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, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, "Back up and restore your PC."
Watch this video, or follow the steps below.
Duration: 01:47
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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
When available, closed caption (subtitles) language settings can be chosen using the Settings or CC icon on this video player.
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, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, "Back up and restore your PC."
Review the Things to consider and What you 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.
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 integrated Dell Factory Image Restore partition tab before installing Windows 7 manually.
When you are using a Dell Direct USB drive to reinstall Windows 7 see the Dell Knowledge base article Dell Direct USB Key-FAQs.
When your laptop does not have an optical drive, see the Using the integrated Dell Factory Image Restore partition tab first. When that does not work, see 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, see the user guide or manual for your computer for information about the type of RAID configuration your computer supports. You find instructions on how to configure it for reinstallation.
Dell Operating System Installation Disks (when you no longer have your Installation Disks, see the 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 disks.
Any install disks for 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, see the 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, see the 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 regularly. For more information about how to back up your data, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, "Back up and restore your PC."
Except for the monitor, keyboard and mouse, disconnect any nonessential device, including:
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, see 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, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, "Back up and restore your PC."
Duration: 01:46
When available, closed caption (subtitles) language settings can be chosen using the Settings or CC icon on this video player.
Duration: 01:37
When available, closed caption (subtitles) language settings can be chosen using the Settings or CC icon on this video player.