Reset the device using only the software tool, not requiring a CD.
Reset the device using only the software tool, not requiring a CD.
Hello, I just received the components for a new PC and I’m considering resetting the old one because it’s extremely slow. However, I’ve lost the Win 7 Home Premium CD, and I’m wondering if I can perform a factory reset without it. Also, I bought a fresh Win 7 Home Premium CD for my new machine—can I use that on the old PC to reinstall the OS while keeping my Windows 7 key safe? And just to clarify, is the Windows 7 disc likely a DVD rather than a CD?
Before restarting your PC, attempt defragmentation using Piriform Defraggler, perform a virus/malware check, run a boot-time scan with Avast, use Piriform CCleaner to remove temporary files and clean up registry issues, and clear startup entries if they slow boot. If the computer remains sluggish after these steps, think about a factory reset—just be aware it could indicate HDD or CPU wear.
The main issue is that I've accumulated a lot of software over the years, including many games that are hard to remove completely. Some of these aren't listed in the uninstaller.
What about the items that aren't visible and consume a significant amount of your storage capacity?
Use Windirstat from ninite.com to identify large files, remove them yourself, then apply a registry cleanup tool like CCleaner.
You'll need to navigate through numerous software options to eliminate all unwanted files, followed by removing the crap-busting tools. D: Linus shared a video recently explaining how to install Windows using a USB drive or via the Windows upgrade assistant to obtain the necessary files.