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Question

How do I wipe my Dell E521 Clean

Jul 6, 2012 1:52AM PDT

I would like to wipe my computer. I have been told that this is the only way to fix the error I keep getting when I use Skype. The computer freezes on start-up if I have left my camera plugged in. Previously I was told this was a plug in problem and I have tried different usb ports and different cameras; but I still have the same problem.

I think I have all the re-installation discs. And my files are back up on an Apple Time Machine. I have windows vista home premium and a Samsung monitor

I need step by step instructions, as this 69 year old brain doesn't work the best.

Thanks, Jim

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Windows vista home premium Installation Steps
Jul 6, 2012 3:51AM PDT

Hi jamesalarson1,

I am Sudipta_S from Dell Social Media and Communities Team.
With regards to your question, you can follow step-by-step guide which demonstrates how to install Windows Vista.


The best way to install Windows Vista is to do a clean install. It is not difficult to perform a clean installation. Before you perform the installation I recommend that you check Windows Vista System Requirements list to ensure that your hardware is supported by Vista. If you don't have Windows Vista drivers for all your hardware, it is a good idea to download all the drivers from the hardware manufacturers website and save all the necessary drivers on a CD-R before you start the installation.

Windows Vista DVD is bootable. In order to boot from the DVD you need to set the boot sequence. Press F12 and select CD-ROM/DVD-ROM.
To see the steps you can go to:-http://vistahomepremium.windowsreinstall.com/installnewhdd/installnewhdd.htm

Step 1 - Place Windows Vista DVD in your dvd-rom drive and start your PC. Windows Vista will start to boot up and you will get the following progress bar.

Step 2 - The next screen allows you to setup your language, time and currency format, keyboard or input method. Choose your required settings and click next to continue.

Step 3 - The next screen allows you to install or repair Windows Vista. Since we are doing a fresh install we will click on "install now".

Step 4 - Tick "I accept the licence terms" and press next.

Step 5 - Choose the type of installation you want to perform. You will notice that upgrade option is disabled as we have booted from the DVD-R. Therefore we can only select Custom (advanced) option which basically installs a clean copy of Windows from scratch

Step 6 - Choose where you would like to install Windows Vista. If you have a new unpartitioned hard drive you would get your hard drive listed as shown on the image below. If have have an old hard drive with data or other partitions it will show up as logical drives. You can select the drive options (advanced) to format, delete, or create new partitions. Because I am using a single new hard drive I will select next to continue. Windows will create a partition and format it using NTFS files system.


Step 7 - Windows starts the installation process and starts copying all the necessary files to your hard drive as shown on the image below. It will go through various stages of the setup and will reboot your system few times. When your PC reboots it attempts to boot from CD as its the first boot device. Do not press any key during the boot prompt so Windows Vista will continue with the installation by booting from your hard drive.

Step 8- After installation copy process is complete you are presented with the Setup Windows dialogue box as show below. At this stage you need to choose a user name, password and a picture for your user account. The account you create here is the Administrator account which is the main account for your Windows Vista that has all the privileges. Click next continue.

Step 9- Now you need to choose your computer name and desktop background. Click next to continue.

Step 10 - Choose whether your want to Help protect Windows automatically. Select "Use recommenced settings" to continue.

Step 11 - Review your time and date settings. Select your time zone, correct the date and time and click next to continue.

Next screen presents you to select your computers current location. You can choose between home, work, public location. Choose home to continue. You will finally get a "Thank you" screen which confirms the end of the interactive installation process. This is not the end of the setup process. There are still many after installation configuration to be done. Click next to continue.

Step 12 - Windows now runs a benchmark type of application which checks the performance of your system. You will see a status bar at bottom which shows the progress. Once the process is complete you will be presented with the logon screen.

Step 13 - Finally you have the logon screen. Just type your password and press enter or click on the arrow to logon to Windows Vista for the first time.

Step 14 - Soon as you logon you will be presented with welcome center. You can use the welcome center to configure, customize, and update Windows vista.

Step 15 - Finally you need to check if all your hardware has been detected correctly. You can do so by checking your device manager. To access device manager click Start menu -> Control panel -> System -> Device manager. You will see all your hardware listed as shown below. You need to check if you have any yellow exclamation marks next to the name of the device similar to "USB 10/100 LAN" on image below. This indicates the driver has not been installed for this device.

At this stage you need to install Windows Vista drivers by double clicking on "USB 10/100 LAN" or your device. The properties dialog box will appear. Click on Reinstall Driver. Then you can choose whether you want to install the driver from the internet (if available) or install manually from a CD or other media

Once you have removed all the yellow exclamation marks from the device manager your Windows Vista configuration would be fully complete.


Kindly revert for further clarifications.

Thanks and regards,
Dell_Sudipta_S
Dell Social Media and Communities Responder.

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You lost me at check Windows Vista Requirements
Jul 6, 2012 10:40AM PDT

How do I do that? To make sure all my hardware is supported and make sure I have all the drivers (what ever they are) from the hardware manufactures??

All I have is a keyboard from Dell, a mouse from Logitech, a monitor from Samsun, speakers from Harmon Kardon, a camera for skype from logitech, and a time machine from apple. All came when I bought the Dell E521, except the mouse and the camera.

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What about all the other software and files
Jul 6, 2012 10:51AM PDT

How do I wipe them from the computer and then reinstall along with all my files that are stored on my Apple time capsule?

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Until Sudipta-S returns
Jul 6, 2012 9:55PM PDT

You have asked how to make sure all the hardware is supported.

It might be better if we knew the history of this computer. Did it have Vista installed on it when you brought it? If not, what did it have and how did you change that to Vista?

If it had Vista pre-installed when you brought it, (a Vista OEM installation), have you made any hardware changes to it since then? If so, what?

A monitor won't need special software and neither should a mouse or the speakers, but the camera might do. Do you still have the box in which the camera came with? If so, you may still have any software for that camera.

You mention all the files on Apple's Time Machine. Which files are these? With a clean install of Vista, any software of your own that you have installed yourself on the old Vista will need to be reinstalled and they cannot just be 'restored' from backup files. However, personal files, like photos, documents, music and videos etc can simply be copied back to the new install.

All that said, I am wondering if, instead of going through all this, why not simply disconnect the camera before booting up the computer.

Mark

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answers
Jul 6, 2012 11:48PM PDT

Windows Vista came with the computer installed OEM.

Not sure what you mean by hardware added? A computer shop repaired the mother board and replaced a video card. My son-inlaw added the Apple Time Machine.

I still have the camera installation software. which my son-inlaw installed.

I think all my personal files are stored on the Time Machine

The computer came with software installed besides the vista operating system, like Money, etc. Are these also gone? How do I re-install them?

I have done the plug and unplug and for the most part it works; but about 1 out of 5 time when I use skype the computer crashs.

Thanks,

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Are these also gone?
Jul 7, 2012 6:10AM PDT

Is this Vista still working? If so then you still have those programs, don't you?

But I see this is an OEM install and there is a difficulty here. The reinstall that Sudipta_S suggests will reinstall the motherboard/chipset drivers and the video card drivers for the old motherboard and the old video card.

You say the motherboard was repaired so that might be OK, but if it was replaced then reinstalling Vista from the DVD will attempt to install old motherboard/chipset drivers. They may work or they may not, so it is best to visit the new motherboard maker's web site and download the mb/chipset drivers for the new motherboard and install those after the reinstall.

The same with the video card.

I still think the occasional crash is easier to deal with than a reinstall.

Mark

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is vista still working
Jul 9, 2012 11:45PM PDT

Yes Vista is working.

Motherboard was just repaired, not replaced. At least thats what the repair man said.

Video card was replaced. From looking inside the box, that looks to be the case.

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Answer
Windows vista home premium Installation Steps
Jul 9, 2012 11:37AM PDT

Hi jamesalarson1,

Did the whole issue related to the Skype/webcam start after the Motherboard repair & Video Card replacement? Before replacing, did the technician ensure the compatibility between the motherboard and the video card ?


Kindly revert for further clarifications.

Thanks and regards,
Dell_Sudipta_S
Dell Social Media and Communities Responder.

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clean wipe
Jul 9, 2012 11:42PM PDT

No the problem existed before the repair.

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Windows vista home premium Installation Steps
Jul 10, 2012 12:16PM PDT

Hi jamesalarson1,

With regards to your case, follow the steps for the operating system re-installation process and then install the drivers for the system. You would need to check with the manufacturing website for the driver of the video card that you have installed. You can get the required drivers from the following website:-
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19
and select the operating system for your computer (you can find the operating system of your computer by clicking on start and right click on my computer and go to properties and there you can see the operating system of your computer) and you can see the drivers listed there. Get all the drivers downloaded for your system from there.
OR
Go to www.support.dell.com and click on drivers and downloads from the screen and then enter the service tag of your computer and you will be able to see the drivers listed there.

Kindly revert for further clarifications.

Thanks and regards,
Dell_Sudipta_S
Dell Social Media and Communities Responder.