I hope I'm posting this on the right board. If not please feel free to move it to the correct board.
I have an older Dell Studio 1537 Vista laptop that my wife used to use. It's still good, but she has so much garbage on there it runs slower than molasses in January. I'd like to keep the machine and use it mostly for reading news, email, the Microsoft Office 2007, and as a "viewer" I can use while digitizing the 25 years worth and thousands of 35mm slides I have. I have all the discs and software that came with the machine. and instead of trying to figure out what to delete, what to keep. I'd like to just start with a "clean slate," then reinstall whatever is on these discs I have.
I have 1 disc for Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, 1 disc Operating System reinstallation DVD Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit SP1, 1 disc Drivers and utilities, 1 disc Dell Application for reinstalling Dell MediaDirect 4.0 with True Theater HD Software, and 1 Disc Dell Application for reinstalling Dell Webcam Central Software.
How do I go about doing this? I've never had to delete everything off a machine then reinstall what was on it when it came from the factory.
I have all the discs and software that came with the machine. and instead of trying to figure out what to delete, what to keep. I'd like to just start with a "clean slate," then reinstall whatever is on these discs I have.
copy off and save all your crucial files and record any settings. also, without knowing if the system, disc, etc has any hidden flaws, it may be prudent to create an image backup of the vista system using a free program like, macrium reflect before starting the process. if anything prevents a successful factory install, a saved image of the vista system could be insurance. http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/download/backup-recovery/macrium-reflect-free-611311-463/
after the factory reset of vista and all is installed anew and fresh, create a new image to save time and effort.
Best to download (from the PC manufacturer's web site) the latest drivers and save them on CD, USB flash drive or someplace convenient before you do the install. Then boot to the installation DVD and follow the prompts to install the OS. Then install the latest drivers and update Windows. Then install other desired programs.
If your reinstallation disc is Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 1 32-bit, you need the 348 MB-size Service Pack 2 upgrade to install afterwards.
Download and save it, then burn it to a CD-R or copy it to a USB thumb drive, then use that media to install it.
The upgrade process may take over an hour and may involve multiple restarts, so be aware of it.
Starting from scratch and getting Windows Vista up-to-date and installing your desired programs and configuring settings to your liking will be pretty much an all-day job.
Make sure that laptop remains connected to its power adapter during the entire process so there's no accidental power loss.
I get to the System Recovery Options and it asks for a name and password. The name is no problem, but since this machine has not been used for quite a long time no one remembers the password, or if there even was one used. How do I change the password?
I thought that you were going to reinstall Vista. What are you trying to do now?
No password help can be given. Try null (blank) in case there is none. You have to login with an administrative account to change the password of any account.
If you're doing a reinstall of Windows Vista, a name for the Administrator and a name for the computer is all you need to input.
You don't need to input a password and can leave it blank.
I thought that you were going to reinstall Vista. What are you trying to do now?
No password help can be given. Try null (blank) in case there is none. You have to login with an administrative account to change the password of any account.
LOL! Yes, I'm just reinstalling Vista, but not paying attention while I do this! I followed the instructions that you gave me but when I got a panel for System Recovery Options it wanted a name and password. Neither the wife nor I could ever remember putting in a password so I thought I'd better find out how to "get around" it. None of the passwords we normally use would work. Right after I posted the message on here for help I found out that just "clicking" on the blank space was good enough to "get around" it and continue.
I've successfully restored the laptop, but the screen has "stuff" on it we don't remember having when it was new. I've still got to get the Service Pack 2 and install that on the machine and maybe that will change things back to what we "think" it was. That'll have to wait for a couple weeks as we're on the way out the door to begin our vacation. Thanks for the help and unless I do something else "stupid" I'd consider this fix as solved. Thanks again!
That laptop appears to be a 2007 - 2008 model, so it's now in its original and very outdated condition.
Besides needing to bring Windows Vista completely up-to-date with SP2 and the numerous post-SP2 updates, several programs need to be installed or updated.
Enjoy your vacation. You'll have several hours of work to do on that laptop after you return.
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