Clean install..question about partioning

I'm a student who preordered the Win 7 Home Premium 32 bit edition. I want to do a clean install of win 7 on my laptop which is currently running Vista

My question is: my computer came preloaded with Vista and so I'm not sure what the partition situation is. When I get to the point in the clean install where I need to format the drive, should I just delete what's already there, and then let the install format the drive? I'd like to avoid creating the windows.old file because I have everything I need backed up on an external drive

Yes you can do that. but be certain you didn't leave any files behind before you do.

Since you didn't say it is an Upgrade version, I'll assume you have a full retail Win7, and you want to get rid of Vista with a clean install. Back up your files!

Boot from the installer and at the point where it shows you the partitions available for install, delete each one you don't want, create and format any you do (for Win7, for data, a recovery partition to save your backup image, etc), and then proceed with the install.

Most drivers will be installed from Windows 7 installer, Windows update will have more. You can in advance pull your NIC driver off of the manufacturers web support download page for your model so that you know you have it to get online to find any other drivers needed, Adobe flash/reader, Java runtime, etc.

When it is complete to your satisfaction, use the new Windows 7 Imaging backup to make a backup image of your installation which you can store in a Recovery Partition backed up to an external drive in case of HDD failure. Then you will never have to reinstall again.

While using an upgrade disc, can the partion with Vista be formatted. To ask the question in another way, will my activated OS be acknowledged prior to the format?

richc46 said:

While using an upgrade disc, can the partion with Vista be formatted. To ask the question in another way, will my activated OS be acknowledged prior to the format?

No, when you start the installer from Vista as you must, there is no ability to format. If you want an Upgrade disk installation to formatted metal, I suggest you either 1) install it to a second partition you have previously created and formatted in Disk Management, or (my choice) 2) install to a second HDD: unplug all but Vista drive and target active primary formatted HDD, install from Vista to target HDD, after install unplug cable from Vista HDD and plug to Win7 HDD (or change boot order in BIOS), run startup repair and you have a clean installed Windows 7 in the first part of a HDD.

richc46 said:

While using an upgrade disc, can the partion with Vista be formatted. To ask the question in another way, will my activated OS be acknowledged prior to the format?

Depends on how you want to use the UPGRADE DISC.
1. If your booted in Vista and insert the disc,{your OS will be acknowledged} you will have the option to "upgrade" and that is all. Win 7 will upgrade over Vista. Vista will no longer be available. Average time to upgrade 2h34m.
2. If you insert the disc, and start the system You can CLEAN INSTALL, {average time to clean install 35m} when ask "DO NOT INSERT THE KEY" the upgrade key will not work.
READ the popup carefully, say YES you want to continue.
You will then have a FULL installed Windows 7 using the DEFAULT 30day Trial KEY.

any time during that 30 day, i recommend do almost instantly. while booted in Win7, insert the DVD and when ask click UPGRADE, when ask insert your UPGRADE KEY.

Snuffy said:

2. If you insert the disc, and start the system You can CLEAN INSTALL, {average time to clean install 35m} when ask "DO NOT INSERT THE KEY" the upgrade key will not work.
READ the popup carefully, say YES you want to continue.
You will then have a FULL installed Windows 7 using the DEFAULT 30day Trial KEY.

any time during that 30 day, i recommend do almost instantly. while booted in Win7, insert the DVD and when ask click UPGRADE, when ask insert your UPGRADE KEY.

You are assuming the old Vista upgrade will work the same with Windows 7. There is indication that it will, and it's certainly possible that Microsoft disabled this loophole.

Snuffy said:

richc46 said:

While using an upgrade disc, can the partion with Vista be formatted. To ask the question in another way, will my activated OS be acknowledged prior to the format?

Depends on how you want to use the UPGRADE DISC.
1. If your booted in Vista and insert the disc,{your OS will be acknowledged} you will have the option to "upgrade" and that is all. Win 7 will upgrade over Vista. Vista will no longer be available. Average time to upgrade 2h34m.

Not correct. You can either Upgrade or clean install over your Vista, install to a second partition, or install to a second plugged HDD which would allow for a formatted clean install and is my preference. Afterward you can even unplug the VIsta drive, plug its cable into the Win7 installed HDD (or change BIOS boot order), run startup repair, and you have a Win7 single boot clean install on the first part of your HDD.

Snuffy said:

2. If you insert the disc, and start the system You can CLEAN INSTALL, {average time to clean install 35m} when ask "DO NOT INSERT THE KEY" the upgrade key will not work.
READ the popup carefully, say YES you want to continue.
You will then have a FULL installed Windows 7 using the DEFAULT 30day Trial KEY.

any time during that 30 day, i recommend do almost instantly. while booted in Win7, insert the DVD and when ask click UPGRADE, when ask insert your UPGRADE KEY.

MS specifically foreclosed the Vista upgrade-over-itself trick months ago.

Is this what you are talking about?

Whatever, Technet MVP's have also shot down the rumours that any Upgrade can be done by booting from the Upgrade disk. The qualifying OS activation cannot be read.

Greg, yes that's the one. Snuffy seems to think it's still possible. As he has stated many times..mostly in CAPS