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Contact Dell and they should provide a disk free of charge. I assume they will also furnish you with the key but if not there are means to find out..
Junior Member
I just purchased a Dell Inspiron 15R 5520 laptop with Windows 8 installed. I wish to re-partition (into C and D), format, and re-install Windows 8 so that I can eliminate all bloatware. In order to accomplish this how do I accomplish the following:
1. Download and burn to DVD a copy of Windows 8
2. Retrieve the proper product key from my laptop that will be accepted during the install of Windows 8
I know for Windows 7 this process could be accomplished by retrieving the OEM product key (which is different than the key found on the COA sticker). With the OEM product key in hand you could then install and activate Windows 7. I wish to know how to do this with Windows 8 so I don't have to go purchase another Windows 8 even though my laptop came with a fully licensed copy. Thanks
Pete
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Contact Dell and they should provide a disk free of charge. I assume they will also furnish you with the key but if not there are means to find out..
The problem might be that the DVD provided by Dell will contain all the bloatware as well. It's also most likely that your PC came with the Win 8 Standard edition.
Why not just uninstall all the junk included by Dell. I use an app called PC Decrapifier (that's really the name) to assist with this chore.
You cannot download the Win 8 ISO file unless you purchase a copy for $40 from MS. If you do this during the install, you will be given a choice to Install from created media. This will allow you to burn the ISO file to either DVD or Flash Drive. This will however give you a copy of Win 8 that is totally free of Dell junk. It will also give you a DVD that includes the Repair Console.
If you wish to keep your present Win 8 junk filled installation you can make an Image of it using a 3rd party Imaging app. This way you do not have to create a dual boot (which you will have to get rid of later, fairly easy to do if you know what you are doing, but will require 3rd party Partitioning app). Simply replace the present junk filled Win 8 installation with the MS plain installation.
Another advantage is that the new PC probably includes Win 8 standard edition. The $40 upgrade edition you will purchase and burn the ISO file to DVD will be the Win 8 Pro version which also qualifies for the free Media Center addition. The Standard version does not allow Media Center upgrade unless you upgrade to Win 8 Pro using the Pro Pack Upgrade, which is actually more than the $40 Upgrade edition.
Junior Member
Thread Starter Thanks. I bought the Dell from Sam's Club so I'm not sure if Dell will help?Originally Posted by kemical
Update: Thanks. I just contacted Dell Customer Care and they said they can provide me with a free copy of the Windows CD once I provide them with the Express Service Code. As soon as my laptop arrives I will do that. I'm actually amazed that Dell was that helpful.
Pete
Last edited by flroots; 11-29-2012 at 03:36 PM.
Junior Member
Thread Starter Thanks. I definitely want to install Windows 8 to a freshly formatted drive. IMHO, that's the only way to insure an absolutely bloatware free install. I know this can be done with Windows 7 so I was hoping there was some way to do it for Windows 8. I also don't want to buy another Windows 8 since the Dell already includes a legally licensed copy.
Pete
Last edited by flroots; 11-29-2012 at 03:01 PM.
During the installation from DVD after you choose Custom Install, on the next screen there is a link for Advanced Disk Options. After you click this you can highlight the partition containing Win 8 and choose to format it as part of the installation.
As I stated earlier, the DVD you receive from Dell will most likely be the Dell branded DVD and include all the Dell Junk. Plus it will most likely be the Standard version, not the Pro version. That's why I suggested the possibility of an additional purchase from MS. The download and ISO burn to DVD will give you a virgin Win 8 Pro installation without any of the Dell junk. As I stated the Pro version also allows the addition of Media Center which the Standard version does not allow.
Junior Member
Thread Starter Thanks. I will be destroying the existing Windows while creating C and D partitions and resizing them with a bootable partition manager. I keep OS and programs on C and all data on D. Once the Windows install is complete, I use a bootable version of Acronis True Image to make a backup of the C partition. I use SyncBackSE to make daily backups of data on D.
The rep from Dell told me that they will send me several CDs, one of which is the plain Windows install CD. Other disks will include various software. Hopefully he was correct. As you say, I always have the option of purchasing the Pro version and at the $40 price it may be worthwhile. I have no foreseeable need for Media Center software.
Pete
Last edited by flroots; 11-29-2012 at 06:11 PM.
If you already have a Data partition there is no reason to wipe that out. I kept my Data partition in place, formatted the C Drive as part of the install as outlined above. I further removed a dual boot and resized the Data partition to make it bigger.
Win 8 Pro (clean from MS, no manufacturer junk installed) without harming the data partition in the least. Once the installation was done I had to change the data pointers in the OS to the existing data partition. Worked great.
Wiping out the old OS and starting from scratch is great. If the Dell DVD is indeed a "virgin" windows DVD that is great. For the average home user, unless you need Media Center, the Standard version is most likely OK. This Wikipedia article has a chart showing the comparison of the various versions.
Last edited by Medicted60; 11-30-2012 at 06:24 AM.
Junior Member
Thread Starter Duplicate, sorry
Last edited by flroots; 11-30-2012 at 07:06 AM.
Junior Member
Thread Starter Thanks. It appears from your link that I should be fine with the regular Windows 8. It is tempting, however, to take advantage of the Pro promotion before it expires in January. Worst case, I could always resell it to someone who needs it
I don't even bother changing pointers since I have the D drive setup the way I want and most software I use allows me to redirect data to D anyways. I recall iTunes didn't which really annoyed me. Finally, we sold the iPhone and bought an Android phone. SyncBackSE is another one, so I wrote a batch file to copy its data from C to D.
With respect to the clean install, I usually have to go to the manufacturer's website and download a few key drivers once the Windows install is complete. Prior to that I do a Windows update since many of the drivers will be auto-installed. I assume the process will be the same with Windows 8?
Since I've never even seen Windows 8, I have a couple of questions:
1. Why wouldn't I just convert Windows 8 to look like 7?Pete
2. Is it really true that 8 is lighter and faster than 7?
3. Are there any significant benefits of 8 vs 7?
Last edited by flroots; 11-30-2012 at 07:04 AM.
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