| Windows 7: Reformatting & Reinstalling Windows 7 64bit on current HDD/SSD |
27 Mar 2012
|
#1 | | Windows 7 professional x64 |
Reformatting & Reinstalling Windows 7 64bit on current HDD/SSD I just currently bought and set up a SSD (switching from HDD for boosted read speeds), installed Windows 7 onto it, and put drivers on. When prompted to reboot my system once again I noticed that the reboot time jumped from the initial 15 seconds, to about 40. To test just to make sure it wasn't anything, I hard booted it and same thing. It hangs at "Starting Windows" with the flag moving forever. I then installed the rest of my software and whatnot.
So what I would like to do is format the current SSD drive which I am currently using Windows on, and re-install windows onto it. Maybe changing the order in which I install my drivers would make a difference? It's just strange how either my GPU drivers or Motherboard drivers would slow boot time so immensely. How would I go about doing that on the drive I am using?
I have read many forums and How-To's, but none seem to explain about the current one you're using.
Thank you,
Sean | My System Specs |
| OS Windows 7 professional x64 |
27 Mar 2012
|
#2 | | Windows 7 SP1, Home Premium, 64-bit |
I'm not sure I understand why the problem.
If you have a valid Windows installation disc, just boot from that disc and reinstall to the SSD. Disconnect other drives before beginning.
Maybe you can give more details or offer a better explanation. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one OS Windows 7 SP1, Home Premium, 64-bit CPU Intel Sandy Bridge i5-2500, not overclocked Motherboard Gigabyte H67A-UD3H-B3, full ATX Memory 4 GB Crucial DDR3-1333 Graphics Card none; graphics are integrated on CPU Sound Card onboard: Realtek ALC892; external: USB Behringer UF0-202 Monitor(s) Displays NEC 90GX2-BK 19" LCD Screen Resolution 800 x 640 Keyboard Leopold Tenkeyless with Cherry Blue switches, USB Mouse Logitech or Microsoft optical wired; either USB or PS 2 PSU Seasonic SS-560KM, modular Case Antec Solo II Cooling CPU: Scythe Big Shuriken; Case: Scythe Slipstream 800 & 500 Hard Drives System: Intel 320 Series SSD, 80 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD15EADS-00P8B0, 1.5TB Other Info Power consumption of this system, including monitor: 68 watts at idle; 144 watts at full load |
27 Mar 2012
|
#3 | | Windows 7 professional x64 |
I thought I'd have to reformat the SSD, then re-install windows onto it. When I put the 95 in to reinstall, will it reformat the drive? | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 professional x64 |
27 Mar 2012
|
#4 | | Win7 x 6 PC's California, Florida, Boston |
What drivers are you supplying? You're not changing out drivers given by Windows 7, are you? This is not XP.
Wait until several rounds of optional Windows Updates deliver drivers before importing any drivers missing in Device Manager.
Only if you are issued Standard VGA for display should you change any in the absence of performance problems.
Look over these steps for getting a perfect reinstall - they're the same for retail: Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 | My System Specs | | |
27 Mar 2012
|
#5 | | Windows 7 professional x64 |
The drivers that I'm installing are the ones that come with the motherboard/GPU.
And I'll look into that clean-boot, thank you. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 professional x64 |
27 Mar 2012
|
#6 | | Windows 7 SP1, Home Premium, 64-bit |

Quote: Originally Posted by SeanHogan I thought I'd have to reformat the SSD, then re-install windows onto it. When I put the 95 in to reinstall, will it reformat the drive? What's a "95"???
You don't have to reformat. You can if you want to.
You can also use existing partitions or delete existing partitions and create new ones.
All of those are choices offered to you AFTER you begin the reinstall by booting from the installation disc.
If I recall correctly, Windows never tells you it is formatting--it's done automatically at a certain point in the install after your partitions are set. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one OS Windows 7 SP1, Home Premium, 64-bit CPU Intel Sandy Bridge i5-2500, not overclocked Motherboard Gigabyte H67A-UD3H-B3, full ATX Memory 4 GB Crucial DDR3-1333 Graphics Card none; graphics are integrated on CPU Sound Card onboard: Realtek ALC892; external: USB Behringer UF0-202 Monitor(s) Displays NEC 90GX2-BK 19" LCD Screen Resolution 800 x 640 Keyboard Leopold Tenkeyless with Cherry Blue switches, USB Mouse Logitech or Microsoft optical wired; either USB or PS 2 PSU Seasonic SS-560KM, modular Case Antec Solo II Cooling CPU: Scythe Big Shuriken; Case: Scythe Slipstream 800 & 500 Hard Drives System: Intel 320 Series SSD, 80 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD15EADS-00P8B0, 1.5TB Other Info Power consumption of this system, including monitor: 68 watts at idle; 144 watts at full load |
27 Mar 2012
|
#7 | | Windows 7 professional x64 |

Quote: Originally Posted by ignatzatsonic 
Quote: Originally Posted by SeanHogan I thought I'd have to reformat the SSD, then re-install windows onto it. When I put the 95 in to reinstall, will it reformat the drive? What's a "95"???
You don't have to reformat. You can if you want to.
You can also use existing partitions or delete existing partitions and create new ones.
All of those are choices offered to you AFTER you begin the reinstall by booting from the installation disc.
If I recall correctly, Windows never tells you it is formatting--it's done automatically at a certain point in the install after your partitions are set. Haha, whoops! Sorry, on my blackberry, and held down alt instead of shift....
And okay, that's not that big of a deal then. I didn't know you could delete partitions, and what not within that actual clean install. I thought it had to be done prior. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 professional x64 |
27 Mar 2012
|
#8 | | Win7 x 6 PC's California, Florida, Boston |
Unplug all other HD's before installing. Choose Custom Install to delete all partitions and click next to have installer create and format one large install partition and begin install. click to enlarge
Wait to check performance before supplying any drivers that aren't missing after install and optional Updates. | My System Specs | | |
27 Mar 2012
|
#9 | | Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8 Florida in winter, Black Forest/Germany |
I suggest you post a full picture of your Disk Management. One reason could be that the bootmgr landed on the HDD. Before you reinstall, come back. You might first want to do a secure erase. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number HP, Dell, Gateway, Toshiba - 4 laptops and 2 desktops OS Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8 CPU from 1.6GHz Duo to i7 Monitor(s) Displays 2x HP w2207 Keyboard with trackball - no mices Mouse Trackball mice Hard Drives 5x HDD, 7x SSD, 12x Externals Internet Speed DSL 6000 |
27 Mar 2012
|
#10 | | Windows 7 professional x64 |
This is a screenshot of my Disk management. I didn't delete or do anything to my other drive while installing windows on this SSD.
The first HDD is the 300GB, while the SSD is the 128GB.
Last edited by SeanHogan; 27 Mar 2012 at 08:00 PM..
Reason: Updating information
| My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 professional x64 Reformatting & Reinstalling Windows 7 64bit on current HDD/SSD problems? All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:12 AM. | |