Windows 7 - Clean install win 7 on one partition format other

Hi I currently have vista 32bit, and have Windows 7 upgrade disc soon will do a clean instal of Windows 7 64 once i have finished backin up my files. Once i have i will be doing the install which should be in the next 2 days.

My main drive has 2 partitions. C, which has the vista OS on it, a few other key programs and is about 39Gb, The other partition is D and has the remaining ~250GB and has most of my prgrams/games installed on it. Before i upgrade i will be increase the size of C's partition to about 60GB

I am to upgrade to 64bit through clean install which will wipe the C partition just leaving the windows.old folder which i will delete after install. I also would like to format the D partition so that has been wiped of all files aswell.

My question is can the formating of the D partition be done during the instalation of Windows 7 through 'drive options(advanced)' which I read somwhere is what you do to format a partition? or does it have to be done somewhere else or some other time?

Yes you can use the Windows 7 DVD to perform these partitioning and formatting issues. However, if you change the size of drive C, and "wipe it" as you said... there will be no windows.old folder!

For detailed info and instructions go to our Tutorials section and click on "P", there you will find all the info you need on partitioning!

Welcome to Seven Forums.

Like you mentioned, first backup the entire main HD to one of the other HDs, just in case you need to restore.

Are you planning on using the method described in Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version using method two?

If this is correct then you will need to change the partitions before the installation.
Backup or move your D partition, delete it, then you can extend the C partition to the size you want, make a new partition with the remaining unallocated space.
Your Vista OS in the C partition will still be usable.

To adjust your partitions during the install you need to do a Clean install.

Clean Installation with Windows 7

This should work with your upgrade disk.

Be sure to have a backup of Vista before you start, in case of any problems.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Hello and welcome!

You can remove any partition you like when clean installing Windows 7, during the setup, you can choose for advanced drive options.

Have a nice day!

zx81

yes i am planning to do the method described in method 2.

The main questions, i probably should of asked.

1. When you do a clean install of windows 7 on the main OS partition, is it effectively like installing windows on a fresh HD just with old windows files in the windows.old folder with no registry/programing relating to the old windows/partition files affecting the computer? or is there some registy/programing remain from the old windows and partition files?

and 2. What would you recomend for redoing my partitions? should i do it before i install Windows 7 like explained in the post? or should i do it during install?

Just re-read the original post.

If your installing 64bit Windows 7 and you have 32bit Vista, you will have to boot from the installation DVD.
The 64bit installer won't be able to run in a 32bit environment.

So that means a Clean install. Method One from the first tutorial above, Clean install is the second tutorial above.

So to answer your questions:
1. The Clean install with formatting the C partition will get rid of everything, leaving the new installation totally clean. The custom install will not be as clean.

2. Since your doing a Clean install you can do it during the installation, might be easier to do it before the install.
You can use Partition Wizard, a great free program for partitioning. This is what I use. For me, Partition Wizard is fast and easy to use, I used this and did my partition adjusting before the installation. Then the installation is straight forward.

You can re-size the partition with Vista in it and it will still work fine.

If you want the windows.old folder then don't format C during the install.
If you don't want the windows.old folder then format the Vista partition during the install, using the 'Drive options (advanced)' in steps 7 & 8 in the Clean Installation with Windows 7 tutorial.

You can format the D partition before the install. Backed up first, of coarse.

Run the Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, to find out if there will be any system, program, or devices issues before you start the installation.

Windows Easy Transfer - Transfer To & From Computers, will make your program installation a little easier. You will still have to install all the programs, this will transfer your personal files and user account settings.

There are more installation tutorials on this Seven Forums sticky thread. Tutorial quick reference list for Installing Windows 7.