Reinstall Windows 7 from scratch on Area 51 ALX

Question

Hi again all,

So, I've just bought a new Area 51 R2 (not up and running yet, but I'll be sure to change my signature in due course to the new machine!) and need to restore my machine with a fresh W7 installation before I sell it on.

My machine was bought as a nearly new refurb which I got the selling company to install W7 to before they shipped it. I don't have either a recovery partition or DVD (although even if I did, they'd put Vista back on), so I need to start from scratch. I have an ISO of W7 and obviously a valid OEM key. This does work because I had to do an over-install of W7 a few weeks ago as things were starting to go wrong.

I seem to remember seeing instructions on here on how to re-install from scratch, that went into detail on how to add the drivers and in what order, but I can't seem to find it.

Can anyone point my in the right direction? Thanks! :)

Cass-Ole · Accepted Answer

let's take it for granted that your mio worked before the reinstall & still works afterwards, since your case lights turn on to at least one color; I'd bet CmndCntr is waiting on .net framework 4; if you installed CmndCntr 2.08.11 then that version needs .net3.5 certainly.

2.08.11: http://www.dell.com/support/home/ed/en/eddhs1/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=442CY&fileId=2990314836&osCode=W764

These are the tools in our toolbox to deal with a feisty Alien:

32bit diagnostics / Create your own Cd/USB:

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=R267117&fileId=2731113571&osCode=W764&productCode=alienware-area51&languageCode=EN&categoryId=DI
this is similar to F12 diagnostics

Power Dissipation 'Reset':

unplug Alien, hold top pwr button down 60 seconds, let rest 5 minutes, plug Alien in & pwr up

Here we have a basic page describing the jumper reset:

Alienware Desktops MIO (Master Input/Output) Troubleshooting and Policy
http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19599408
the 'old guide' said #1 move jumper to opposite poles, #2 try an instance with no jumper at all #3 return jumper to poles (set to different pole, remove from all poles, return to original poles)
note page step on AlienFxTester inside Windows > Program Files > Aware > CmndCntr

Cass-Ole · Answer

1. How to: Clean install Windows 7 (64 bit) on Alienware Desktop http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19376654

Cass-Ole · Answer

This is from my Windows 10 thread, which has a copy/paste of the old Dell driver install order.Do you need more help than this

Drivers Installation Path:

1. Bios Update (Optional)

2. Chipset Driver (links to Aurora R3 9.2.0.1015 chipset > a version not found on Intel.com, avoid?)

3. Intel Management Engine Controller Driver (Note: no longer reqwired / will not install)

4. USB 3.0 driver (Optional)

5. Video Card Driver

a. AMD b. NVIDIA

6. Network Drivers

a. Broadcom 57XX Gigabit Onboard LAN Driver

b. Killer NIC Cards Drivers

i. Killer 128MB (Optional) ii. Killer 2100 (Optional)

c. Wireless Card Driver

i. Atheros WLAN 1525 <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell> (Optional) ii. Dell Wireless 1505 <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell> (Optional) iii. Broadcom 4323 (Optional)

d. Bluetooth Driver

i. Dell Bluetooth Module 365 (Optional)

{Note: Our Bluetooth software may have compatibility issues & the driver/software taken from the A51 download page will not install for me, not even using compatibility settings, be advised}

7. Audio Driver

a. Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi (Optional) b. Realtek ALC888 HD Audio

8. JMicron JMB36X RAID Controller Driver

9. (your sata controller)

10. TV-Tuner Drivers

a. Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1200 (Optional) b. Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1250 (Optional)

11. Command Center for Desktops

12. AlienFx Media Plug-In

RTID75 · Answer

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated :)

Two questions -

Is there still a way of getting an original Alienware restore DVD to save all the fuss, or were they all made to individual machine spec therefore not available 'off the shelf' ?

If the above is no go, then will running from a non Alienware supplied W7 disc be OK? I restored my Windows 7 installation to non glitchy status with an over-install (as mentioned above) with a Microsoft downloaded W7 DVD and all is well, but it was an over-install, not a fresh install.

Thanks again!

Cass-Ole · Answer

In the past, you were entitled to a free Windows dvd from Dell if you paid the $10 ship cost; now they only supply a usb for like $35-$40, but you're welcome to contact Dell and ask what's what.

OEM Alienware reinstall dvd's
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=ALIENWARE&LH_PrefLoc=1&_sop=10&_oac=1&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.XALIENWARE+WINDOWS+DVD.TRS0&_nkw=ALIENWARE+WINDOWS+DVD&_sacat=0
these types of OEM dvd's install activated, so you can buy home premium pro or ultimate, all three install activated on an original Area-51 mthrbrd
the going rate can be $15 - $60, depending

A dvd like those above only reinstalls windows, no software or drivers, no all-in-one solution to go back to a factory-type as-shipped system day-one image. There are Dell reinstall dvd's (they do not install activated, you must enter your product key from your outer COA label) but either type will work:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Operating-Systems-/11226/i.html?_sop=10&_from=R40&_nkw=dell+WINDOWS+DVD&LH_PrefLoc=1

I suggest you try either DVD, look for a service pack 1 / sp1 dvd to qwicken the install / update process.

You can find another type of dvd called an Area-51 Resource dvd which has original drivers & Nero Essentials / Power DVD, but the drivers and Command Center are out0-dated, best to get all that from Dell com, and never install Command Center from the Resource dvd, your mio board will brick. The resource dvd is a waste of $, imo ... is this enuff info ???

RTID75 · Answer

Followed the order from your 7 clean install instructions using the latest Command Centre, but CC refuses to work.

When it installed the lights changed colour to all dark blue, and CC runs but does not respond to either fin or lighting changes.

Any ideas?

Cass-Ole · Answer

'Alienware Command Center Requires the Microsoft .NET Framework' / http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN135633/EN https://www.google.com/#q=command+center+4.0+.net+framework

Cass-Ole · Answer

You have an A51-R2, so there shouldn't be any fin movement, lol, unless you meant fan, or fans, doesn't respond to fan changes etc. You & I do not have the same mthrbrd so I can't help diagnose CmndCntr4 issues, but others might be able to.

If you installed Win7 clean, it's possible CC4 is waiting on .net framework4, possibly .net 4.5 (maybe .net 3.5 also), all three are available from Microsoft updates (or do a bing/google/Microsoft.com search if .net 3.5 isn't an update option anymore & download 3.5sp1 as a web/online installer or stand-alone installer). try 4 & 4.5, see what happens. here's a basic article on common issues (not CC4):

http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN294177/EN

wait it out here, or, make a companion post on AlienwareArena.com/forums, as others there certainly have R2's and may help you out better than I can. bedtime, best I can do ...

RTID75 · Answer

No, this is my old 51 ALX I'm talking about. Changed my sig since this thread was first raised!

RTID75 · Answer

Thanks! Might be a few days before I can spend time on it again, but I'll give these a go and post back.

RTID75 · Answer

Well, the power had been off the machine since I was last here, so I did the power dissipation thing then did the MIO jumper reset and everything works perfectly!

Just got to get the AW backdrop images installed and the red Windows boot picture set again (and after a good clean) I'm ready to sell my old beast!

I reinstalled W7 from the standard Microsoft W7 + SP1 ISO, by the way.

Thank you so much Cass-ole, you are a forum hero yet again!

Cass-Ole · Answer

it's been about 2 1/2 years since I downloaded two programs I was advised in the forum to try in order to change the logon pic & the 'OEM Info'; for starters you can go to the A51 download page for the red-glyph wallpaper:

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=J9WF2&fileId=3327215607&osCode=W764&productCode=alienware-area51&languageCode=EN&categoryId=UT

There are probably many programs to use by now, but in the least these work; I use Windows 7 Logon Background Changer 1.5.2:

http://www.julien-manici.com/windows_7_logon_background_changer/
apply the background; it may say 'error occurred', simply restart, the change does take affect

& OEM Info Tool: http://www.trishtech.com/oem-info-tool/

- YW -

suwjordan · Answer

I made motherboard swap to Asus rampage extreme iii and I changed the cpu cooler to megahalmes the rams corsair dominater gt 12gb kit and the graphics card hd radeon 5970 planning to upgrade it to gtx 980 ti and 256ssd and 3tb hard drive so I made a fresh copy of windows 7 installation during the installation I removed mio USB cable from motherboard after windows installation finished and drivers I shut down then plug the cable again but the exterior lights and vents won't work help plzzzzzzz

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Reinstall Windows 7 from scratch on Area 51 ALX

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