Windows 7: Fresh Install

I'm thinking of doing a fresh instaill, i havent done one for a while and last time i did, i had help from a forum member.

Anyway Im 14 and dont have the money for a externial hard drive, so last time i did i backup onto a partion.


So is this the way to do a fresh instaill like that?
1. Make partion
2. Backup onto that partion
3. insert windows CD and format partion with OS on it
4. Instaill?

That sounds good. == You could just leave your documents on a separate partition and next time when you have to do a reinstall, you could just install your Win 7 and reinstall your programs and you would not have to worry about your docs. They would be on their own partition.

Here's how to link your User files to the separate data partition if you want to keep them there after install: User Folders - Change Default Location

Or you can just rightclick on each backed up User folder and Add to Library involved.

Be sure to wipe your OS partition first using Partition Wizard, but don't touch the Data partition once you back up your User files there until after your Install Windows 7.

@ Mitch656 - be careful, I have my data on a separate partition on my main disk and using the Windows image restore it wiped all partitions on the main disk. (320Gb factory partitioned to 180Gb Windows 7 and 180Gb Restore partition. I had resized the restore partition down to 8Gb and created another partiton 172Gb for all data. Everything has been wiped.)

God bless multiple backups!

Hello Mitch656.



As Greg has said it would be a good idea to do a partition specific Wipe (secure erase) to the OS partition to get the best possible space to reinstall Windows 7 to and Partition Wizard is a very reliable program to use.

After you have moved all your data for safe-keeping, have a look at Option Three in this tutorial at the link below for an out-line of the wipe process and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

hahaha, well it worked but it sorta failed only because, i have Wirless USB adapoter, and i hate the crapware it came with it. All the other times i did a fresh instaill i somehow managed to get rid of the crapware and keep the driver..... This time around, if i try to delete the crap ware explorer.exe crashes or it will remove everything along with the driver :l

any I've dont 2 fresh instaill today and it did not work :l

but at least i dident stuff the computer up

Not that i care, but i was just wondering why does it only give me 3 days to activate and not the 30?

Because you entered the activation key during the install, if you hadn't done that you would have 120 days.

Did you see my post above?


Activation Trial Period - Extend Up to 120 Days

yea i did

So i manage to hide everything from netgear, would be better if i could unstiall it tho

Mitch, try uninstalling the Netgear software package, put the Netgear disk in the drive, browse to it or the adapter's software download (if you don't have a disk) from the Device Manager>Network Adapter>Wireless adapter>Driver tab>Update driver. Let it search for the driver on the disk or in the software download until it finds and installs it.

If you have to keep the Netgear software package, go through all of the menus until you find a way to turn it off and not allow it to Update itself. Then type msconfig in Start Search box, go to Startup Tab to make sure it is not starting with computer. Correctly configure your Windows 7 wireless connection in the bottom right System Tray.

It's best to keep everything unchecked in msconfig>Startup except AV and gadgets.

Did you read the link I posted on how to link your User folders to the data storage partition? Ask back if you have any questions.

Here's a useful little guide on the use of msconfig to control the startup file entries.


Troubleshooting with MSCONFIG