Yes, power down to open the case then pull the data or power plug on each of the other HD's except the target one.
You have illustrated tutorials for how to get a perfect reinstall, and how to wipe the HD first from the installer Command line accessed by pressing Shift + F10 at the first screen when booted.
If you have any questions you should ask back for immediate help. We have a 100% install rate for those who cooperate and interact closely to get the steps done.
Just wondering.
What drive will i need to wipe, in order to be able to reinstall Windows properly?
if it is the C: drive i am in a bit of confusion, as it apparently only has 100mb of space. ( according to the explorer, that is )
One more thing to mention ( i do not know whether this could have a potential influence to the possible ways of solving the problem or not) When i open the X: drive from explorer, i can run the Windows SETUP file.
It runs smoothly, until it tells me that a cd/dvd driver is missing.
Just saying, i will try pulling the plug to the HDD's in an hour or so.
The Diskpart command wipes the entire HD, so back up any data off of it first.
You should not be running Setup from Explorer. Boot the installer as instructed in the tutorial.
If you receive the driver request again when booting the installer, download a new ISO and write to stick or burn to DVD from Step 1 and 2 of tutorial.
You should be following these steps from the top as I stated earlier.
I know i may be pulling it a bit, but just to be sure.
Using the "Format Drive" Option In explorer will not work, or will not yield the same resukts as powering down the other drives, booting the primary drive and installing windows on it?
Please follow the directions, precisely as written, in that tutorial.
Do not deviate. Do not skip steps.
Do not skip steps.
Do not skip steps.
You get the idea.
That procedure works, assuming your hardware is in order.
If your hardware is not in order, then by following that procedure precisely as written, you will be able to receive directed advice.
Why do you insist upon ignoring the clearly written steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which say to unplug the other HD's, boot the installer and proceed?
I only added the step to press Shift + F10 at the first screen after booting the installer, then run Diskpart Clean Command - nothing else - so why are you messing around in Explorer?
Ignoring your steps is/was not my intention, especially because i need all the help i can get atm. I merely asked if it would be easier to do so, but assuming carefully following those steps is the only proper way to do it, i will carry on with the procedure.
Oka, so i aam at the Disk management screen, ready to wipe the HDD.
however, i am not quite sure what disk # i should clean out.
Obviously i'd want to clean the drive with the corrupted windows. but in the Diskmanagement screen, it says that disk #0 has 931gb ( which is odd, as i have 3x 465 gb HDD's installed )
it says that Disk 0 has 2 of the HDD's in it, and a recovery partition + a drive named SYSTEM RESERVED.
Have you read over all of the steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 so you fully understand what is involved, your options, and are prepared to proceed.
Power down to unplug all other HD's except target HD for reinstall.
Boot the installation DVD, press Shift + F10 at the first screen to open a Command box, then begin at Step 3 to run Diskpart Clean Command .
Close the Command Box, click Install Now and finish the steps for Clean Reinstall.
Remember that this is a preinstalled windows, and i therefore don't have an installaton DVD. i have the REPAIR disk, if that is what you are referring to.
Also, i have fully read the guide, but i did not get the answer i was looking for.
The only thing i need to continue, is to know which drive i should clean out.
Then you didn't read Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 because Step 1 and 2 provide the latest ISO and the tool to burn to DVD or write to flash stick.
You want the drive which had WIn7 installed on it. It would have been on C drive and likely had the System Reserved partition too.
If you want to try booting the installer to reinstall to C, that's fine too, but I thought you were having intsallation problems. If so the most common fix is to wipe the HD with Clean command.
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