would be appreciated?

Your Emails? The best is to backup the whole user folder.

What OS are we talking about anyway? In Ubuntu you just keep the whole /home partition as is and select "don't format" when reinstalling. But I guess it's some flavor of Windows, why else would you need to reinstall..;)

sindersoot

Guessed in one, I am not a happy bunny to say the least, did not know anything about this version of Windows 7 being as it is:mad: Purchased new retail version due to having no disc for original OS I want to clean install the new Windows 7 and get rid of everything associated with the problem Windows 7.

closed

Didn't it come with a recovery partition?

sindersoot

closed wrote: »

Didn't it come with a recovery partition?

Sorry don't know that much about computers, learning fast here as I go along! Where would I find the recovery partition? Didn't even know much about anything connected with the workings of a computer until I became aware of this problem!

Should say as far as I can gather the problem Windows 7 was a clean install and I can't find an old windows file anywhere on pc.

closed

What problem are you alluding to.

If it's a newish machine, then it will either have a recovery partition with a factory restore W7 partition, or a means of creating a disc, or the disc itself. See the manual.

closed

Has it got a sticker on it with a XP? serial number?

sindersoot

Yes, lap top has genuine XP sticker but no disc

Donnie

Wouldn't have bothered forking out for a retail version of Windows 7 for a seven or eight year old laptop. Would have been easier to request a DELL XP recovery or OEM disc, costing nothing. If you haven't opened it, return it.

sindersoot

Donnie wrote: »

Wouldn't have bothered forking out for a retail version of Windows 7 for a seven or eight year old laptop. Would have been easier to request a DELL XP recovery or OEM disc, costing nothing.

Oh that sounds good, I didn't realise I could do that. I take it that I would just contact Dell's technical department to obtain that information.

Actually still have new Windows still sealed in box and could return if necessary. Had even thought about purchasing a new laptop rather than go through all this hassle, just want everything to be back to normal.

Donnie

I need details of the machine and version of XP. Home or Professional. Just look at the bottom of the machine. Dell won't be particularly helpful.