Question about reformatting my hard drive and Win. 7

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  1. Posts : 19
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #1

    Question about reformatting my hard drive and Win. 7


    So my PC was recently infected with viruses, and I was able to get rid of them with Malware bytes and Microsoft Security Essentials. Anyway, I;m not sure if I completely got rid of the viruses so I want to just completely wipe my hard drive and get rid of it all. When I go to reformat my Hard Disk, Windows says I cannot because it's in use.

    I google'd around and some guides are saying that I'd be able to reformat and boot up through the Win. 7 installation disk; the problem is that I don't have a Win 7. installation disk. What do I do?

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,533
    Windows 7 Professional x64 Service Pack 1
       #2

    Deathstroke said:
    So my PC was recently infected with viruses, and I was able to get rid of them with Malware bytes and Microsoft Security Essentials. Anyway, I;m not sure if I completely got rid of the viruses so I want to just completely wipe my hard drive and get rid of it all. When I go to reformat my Hard Disk, Windows says I cannot because it's in use.

    I google'd around and some guides are saying that I'd be able to reformat and boot up through the Win. 7 installation disk; the problem is that I don't have a Win 7. installation disk. What do I do?

    Thanks.
    If you have a Windows 7 product key, downlaod the installation disc that corresponds with your edition legally from here: Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 19
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    windude99 said:
    Deathstroke said:
    So my PC was recently infected with viruses, and I was able to get rid of them with Malware bytes and Microsoft Security Essentials. Anyway, I;m not sure if I completely got rid of the viruses so I want to just completely wipe my hard drive and get rid of it all. When I go to reformat my Hard Disk, Windows says I cannot because it's in use.

    I google'd around and some guides are saying that I'd be able to reformat and boot up through the Win. 7 installation disk; the problem is that I don't have a Win 7. installation disk. What do I do?

    Thanks.
    If you have a Windows 7 product key, downlaod the disc that corresponds with your edition legally from here: Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life
    I don't believe I have a product key. My PC came preloaded with Windows 7.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,533
    Windows 7 Professional x64 Service Pack 1
       #4

    Deathstroke said:
    windude99 said:
    Deathstroke said:
    So my PC was recently infected with viruses, and I was able to get rid of them with Malware bytes and Microsoft Security Essentials. Anyway, I;m not sure if I completely got rid of the viruses so I want to just completely wipe my hard drive and get rid of it all. When I go to reformat my Hard Disk, Windows says I cannot because it's in use.

    I google'd around and some guides are saying that I'd be able to reformat and boot up through the Win. 7 installation disk; the problem is that I don't have a Win 7. installation disk. What do I do?

    Thanks.
    If you have a Windows 7 product key, downlaod the disc that corresponds with your edition legally from here: Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life
    I don't believe I have a product key. My PC came preloaded with Windows 7.
    If it is a laptop, it will be on the bottom of the case or behind the battery. If it is a desktop, it wil be on the top of the case or one of the sides of the case. The sticker will be blue and will look like this: http://manila.olx.com.ph/buying-wind...d-iid-86224332
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 19
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    windude99 said:
    Deathstroke said:
    windude99 said:
    If you have a Windows 7 product key, downlaod the disc that corresponds with your edition legally from here: Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life
    I don't believe I have a product key. My PC came preloaded with Windows 7.
    If it is a laptop, it will be on the bottom of the case or behind the battery. If it is a desktop, it wil be on the top of the case or one of the sides of the case. The sticker will be blue and will look like this: Buying: Windows 7 Prof COA Sticker Only 100pcs up! Needed - Manila - Computers - Hardware - coa windows7
    Thanks! So when I have the product key, I get that download onto a disc?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 19
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Still have one unanswered question.
      My Computer

  7.    #7

    Everything you need is here to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #8

    Deathstroke said:
    So when I have the product key, I get that download onto a disc?
    Make sure you download the exact same version as originally came on the PC--Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit English, or whatever it was.

    Burn the downloaded ISO to a good quality disk at low speed.

    Disconnect all other hard drives. Then install from that disk. Choose "drive options, advanced" when you see that choice offered on screen. Then delete all existing partitions.

    You should end up with 2 partitions: a very small System Reserved and a C partition covering the entire remainder of the drive.

    You might want to download the LAN driver from the manufacturer's web site before you start. Put it on a USB or DVD drive so you will be able to establish an Internet connection when the install finishes.

    The install should include SP1. I'd then go to Windows Update and get all critical and important new updates.

    Then get antivirus going, activate, and carry on.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 112
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       #9

    Unless I have missed it somewhere in the above posts the easiest way to reinstall is to use the laptops manufacturers recovey method which is usually a hidden partition on the HDD. That returns the PC to day one out of the box condition and reformats the HDD during the recovery process.

    Make and model of laptop to advise better maybe :)
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 644
    Windows 7 home premium x64
       #10

    Mooly, sounds good to me, at least that possibilty should be explored. The only slight disadvantage is the amount of bloatware they include.
      My Computer


 
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