Solved new here and need some help

ok heres my back story...

first i totaled my camaro and was parting it out some one called me and wanted to trade me a laptop for my rims so here i am with a nice new (to me) dell inspiron 1525 the comp works great but still is loaded with all the crap the previous owner had installed (no personal things but tons of useless programs) instead of spending days removing programs i want to just wipe out the HDD and start from fresh the only problem is i have no disks... so i started thinking "what about a recovery DVD???"

so can this be done or do i need the vista DVD

also yesterday i noticed that everything in my programs list decided to play hide and seek on me i tried a few things i read about on the internet and nothing worked
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1525
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue Scorpio 1TB
    Cooling
    fan
    Mouse
    Logitech M215 wireless
    Internet Speed
    LIGHTNING FAST
Welcome
Before you go get a DVD. Try a factory restore
Follow these instuctions and your computer should revert to the way it was on day 1.
Sounds great, but no updates, etc. You have to install the SPs etc.
In additiion, this will not work, if the computer had the OS upgraded
Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings | Dell

If that does not work call the Computer mfg and get a DVD for cost, about $25.00
You will need a key number, which should be somewhere on the computer. You may have to open it to find it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
i dont want to buy anything cant you dload recovery dvds for free online ive already tried to access the recovery partition but found out that i dont have one and i have a key its on the windows sticker on the bottom of the comp
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1525
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue Scorpio 1TB
    Cooling
    fan
    Mouse
    Logitech M215 wireless
    Internet Speed
    LIGHTNING FAST
We may be having a communication problem
If you want to return to the way it was when it was new, either you have to restore to factory specs (from recovery partition) or use an install DVD
If you want to repair the computer, then you can get a free recovery dvd; its not an install DVD as above.
If you want an install DVD and you have a key, you can get one for about $25.00
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
i want to return to factory but i dont have any disks and theres no recovery partition
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1525
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue Scorpio 1TB
    Cooling
    fan
    Mouse
    Logitech M215 wireless
    Internet Speed
    LIGHTNING FAST
Then it cant be done
You need a DVD if you have no partition. I cant change the facts.
Are you sure there is not recovery partition? Sometimes it difficult to get to.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
I would download an ISO file Vista LRMCFRE-EN-DVD and also Image Burn to make a DVD with it. Change the boot order to boot from a DVD
ABR (Activation Backup and Restore) | directedge.us
ABR will find your activation key,save it to an external drive or USB stick
After the install you will need to do all the updates.
When you have it running again then activate it.
Have a read of this as well
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/117366-clean-install-full-version-vista.html

Tutorial thanks to Brink.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad T400
    CPU
    Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz
    Motherboard
    LENOVO 64734VM
    Memory
    2.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
    Sound Card
    Conexant 20561 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    1x 180GB Intel 530 series SSD
    1 x 120GB Hitachi 5400rmp
    1 x 650GB Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    1x 1Tb Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    Internet Speed
    Medium for New Zealand
    Other Info
    Weakest part of my computer is the graphics chipset.
    Only ever used a laptop.
    Also use USB Freeview TV Card
    Lenovo Docking Station
    External Speakers
    Other bits a pieces as needed
Excellent, I did not know about that software.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
screenshot.jpg



also what do i do to fix this

aserfgb.jpg

thats all thats in my programs list
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1525
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue Scorpio 1TB
    Cooling
    fan
    Mouse
    Logitech M215 wireless
    Internet Speed
    LIGHTNING FAST

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
im sorry im kinda confused im not to comp savvy

i dont want to change the partition (i think) i just want to remove all the crap on the computer fast (everything ive started removing requires me to reboot the comp and is taking forever) plus i dont know whats important and whats junk

basically i have a 600GB HDD and only 300 GB free and all i have on this comp is google chrome, utorrent, and about 2 GB of music
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1525
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue Scorpio 1TB
    Cooling
    fan
    Mouse
    Logitech M215 wireless
    Internet Speed
    LIGHTNING FAST
Ilikefree has given you a way to do that. He thought me too, I was not aware of that method.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
ok ill check that out

where can i get that iso file

is this supposed to be a 2.5GB file
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1525
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue Scorpio 1TB
    Cooling
    fan
    Mouse
    Logitech M215 wireless
    Internet Speed
    LIGHTNING FAST
Remove all you want to keep to an external drive when you have made the dvd with something like image burn then you can also run the ABR software and save the file it makes to the external drive.
Restart your computer and before the windows starts to load go into the boot manager and change the boot order to boot from a dvd.
Put the dvd in and it will take you through all the steps you need.
The first image you show looks like you only have the one partition on the disc, that's fine, it's what I do as well.
Don't activate it until you have finished the install, it will be fine. You will lose all the computers factory software and just be left with the Vista.
You can only install the same version you had so if you have Home Premium you can only install that,it won't activate if you try to change it.
The dvd will have all versions on it and give you the option to select your version when it installs. I have done this many times so you will be fine.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad T400
    CPU
    Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz
    Motherboard
    LENOVO 64734VM
    Memory
    2.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
    Sound Card
    Conexant 20561 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    1x 180GB Intel 530 series SSD
    1 x 120GB Hitachi 5400rmp
    1 x 650GB Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    1x 1Tb Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    Internet Speed
    Medium for New Zealand
    Other Info
    Weakest part of my computer is the graphics chipset.
    Only ever used a laptop.
    Also use USB Freeview TV Card
    Lenovo Docking Station
    External Speakers
    Other bits a pieces as needed
i know the key do i still need the ABR software
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1525
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue Scorpio 1TB
    Cooling
    fan
    Mouse
    Logitech M215 wireless
    Internet Speed
    LIGHTNING FAST
Yes that size is about right.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad T400
    CPU
    Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz
    Motherboard
    LENOVO 64734VM
    Memory
    2.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
    Sound Card
    Conexant 20561 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    1x 180GB Intel 530 series SSD
    1 x 120GB Hitachi 5400rmp
    1 x 650GB Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    1x 1Tb Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    Internet Speed
    Medium for New Zealand
    Other Info
    Weakest part of my computer is the graphics chipset.
    Only ever used a laptop.
    Also use USB Freeview TV Card
    Lenovo Docking Station
    External Speakers
    Other bits a pieces as needed
ABR will also save your security certificate
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad T400
    CPU
    Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz
    Motherboard
    LENOVO 64734VM
    Memory
    2.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
    Sound Card
    Conexant 20561 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    1x 180GB Intel 530 series SSD
    1 x 120GB Hitachi 5400rmp
    1 x 650GB Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    1x 1Tb Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    Internet Speed
    Medium for New Zealand
    Other Info
    Weakest part of my computer is the graphics chipset.
    Only ever used a laptop.
    Also use USB Freeview TV Card
    Lenovo Docking Station
    External Speakers
    Other bits a pieces as needed
gotchya
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1525
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue Scorpio 1TB
    Cooling
    fan
    Mouse
    Logitech M215 wireless
    Internet Speed
    LIGHTNING FAST
can i put the dvd and ABR on a thumbstick

sry for all the stupid questions i just dont want a laptop shaped paper weight
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1525
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue Scorpio 1TB
    Cooling
    fan
    Mouse
    Logitech M215 wireless
    Internet Speed
    LIGHTNING FAST
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