How to completely remove everything on my computer (windows vista) and install windows 7?

Question

Right, so I have a computer from about 5 or 6 years ago with vista on it. It's as slow as a snail as it is, but over the years I downloaded loads of random stuff for it. Including a program that logs me in automatically. (I now realise that the feature is already built in...)

Anyway, I didnt know how to get rid of the auto logon, so I thought that deleting my profile would do the trick. Yes my profile got deleted, and it doesnt show up in the user accounts window (on control panel on the other administrator account), but now every time the pc starts up, it somehow tries to logon to my old (deleted!!) profile, and the password doesnt work. And even though my account isnt in control panel, its there on the windows login screen.

Theres other annoying stuff too - I downloaded some developer programs from microsoft, just to mess about...but it saved a bunch of folders in my C drive which I cant delete!!! And that really annoys me for some reason.

Apart from that, it's slow, takes about 10 mins to boot up, and a full day to shut down, and I want to start using the pc again.

What I want to know is, how do I fully delete EVERYTHING from that pc? I already transferred all the files I wanted to my laptop, and now I want to install windows 7 (i'll buy a copy of it).

And if I fully delete EVERYTHING from that pc (including the vista OS), how do I install windows 7? Do I just stick the disc in and wait for the installer?

panic mode · Accepted Answer

stick in new disc and during installation it will recognize that you already have vista.
because of this it will give you choice to upgrade or install from scratch (you may tell it to erase existing partition and create new one)

Bobbb · Answer

Why waste even more money on Windows 7?

Start by cleaning your system:-
Update your anti virus software
Download Spybot (free version available) from http://www.safer-networking.org/
Download  Malwarebytes from http://www.malwarebytes.org
Reboot the computer into Windows Safe Mode by pressing F8 about once every second during startup.
Run the Spybot program and Immunise your system.
Now run the update.  
Now run a full scan.

Repeat a similar process with Malwarebytes or Ad-Aware

Now download and run the Windows Defender application.

Scan the whole system with your updated antivirus.


Run a registry cleaner.  (Be wary of many free offers.  They are scams for money as they do a poor job and tell you you need the full version to clean the system - I recommend "Registry Clean Expert"  from http://www.registry-clean.net/  Its limited but can be run over and over again although that is tedious, so pay a few dollars via Paypal and get a registered version.)

Now reboot and see what happens.  This should have got rid of some of your slowness issues.

If not, then post a second question with details of what it is now doing.

Jonah

Anonymous · Answer

Right, NEVER start a question with right. 
When installing a new OS, it will re-format the hard drive.
All your important files are backed up to at least 2 external drives, so they are safe.
Man you know nothing about computers do you? Look up installing Win7.

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How to completely remove everything on my computer (windows vista) and install windows 7?

3 Answers