Best way to format computer and then reinstall without Windows CD - Computer Technical Help

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Best way to format computer and then reinstall without Windows CD

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08-12-2012 , 12:58 PM

Praetor

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 11,807

Hi,

I am selling my desktop and want to totally format it so none of my data is left over when I sell it, and then reinstall Windows 7 Home premium. I dont have the CD however or my CD Key

Whats the best program to format it first of all? One of those programs that writes zeros to the hardrive and so on?

After that, whats my best play to reinstall Windows? Can I use a program to find my CD key and then reinstall it from a downloaded version using a legit CD key?

Thanks

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08-12-2012 , 06:31 PM

IsaacAsimov

old hand

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,704

Last time I did this I used DBAN to format the hard drive: http://www.dban.org/.
Yea, you can just download a version and use your own key, that's not problematic, just make sure you download the same version that you have a license for.
You can then reinstall Windows 7 using a USB stick: http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-in...working-guide/
This is a guide how to find your license key under Windows 7: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/produc...dows-7-key.htm

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08-12-2012 , 07:46 PM

Praetor

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 11,807

Hi, thanks for the reply

Re the guide to find your licence key , I Worry about that because I ran the program they recommend to check it if works on my laptop [which shows the cd key on the back] and they got the key wrong...

Dban is the thing I was trying to mention when I said write zeros to hard drive, I used it before also, thanks for reminding me of the name!

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08-12-2012 , 07:55 PM

IsaacAsimov

old hand

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,704

So if you have the CD key, then why did you want a program to find it out for you? Just jot down the one on the back of your laptop and use that.

Edit: It is weird that it got it wrong though.

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08-12-2012 , 08:03 PM

Praetor

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 11,807

I want to do it on my desktop, for which I do not have the key

I ran it on my laptop as a test

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08-13-2012 , 02:32 AM

rsxpunk

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 9,154

http://www.overclock.net/t/1156654/s...-for-ssds-hdds

Scroll down a bit and they have all the windows 7 iso links. Just dl and burn to a dvd and you are gtg.

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08-13-2012 , 07:13 AM

IsaacAsimov

old hand

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,704

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praetor

I want to do it on my desktop, for which I do not have the key

I ran it on my laptop as a test

You could try googling around to see if you can find a program that finds a matching one. I've never tried this before, so I just googled and that one came up.

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08-13-2012 , 04:27 PM

Svenz00r

enthusiast

Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 77

Hey borrowing this thread a little, does any1 know approximately how long it would take to write a 1tb hard drive using dban? i have about 250gb stuff on it if that matter.

thanks

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08-14-2012 , 03:40 AM

jmark

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3,790

Only the total size matters. I'd guess 2-3 hours? You only need 1 pass random data.

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08-23-2012 , 12:57 PM

#10

Praetor

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 11,807

The download link rspunk provided to a Windows iso, DBAN and the key program Isaac posted all combined to sort this out for me. Weird that the prorgam display what I thought was a wrong key but when I reinstalled Windows it activated no problem

Thanks all

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