Can't format laptop even though partition has been created - plse help

Hi

I apologize in advance if the answer to my question is very simple.

I am trying to format my laptop, and I am trying to follow these weblinks to help me format it:

How To Format a Hard Drive in Windows 7
How To Partition a Hard Drive in Windows 7

(I have uploaded printscreen images of each part to help describe)

Following the weblinks, I have tried to partition my drive since when i go to 'my computer' it only shows one drive 'drive c' (image 1).....

When I go into disk management, it shows that there are 3 partitions to my drive (image 2):
1) nameless 15gb (healthy, recovery partition)
2) System reserved 100mb NTFS (healthy, system, active, primary partition)
3) Packard bell c drive 282.99gb NTFS (healthy, boot, page file, crash dump, primary partition)

Further to this, when I click format on the 'c drive', it says:
'It contains the version of Windows that you are using. Formatting......' (image 3)

My laptop was bought second hand and I did not receive a boot cd with it....

I am sorry if I am missing out on something very easy but I would be very grateful if one of you could aid me in formatting my laptop! Please feel free to ask me for more information - I'll tell you whatever I can to the best of my knowledge!!!!

VistaKing said:

mido4321 welcome to SevenForums

Take a look at the link below

Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

It will have everything you will need

Are you trying to format just the C drive or the entire hard drive ? Did you create the recovery disc from the recovery partition .

You should be able to create them by typing Recovery inside have a list with something of these words " Create recovery disc " you will need an empty DVD disc .

Thank you for showing me the 'create recovery' - i will try that out and let you know if it works!! Thank you!

DocBrown said:

Welcome midi4321

If you format your HD, do you have a way to install the operating system again ?

I don't have a way to install the operating system again, but i was under the impression that if there was a way to create a recovery disc or if I had a partition that held the operating system files in, then I could format the laptop and I would still have windows 7 - with all the generic programs that it comes with... with the rest of the programs I have installed myself, having been deleted...

please correct me if I am way out on a tangent!

thanks!!!

DocBrown said:

Do you have the Windows sticker with the Key Code for install ?
Do you have a blank DVD-R available or a blank 4gb USB flash drive ?

If you are prepared for a clean fresh install, Partition Wizard can be used to wipe (format) your HD. Need a blank CD to make this.

Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

Underneath my laptop, on the windows 7 sticker, it has a 'product key' code that is 25 characters long (like xxxxx - xxxxx - xxxxx - xxxxx - xxxxx)... is that the key code?

I have a blank 4gb usb - I dont have a blank dvd or cd.... can I use the usb stick?? or would i also need a dvd/cd??

VistaKing said:

mido4321 welcome to SevenForums

Take a look at the link below

Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

It will have everything you will need

Are you trying to format just the C drive or the entire hard drive ? Did you create the recovery disc from the recovery partition .

You should be able to create them by typing Recovery inside have a list with something of these words " Create recovery disc " you will need an empty DVD disc .

There is a 'Packard bell recovery management' on my laptop, however it states that it needs 4 dvd's use as recovery since there is over 12gb of files to store to create backup recovery dvd's.... would the usb with partition wizard work just as well or should i follow the packard bell recovery management program? I will have to go out tomorrow to buy 4 dvd's however I have a usb stick here right now??