How to remove partitions & install Windows 7 cleanly ?

Fireblaze · 29 Mar 2014

Hello Guys,

This is my story ..... I'll try to make it as short as possible :)

Some days ago, my PSU in the CPU failed and it never started. I didn't want to repair it since components were old.This CPU ( Old CPU ) has 2 hard disks [SATA] and 4 partitions [ C,D,E,F,G: Drives ] .
I have got a new CPU with the latest components and I have transferred the 2 hard disks into it and also bought Seagate 500 GB HDD . I installed Windows 7 x64 into this Seagate 500 GB . It finished installing and I also partitioned it to get 1 more drive.
When I go to "My Computer", I have the Seagate Drive with Windows running and its partition. I have those 4 drives from my old hard disks too.

------------------------ PROBLEM STARTS------------------------------

But the problem is that --- [ READ CAREFULLY ]

" The DRIVE which was C: in my OLD CPU with Win 7 x32 installed has now become the DRIVE H: in my new CPU"

Now , whenever I turn on my CPU , it asks me to select :

1) Earlier version of Windows
2) Windows 7

------------------------PROBLEM ENDS-------------------------------------

I want to reload the windows to remove the older versions and make it a clean installation with only 3 drives . I don't want those partitions.
I have the installation disk and when I insert and boot it , this is what comes up.
I just don't understand where to install and what to delete in this menu

. I want to remove all partitions. I have BACKED UP ALL MY DATA .

This is what I see in the installation page :-

After scrolling down :

1) Currently Windows 7 64bit is installed in Disk 1 Partition 1 .
2) The old windows 32bit [Old C: Drive ] was installed in Disk 0 Partition 2.
3) Disk 1 --- Seagate 500 GB [ Partitioned into 2 parts totally ]
4) Disk 0 and Disk 2 --- Old CPU Hard Drives with total 4 partitions

Please help me solve the issue :) Thnx for taking your time out and reading it. If you need any more info. just tell me .
Any help will be appreciated :)

ignatzatsonic · 29 Mar 2014

If you want to install to the new Seagate, the first step should be to disconnect all of those other drives--so Windows CAN'T install to anything other than the Seagate. As it is, you apparently left some other drives connected and Windows decided to install SOME (not all) files to another drive. That's why you are getting that menu.

While you're disconnecting stuff, you may as well make the new Seagate drive 0. You'd do that by connecting the cables that now attach to the old C drive to the new Seagate. Installing to disc 0 isn't mandatory, but it's the standard convention.

Get Windows installed and booting fine on the new Seagate with no other drives connected. Be sure to choose the correct partition on the new Seagate. Update Windows completely.

Then reconnect the older drives. They will show up as D, E, F, etc.

bigmck · 29 Mar 2014

Do as Ignat said above and here is a tutorial with the steps to follow for Clean Install Windows 7

Fireblaze · 29 Mar 2014

Thnx Ignat but is it possible to do without disconnecting the Seagate ? It is really a pain for me

How do I delete those partitions off ? Will deleting the partitions and formatting the main drive do the job ?

Fireblaze · 29 Mar 2014

ignatzatsonic said:

If you want to install to the new Seagate, the first step should be to disconnect all of those other drives--so Windows CAN'T install to anything other than the Seagate. As it is, you apparently left some other drives connected and Windows decided to install SOME (not all) files to another drive. That's why you are getting that menu.

While you're disconnecting stuff, you may as well make the new Seagate drive 0. You'd do that by connecting the cables that now attach to the old C drive to the new Seagate. Installing to disc 0 isn't mandatory, but it's the standard convention.

Get Windows installed and booting fine on the new Seagate with no other drives connected. Be sure to choose the correct partition on the new Seagate. Update Windows completely.

Then reconnect the older drives. They will show up as D, E, F, etc.

Thnx Ignat but is it possible to do without disconnecting the Seagate ? It is really a pain for me How do I delete those partitions off ? Will deleting the partitions and formatting the main drive do the job ?

ignatzatsonic · 29 Mar 2014

You could probably disable other drives in Device Manager, but that's probably more confusing and difficult than simply opening the case and disconnecting. You had to open the case to install the Seagate, so just do it again.

I'm trying to give you the least confusing method of doing what you need to do.

You can delete partitions in Windows Disk Management, among other ways. DON'T worry about that now.

Your first goal should be to get Windows installed to the correct partition on the correct drive so that Windows will boot with just that one drive connected, with no menu asking you which Windows 7 you want.

Then, only then, worry about other partitions, deleting other partitions, etc.

I assume you have a partition of the size that you want for Windows on the Seagate. That's where you want to install Windows. If you have other drives connected, you stand a chance of getting into further difficulties.

gregrocker · 29 Mar 2014

Please post back a screenshot from new Win7 of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image.

As a rule of thumb, all other HD's should be disconnected during installation to prevent this. This is as easy as powering down to open the case and pull the data cable off each one.

However there are workarounds which we can provide if we see the current configuration.

For example, you can delete the old OS partition using the Drive Options pictured in the bottom right corner of your screenshot. You should use these Drive Options to delete all partitions not needed anyway which cannot be deleted ahead of time in Disk Mgmt. But be extra careful to not delete a partition you need, and always have your files backed up if you value them at all.

Tell us what is on each partition in your Disk Mgmt screenshot.

AddRAM · 29 Mar 2014

Just highlight a partition, then click on drive options and then you can delete each partition.

Fireblaze · 29 Mar 2014

OK, so I solved the problem..... I just deleted everything from that menu .... I deleted all the partitions as I don't want them anymore ... and finally I was left with 3 HDD's as Unallocated Space. I made 2 new volumes and installed WIN 7 on the 3rd one .....DONE !! Finally, I got 3 Drives with Windows installed on the first :) :) :)
Thnx everyone for helping me out and THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR taking time and reading my entire story....

gregrocker · 30 Mar 2014

Please post back the requested screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image.

Had you done this before you jumped, we would have told you that if you install Win7 to any but the first partition in order, it may write the System boot files to a preceding Primary partition.

There are ways to get around this, but we were waiting to see your screenshot to say for sure.

So you may have your System boot files on another hard drive since you did not cooperate.