Hello,
My friends 2012 Dell Inspiron 620c is having problems.
I plan to reinstall Windows 7 Home Premium for them.
I have not looked at the computer yet so I need a few questions answered from people that know about Dells and activating windows.
I asked if they had the CDs that came with the computer, they can't find them.
Does anybody know if that model computer came with a recovery partition?
If it did came with the recovery partition what does this mean, will it let me make my own recovery cds, or will it just let me select the option to reformat my computer from scratch.
If it does not have the recovery partition I am going there with Windows 7 Home Premium (their current version) on USB bootable. I have both x32 and x64 depending on which they already have.
I downloaded them directly from Windows using my retail cdkey.
My other question is if I do end up using my own windows 7 bootables to do a clean install, will the CD key that came with the Dell work to activate windows. I am installing the same exact version they are currently using. No hardware is being changed. Also, I plan on using a program I have to retrieve their current cdkey If i can't find it on their computer chasis, on a dell inspiron desktop where would the windows7 cdkey be located? i have heard on the back, or inside the chassis. anybody know?
If i do my own install I know I will have to install all drivers which i downloaded already from dell. anybody have any tips on doing installing all these drivers (i.e. shortcuts, better ways, tips, anything)
I want to be prepared so I can finish the job when I get there.
Thanks A lot!
tl/dr - my questions:
Doing fresh install of windows 7 home premium.
Does 2012 Dell Inspiron 620c come with a recovery partition?
What will this recovery partition do for me? Will it do the fresh install or will it give me the option to create my own restore cds which in turn will do the fresh install for me?
If there is no recovery partition (restore cds are lost) and I use my windows 7 usb bootable to reinstall windows 7 myself, will their current windows 7 cdkey that came with their dell work to activate my copy of windows that i got retail. (same version)
where is the dell windows 7 cdkey located. I have heard on the back of chassis and also inside of it, anybody actually know where? I have a program to find it manually if i can't find the label.