Windows 7: (C) Full After W7 Reinstall

I have recently had to do a reinstall of Windows 7 Ultimate with the DVD. After the install it's working OK but has completely filled the (C) drive, which is a 64GB SSD. Consequently I'm unable to use any virus protection programs etc. When I try to install them a message reads, "not enough disk space" The ones I have tried need space on (C). Should I have emptied the (C) drive, before the Windows 7 reinstall? I have checked all the files in (C) but am very hesitant to remove anything.
Any help will be most welcome.

Hello.


Before we make any specific recommendations will you please post a snip/screen-shot of the entire disk management drive map with a full description as to which drive/partition is which, so we can see what you have going on as there may be a fairly simple way to resolve the situation.

In the Windows start menu right click computer and click manage, in the left pane of the "Computer Management" window that opens click disk management and post a maximized snip of that.


How to Upload and Post a Screenshot and File in Seven Forums

Here it is,( I hope)

According to the snip you posted only the "System" boot files are on the SSD, where the star is.

Windows 7 is on the C: partition with the red rectangle around it, that is shown as "Boot" that shows the Operating System that is running.

You will have to reinstall to get Windows 7 on the SSD, we can discuss that also if you like.

Do you have a dual boot screen to choose which OS to start when the PC is first started?

Is it a desktop or a lappy?

click to enlarge

Thanks BFK, It is a desk top.... 850W PSU/X58 CHIPSET/I7-920(OC@4.0Ghz)/12GB DDR3-1600MHz/ 2x Radeon 5850-1gb. I may have screwed things up when I went into the BIOS pre reinstall. I get Two options at start up. Both read boot with Windows 7.


(C) is the 64GB SSD drive. (Don't know what happened to the rest of the GB, maybe in (E)?).
(G) is the main drive a 1.5 TB SATAII.
(E) is possibly an extension of (C), it wasn't there before the Windows 7 reinstall and seems to contain many Windows files.

Here's what I would do, power down the PC and disconnect the Hard Disk Drive data cable from the motherboard and leave it disconnected.

Connect the data cable of the SSD to the #1 SATA port of the motherboard and set the SSD as second boot device in the PC main BIOS, after the CD/DVD drive.

Then boot the Windows 7 installation DVD and clean install Windows 7 to the SSD, it should be the only drive detected during the installation process.

If you really want the best possible space to do the reinstall to, wipe the SSD first; have a thorough look at the information presented below before you decide what to do and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


After you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media, use Step One of this tutorial at the first link below to do a wipe (secure erase) to the entire Hard Disk Drive / Solid State Drive.

• Then if you do not want to create the new Windows 7 "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #2 to create, format and mark Active a single 100GB partition to do the installation to.
• If you do want to create the "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #3 to create, format and mark Active the System Reserved partition and then create and format the 100GB partition to do the installation to.

Either way, running the "clean all" then creating and formatting the partition(s) using diskpart will get you the best possible space to do a clean install of Windows 7 to; you can always extend the Windows partition to include the remaining unallocated space on the HDD / SSD or create additional Primary partitions or an Extended partition after the installation completes if you choose.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

DISKPART : At PC Startup

Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Follow BFK advice, & post back.

Thanks BFK, all OK now.

Good to see you got it sorted and thanks for the update.