Hi Jon,
I would recommend you buy a Windows 7 Product key only and then download an iso using Windows 7 ISO Download Page and then burn it to a cd/dvd. Alternatively, you could create a bootable USB Flash Drive and burn the iso onto that. I would suggest you use Rufus to create the bootable usb.
Answering your questions!
You will need to download your drivers first from manufacturer, save them to a usb or another device (not the hard drive you are going to perform the clean install on) and after the installation, install them!
Dell UK Drivers and Downloads Page
Dell US Drivers and Downloads Page
Then you will need to download your windows updates using WSUS Offline Update , save them to a external device and install them after the installation:
Here is a video created by eli the computer guy to support you:
You are right, a clean installation will remove any previous versions of windows and install a fresh one, so yes there will less trouble.
Finally before performing a clean installation, please a system image backup of your windows drive using macrium reflect: https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
Hope this helps
RECdevicehelper
I would recommend you buy a Windows 7 Product key only and then download an iso using Windows 7 ISO Download Page and then burn it to a cd/dvd. Alternatively, you could create a bootable USB Flash Drive and burn the iso onto that. I would suggest you use Rufus to create the bootable usb.
Answering your questions!
You will need to download your drivers first from manufacturer, save them to a usb or another device (not the hard drive you are going to perform the clean install on) and after the installation, install them!
Dell UK Drivers and Downloads Page
Dell US Drivers and Downloads Page
Then you will need to download your windows updates using WSUS Offline Update , save them to a external device and install them after the installation:
Here is a video created by eli the computer guy to support you:
You are right, a clean installation will remove any previous versions of windows and install a fresh one, so yes there will less trouble.
Finally before performing a clean installation, please a system image backup of your windows drive using macrium reflect: https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
Hope this helps
RECdevicehelper