Windows 7: How can I create a new MBR for Windows installation

I could not install winxp or win 7 before hand because I had wiped the drive completely. I've tried formatting and all the tutorials on the internet and nothing until I just now tried Clean All. I'm wanting to go about this the right way before I throw it out the windows.

Steps to take after a clean all command?

I'm using a usb to install because my optical drive is a no go. Can I call my dir for bootsect from the usb?

Please note that I can not repair my MBR, I have tried using Gparted, Windows XP wouldn't install to the HDD nor Windows 7.

Do I just carry out the same procedure as a normal installation now?



Create partition primary, select partition 1, active, format fs=ntfs, assign, exit.

That it?

What is the installation failure you're experiencing? Windows 7 handles all of the bootsecting and MBR during install, especially when you given it a clean slate by wiping the HD with Diskpart Clean Command - Clean All is overkill only needed for making data unrecoverable.

So you should be ready to boot the installer, during Custom Install use the Drive Options to partition as you wish, or just click Next to let the installer create the install partition for you and begin install.

If you have a problem with install it is most likely the installer. Make sure latest official ISO for your licensed version is burned to DVD or written to flash using the ISO and Tool in Steps 1 and 2 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

This has been solved; I unplugged my external drives and it worked. Imagine that? 0.o

EDIT: It's not the install, but it's my drives. I have left my USB external drives plugged in time after time, and now... it reads as the following when it asks me where do you want to install Windows?

Disk 0 Partition 1 Total Size: 111.8 GB Type Primary
Disk 1 Partition 1:S Total Size: 1863.0 GB Type System
Disk 2 Partition 1:B Total Size: 111.8 GB Type Primary

The BOLD disks are my external drives, but why is Disk 1 appearing as System? I have never seen that.


Update
Unplugged my external hard drives and ran the setup; it friggin worked. Are you kidding me? Since when does that happen?

Alway best to install with barebones.

Please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Management drive map and listings with all drives plugged in:

1. Type Disk Management in Start Search box.
2. Open Disk Mgmt. window and maximize it.
3. Type Snipping Tool in Start Search box.
4. Open Snipping Tool, choose Rectangular Snip, click New, draw a box around full drive map and all listings.
5, Save Snip, attach using paper clip in Reply Box.

Tell us what is on each partition.