Clean Install of Win7

[Annie Woughman]

I have been a Gateway desktop that came with Vista installed. As soon as
Windows 7 came out, I did an upgrade. For the last month or so I thought my
machine was dying. Programs were crashing (including Internet Explorer) and
it was just an all around mess. I have been researching how to do a clean
install of Windows 7, since Microsoft has made it next to impossible to do
this--which I think is a huge mistake on their part. Anyway, after finding
a tutorial at:
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/windows-7-new-install-part-1.htm I
took the plunge and did it. The toughest part was getting my computer to
boot from the Windows DVD. Booting from the DVD is the only way to get to
the option that lets you delete the partition that has your old Windows
files on it. I had about 100 GB of old Windows files and crap on my hard
drive. Now it runs like a new machine. I just don't understand why
Microsoft doesn't put that option right up front as a choice between upgrade
or clean install like they used to.

 

[Annie Woughman]

Oops, that first sentence should read "I have been using a Gateway destop"

 

[Char Jackson]

I have been a Gateway desktop that came with Vista installed. As soon as
Windows 7 came out, I did an upgrade. For the last month or so I thought my
machine was dying. Programs were crashing (including Internet Explorer) and
it was just an all around mess. I have been researching how to do a clean
install of Windows 7, since Microsoft has made it next to impossible to do
this--which I think is a huge mistake on their part. Anyway, after finding
a tutorial at:
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/windows-7-new-install-part-1.htm I
took the plunge and did it. The toughest part was getting my computer to
boot from the Windows DVD. Booting from the DVD is the only way to get to
the option that lets you delete the partition that has your old Windows
files on it. I had about 100 GB of old Windows files and crap on my hard
drive. Now it runs like a new machine. I just don't understand why
Microsoft doesn't put that option right up front as a choice between upgrade
or clean install like they used to.

When I upgraded an XP machine to Windows 7 a few days ago, the option
to do a clean install was very much toward the beginning of the
process. Then again, I naturally assumed I should start by booting
from the Win 7 DVD.

 

[Annie Woughman]

When I upgraded an XP machine to Windows 7 a few days ago, the option
to do a clean install was very much toward the beginning of the
process. Then again, I naturally assumed I should start by booting
from the Win 7 DVD.

That was XP. I have two desktops that were running XP on which I installed
Windows 7 on at the same time I did the original install on the Vista
machine. They are still running fine. Machines running XP HAVE to do a
clean install. Vista was the problem. Not only was it a horribly bloated
OS, then Microsoft made things worse by making it almost impossible to do a
clean install of 7 over it. It is like trying to put a pair of nylon tights
on over scratchy woolen socks that are still in the hiking boots. Not a
good fit.

 

[Dave]

Oops, that first sentence should read "I have been using a Gateway destop"

I think I liked you better when you were a desktop. :-D
Dave

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

I think I liked you better when you were a desktop. :-D

If she lost a few pounds, she could probably be a portable.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Oops, that first sentence should read "I have been using a Gateway destop"

That's why I alwyas preefrood my psots befroe psoting them.

<SNIP>

 

[Just Judy]

If she lost a few pounds, she could probably be a portable.

Tell the truth, fellas, you're only interested in her laptop!

 

[Mikey]

I have been a Gateway desktop that came with Vista installed.

I was a Kenmore dishwasher for a short time....... ;-o

Mike

 

[Dave]

Tell the truth, fellas, you're only interested in her laptop!

Only if she loses those few pounds. :-D
Dave

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

Only if she loses those few pounds. :-D

And comes with a touch screen.

 

[LThomas]

I have been a Gateway desktop that came with Vista installed. As soon as
Windows 7 came out, I did an upgrade. For the last month or so I thought
my machine was dying. Programs were crashing (including Internet Explorer)
and it was just an all around mess. I have been researching how to do a
clean install of Windows 7, since Microsoft has made it next to impossible
to do this--which I think is a huge mistake on their part. Anyway, after
finding a tutorial at:
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/windows-7-new-install-part-1.htm I
took the plunge and did it. The toughest part was getting my computer to
boot from the Windows DVD. Booting from the DVD is the only way to get to
the option that lets you delete the partition that has your old Windows
files on it. I had about 100 GB of old Windows files and crap on my hard
drive. Now it runs like a new machine. I just don't understand why
Microsoft doesn't put that option right up front as a choice between
upgrade or clean install like they used to.

In the normal cirmumstances you should have NO problem
with Win-7 fresh / clean instalation. However, problem may
occur when the hardn drive is not well prepared for installation
or the BIOS is not set up for booting from CD.

My advice would be; always format the hard drive
you used before, particularly when you observed some
problems with it this HD before. Using a new HD
would be great advantage.

 

[xfile]

I just don't understand why Microsoft doesn't put that option right up

front as a choice between upgrade or clean install like they used to.

Because they and many others thought a "bootable" machine is equivalent to a
"workable" machine.

Your experience is a typical problem for doing an upgrade install because
incompatibilities don't always surface right away, and may take some time to
appear.

But then again, many MVPs still advise people to do an upgrade install
first.