How to wipe out everything on computer for reinstallation of Windows 7

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  1. Posts : 149
    Windows 7
       #1

    How to wipe out everything on computer for reinstallation of Windows 7


    I have a dell desktop and i have the windows 7 reinstallation CD. The few times i have reinstalled it, i just place the CD in and reinstalled it. However... each time i do this, i go check my C drive and i thing see everything wasn't deleted.

    For example, my computer has 500GB. But of course its only 451GB because of the drivers etc. Well i just reinstalled windows and i see 388GB free of 451GB, which meant i still had stuff from last time that wasn't deleted... well its deleted but i read this is b/c those files are stored in those folders etc.

    Can someone teach me how to completely delete everything so my computer would be like brand new? I know if everything is deleted, it would be something like 440GB free of 451GB. And yes i saved everything onto a usb drive. At the moment, my computer is reinstalled but of course it wasn't completely wiped out.

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 627
    win 7 ( 64 bit)
       #2

    when install windows 7 you should see a screen with your drives on it . click on the drive you want to use and select formate at the bottom of that screen and your done.

    scrooge
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 17,322
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #3

    dynamite140 said:
    I have a dell desktop and i have the windows 7 reinstallation CD. The few times i have reinstalled it, i just place the CD in and reinstalled it. However... each time i do this, i go check my C drive and i thing see everything wasn't deleted.

    For example, my computer has 500GB. But of course its only 451GB because of the drivers etc. Well i just reinstalled windows and i see 388GB free of 451GB, which meant i still had stuff from last time that wasn't deleted... well its deleted but i read this is b/c those files are stored in those folders etc.

    Can someone teach me how to completely delete everything so my computer would be like brand new? I know if everything is deleted, it would be something like 440GB free of 451GB. And yes i saved everything onto a usb drive. At the moment, my computer is reinstalled but of course it wasn't completely wiped out.

    Thanks.
    Sounds like you still have the Windows.old folder, you can delete that to gain some space,

    Windows.old Folder - Delete

    If you want to do another install that will give you a fresh "Clean" system, have a look at this,

    Clean Install Windows 7

    You need to boot from the install disc for a clean install.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 149
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hi that was what i did. My problem now is that i still see 388gb free out of 451gb which means i didn't delete everything in computer as in wipe it out.

    Is this the link to do it?

    SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

    If so, i got lost here. I got to the part where i see disk 0, 1 , 2 , 3, and 4. Only disk 0 status is online and size is 465gb. The rest of them is no media and size is 0 and all of them are 0 Free.

    So then for diskpart... i typed 0. Then a whole bunch of stuff popped up. I then typed clean all and it doesnt work. Does anyone know what im doing wrong here?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 149
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Hi, didn't i just that? I installed it from the CD. I put cd in when my computer was on. Then i did that whole process. But after i did that, i still have those old files stuck. So would you say its better to right now just delete that old windows file or just clean it brand new? The thing is i want it really new and im worried just deleting the old windows file now isn't exactly FRESH.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 475
    Windows 7 Pro x64 -- PCLinuxOS KDE4 FullMonty 2011
       #6

    That's where you went wrong.

    Insert the CD & reboot the computer. It will now go to the setup section. There you should see you C drive. Format & install.

    Be careful. When you get to the setup screen you can partition the disc to your liking. Watch out for the dell recovery partition if it has one.

    Edit: If you follow that second link that derekimo supplies you can't go wrong.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #7

    The title you gave this thread is "how to wipe out everything on computer....."

    Are you positive that is what you want to do?

    It can be done, but are you sure that is what you want to do?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 17,322
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #8

    dynamite140 said:
    Hi, didn't i just that? I installed it from the CD. I put cd in when my computer was on. Then i did that whole process.
    Did you?

    The part I highlighted above tells me you didn't.

    You need to put the disc in the drive and restart your computer so that it will BOOT from the disc to get a clean install by choosing "Custom"



    Clean Install Windows 7

    You must have done the upgrade install if you have a Windows.old and did the install from the already booted desktop.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 149
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Hi. i saw that screen and yes i chosed CUSTOM.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 627
    win 7 ( 64 bit)
       #10

    when using diskpart,

    first type list disk
    then select disk (the disk # you want to clean) ie. select disk 0
    then clean all

    i think you forget to select the disk when you did it.

    scrooge
      My Computer


 
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