Re-install windows 7

theclonetrooper

I have a Acer Aspire z5600 all-in-1 touchscreen PC, (duel core 2.70 GHz, 3GB Ram, 2TB HDD, running 64 bit Widows 7 home premium).

I want to do a "factory reset" using the software on the recovery partition but I want to avoid installing all the Acer carp that comes with the install, (touchscreen games etc & pretty much all the other rubbish that fills the HDD).

Could I use a borrowed Widows 7 disc to install widows and then use the Windows key that came with my Acer Aspire to activate Windows, BTW I don't mind losing the touchscreen element of my PC in Windows as I never use it.

Oh & I don't want to upgrade to Windows 8.1 or Linux.

I_have_spoken

>Could I use a borrowed Widows 7 disc to install widows and then use the Windows key that came with my Acer Aspire to activate Windows, <

Probably not without some faffing about. The COA key stuck onto the Acer is likely tied to s/w supplied to them by Microsoft so it won't automatically activate a retail version of Windows 7 even if they are the same 64bit version of Windows 7

You could take a chance, then if it fails to activate ring the Microsoft automated system or, if that fails, ring the helpdesk and tell them you've had to replace 'broken' parts of the Acer so it won't activate on the OEM key.

May be easier to install off the recovery partition then run de-crapifier - http://pcdecrapifier.com/

wongataa

If the borrowed disc is an OEM disc with the same version of Win7 (Home Premium etc) as you have then you can use it together with your Windows key.

If the disc doesn't match you will have to create your own install media from the borrowed disc/dowloaded ISO without the ei.cfg file. This file tells the install process what version to install. If it is missing you can choose which version of Win7 to install. Pick the one that matches your current one and use your key.

Before you reinstall Windows download all the drivers for your computer and put them on a USB stick. When you have reinstalled you can then easily install all the required drivers for you computer.

I have carried this out with a Dell laptop successfully.

theclonetrooper

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Probably not without some faffing about. The COA key stuck onto the Acer is likely tied to s/w supplied to them by Microsoft so it won't automatically activate a retail version of Windows 7 even if they are the same 64bit version of Windows 7

You could take a chance, then if it fails to activate ring the Microsoft automated system or, if that fails, ring the helpdesk and tell them you've had to replace 'broken' parts of the Acer so it won't activate on the OEM key.

Thanks I have spoken, its worth a try.

NiftyDigits

theclonetrooper wrote: »

Thanks I have spoken, its worth a try.

The Recovery Disc is in your Inbox.

Heedtheadvice

I will shortly be trying to do something similar for a friend's laptop - there are so many unwanted 'additions' that it seems best to copy data files and then reset windows 7 to original and then reload programs - or something similar (best method advice would be much appreciated).

Can anyone tell me if Windows 7 will be on a partition for this machine (not sure of the exact machine at this stage and do not have it yet) and if so how to access it to reinstall? Does the Recovery disc mentioned above do that or is it for a pre-saved image (and there is not one unfortunately but there will be when I've finished and I am Macrium Reflect fan so it will be used! )
:beer:

NiftyDigits

Heedtheadvice wrote: »

I will shortly be trying to do something similar for a friend's laptop - there are so many unwanted 'additions' that it seems best to copy data files and then reset windows 7 to original and then reload programs - or something similar (best method advice would be much appreciated).

Can anyone tell me if Windows 7 will be on a partition for this machine (not sure of the exact machine at this stage and do not have it yet) and if so how to access it to reinstall? Does the Recovery disc mentioned above do that or is it for a pre-saved image (and there is not one unfortunately but there will be when I've finished and I am Macrium Reflect fan so it will be used! )
:beer:

Perhaps when you come back with the full model number of the machine....

Heedtheadvice

fair enough. I was just trying to get ahead of myself

iaps

Win7′s no-reformat, nondestructive reinstall
By Fred Langa

Microsoft won’t tell you this, but you can do a fast, nondestructive, in-place, total reinstall of Windows 7 without damaging your user accounts, data, installed programs, or system drivers.

http://windowssecrets.com/top-story/win7s-no-reformat-nondestructive-reinstall/

Heedtheadvice

A useful guide that iaps. Are there any downsides?

I have now got the Sony so back to my earlier question!
...and it's a VGN-NW20EF_S running Win Vista Home premium (x64) SP1

The problem has been slow running and lots of windows browser hijacking to open unwanted web pages etc.

Before starting from scratch, which I baulked at owing to time consumption, I have tried to remove the issues. Any thing else I should do other than what I list below as done or planned? perhaps isaps linked method too?

Ran ZoneAlarm extreme virus checker (updated) and removed lots of malware.
Re ran and removed another!
re ran and all clean.
Did a separate rootkit check - all fine.
Checked system with Belarc adviser and all seem up to date.
One process that had been using lots of CPU time now no longer and idle is very low usage.
Main issues probably owing to browsing suspect web sites so limiting users ability (with their agreement hopefully!) by disabling IE and Chrome and concentrating on a secure-ish Firefox. several unwanted add-inns and I can deal best with FF.
Removed several 'unwanted' programs that looked dubious and were unknown to me that suspect caused add-in additions.
Cleaned up Registry with Ccleaner as well as disc and start menu and removed all cookies including Long Persistence ones.
Checked for updates on all installed software.

No issues experienced now so:
Installed Macrium Reflect (there is a restore partition in the drive) ready to do a backup.
Cleared Firefox History and removed or disabled unwanted add ons.
loaded new Add-ons, Adblock Plus, Better Privacy, Webfilter Security policy, Privacy Defence and Webmail Ad blocker and a couple of Dictionaries.
Disable Third party cookies, ticked the FF Security settings.
Simplified the windows options setting (fancy font and shadows etc.)

Plan to: do a backup of windows; and data; and make new recovery disk give user a non admin role with password.

Phew!
Now should I do anything else such as the win hidden check as mentioned by isap or anything else? On the face of it the machine seems fine, runs fast, no new malware found and no new addins attached without asking for them - oh and I also configured FF to not accept new addins via xpinstall.enabled = false.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. As this is the third time I have had to 'sort' this PC :rotfl:so doing a 'full' job this time!