Article Number: 000125616
When your Operating System stops working correctly, there are ways to get it working again. Select whether Windows 7 starts correctly or not on your computer, for information about how to resolve your issue.
Dell recommends backing up your files and data to an external hard drive, DVDs, CDs, or other removable storage media regularly. For more information about how to back up and restore your data, refer to Microsoft Knowledge Base article, "Back up and restore your PC."
Watch this video, or follow the steps below.
Duration: 01:47
Closed captions: English only
When Windows 7 does not start correctly or not at all, there are three options to restore the Operating System on your computer to fix computer issues such as infections, corruption, crashes or to clear your personal information from the computer. They are, from left most tab to right most tab, easiest to hardest.
A System Restore Point takes your computer back to a time when it was working correctly, without losing your documents or other personal files.
Use this method when you cannot access your computer's desktop.
Watch this video, or follow the steps below.
Duration: 01:46
Closed captions: English only
Follow these instructions to reinstall the Operating System using the Dell Factory Image Restore partition, to a state that came on your computer, from the factory.
For more information about how to back up your data, refer to Microsoft Knowledge Base article, "Back up and restore your PC."
Review the Things to consider and What you will need tabs, before preceding to the How to manually reinstall Windows 7 tab.
If you have an Intel Kaby Lake processor, installation of Windows 7 is not supported. See Dell article, Microsoft Windows Operating System support for Intel Kaby Lake processors for more information.
If you have an Intel Sky Lake or Braswell processor, you must review and follow directions for restoring your operating system in Dell article, Dell systems with the Intel Skylake or Braswell Chipset cannot boot to Dell Windows 7 media due to no USB 2.0
Restoring your computer to its original factory settings takes less time than reinstalling Windows 7 manually. When you have not done so, refer to the Using the built-in Dell Factory Image Restore partition section before installing Windows 7 manually.
When you are using a Dell Direct USB key to reinstall Windows 7 refer to Dell Knowledge base article Dell Direct USB Key-FAQs.
When your notebook does not have an optical drive, refer to the Using the built-in Dell Factory Image Restore partition tab first. When that does not work, refer to the Dell Knowledge Base article How to create and use the Dell Windows recovery image.
When your computer has more than one hard drive and a RAID configuration setup, refer to the user guide or manual for your computer for information about the type of RAID configuration your computer supports. You will find instructions on how to configure it for reinstallation.
Dell Operating System Installation Disks (when you no longer have your Installation Disks, refer to Dell Knowledge base article How to create and use the Dell Windows recovery image to get information about how to download an image online).
Dell Resource CD/DVD (also available on the Dell Drivers and Downloads page).
Any software and/or documentation for your Internet service connection.
Any application install discs.
Any install discs for external devices (such as a printer) and internal devices added to your Dell computer after purchase.
When you did not receive installation media (disk) with your Dell computer, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article How to create and use the Dell Windows recovery image.
You may also be asked for a product key for your version of Windows. To find your product key for Windows 7, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article Windows Product Key Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Dell recommends backing up your files and data to an external hard drive, DVDs, CDs, or other removable storage media on a regular basis. For more information about how to back up your data, refer to Microsoft Knowledge Base article, "Back up and restore your PC."
Except for the monitor, keyboard and mouse, disconnect any nonessential external device, including:
Refer to Dell Knowledge Base article, "How to create and use the Dell Windows recovery image."
Plug in any network or modem cables you disconnected in step 2.
Once you are connected to the Internet:
To reinstall your applications, insert the application installation disks for each program in the CD/DVD drive and follow the prompts or reinstall each program from the manufacturer's website if that option is available to you.
For each external or internal devise you added to your computer after purchasing from Dell, refer to the documentation that came with the device for reinstallation instructions. Some devices require you to install the associated software before connecting the device to your computer.
For information about how to restore your data, refer to Microsoft Knowledge Base article, "Back up and restore your PC."
Duration: 01:46
Closed captions: English only
Duration: 01:37
Closed captions: English only
21 Feb 2021
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