Installed Window 7..here are some couple questions..

1. Can I format the D drive (recovery)[i think this recovery is for window Vista?no use already?] then back up my window 7 in it using program "backup and restore in Window 7 into D drive?

2. I positive that I clean install window 7 by an upgrade disc, previously I'm Vista user..How can I tell if I do a clean install (custom install) or just upgrade in case I might mess up the procedure? just want to know is that a way to know for 100% that I do a pure clean install?

Thank you very much.

Maxkhoon said:

1. Can I format the D drive (recovery)[i think this recovery is for window Vista?no use already?] then back up my window 7 in it using program "backup and restore in Window 7 into D drive?

2. I positive that I clean install window 7 by an upgrade disc, previously I'm Vista user..How can I tell if I do a clean install (custom install) or just upgrade in case I might mess up the procedure? just want to know is that a way to know for 100% that I do a pure clean install?

Thank you very much.

Hi and welcome

1-sure thats basically what it is for, realize that some of the things that came with the computer in vista you dont have recovery disks for. If you have a win 7 dvd it isnt much of a problem

2-there are clean and there are clean. First and favored method is to format the partition. that is a truc clean install. Second is clean install w/o format. You are left with a windows.old folder etc. Better than upgrade but not as good a format option.
If you have no problems dont worry abt it.

there will cme a time when you have to re-install and you can always do a format clean then

Hope this Helped

Ken J++

zigzag3143 said:

Maxkhoon said:

1. Can I format the D drive (recovery)[i think this recovery is for window Vista?no use already?] then back up my window 7 in it using program "backup and restore in Window 7 into D drive?

2. I positive that I clean install window 7 by an upgrade disc, previously I'm Vista user..How can I tell if I do a clean install (custom install) or just upgrade in case I might mess up the procedure? just want to know is that a way to know for 100% that I do a pure clean install?

Thank you very much.

Hi and welcome

1-sure thats basically what it is for, realize that some of the things that came with the computer in vista you dont have recovery disks for. If you have a win 7 dvd it isnt much of a problem

2-there are clean and there are clean. First and favored method is to format the partition. that is a truc clean install. Second is clean install w/o format. You are left with a windows.old folder etc. Better than upgrade but not as good a format option.
If you have no problems dont worry abt it.

there will cme a time when you have to re-install and you can always do a format clean then

Hope this Helped

Ken J++

The reply is really helpful:)

but by default, is the recovery D won't contain any program, other files or something like that? just pure backup files from Vista is it? I'm a bit nervous since it's formatting a HDD.. 14gb.. thanks again..

In most cases, the recovery partition is disabled when another operating system is installed. If you want to see if it is still operable, look on the first screeen when the computer boots up for the access key to tap to enter recovery environment and see if it works.

So you can delete the recovery partition because in order to recover Vista now, you will have to use your recovery disks, or order them from your manufacturer, and those disks will reinstall the recovery partition and return your computer to factory condition.

The way to know that you got the cleanest possible install is if you booted from the Installer and used the Custom>Advanced drive option tools to wipe and format your HDD.

When you have your Windows 7 set up to you satisfaction, use the Backup Center to create a backup image of your hard drive to store externally (or in a primary partition) so that you never need to reinstall again, just reimage the HDD using your Installer Repair console or Repair disk.

gregrocker said:

In most cases, the recovery partition is disabled when another operating system is installed. If you want to see if it is still operable, look on the first screeen when the computer boots up for the access key to tap to enter recovery environment and see if it works.

So you can delete the recovery partition because in order to recover Vista now, you will have to use your recovery disks, or order them from your manufacturer, and those disks will reinstall the recovery partition and return your computer to factory condition.

The way to know that you got the cleanest possible install is if you booted from the Installer and used the Custom>Advanced drive option tools to wipe and format your HDD.

When you have your Windows 7 set up to you satisfaction, use the Backup Center to create a backup image of your hard drive to store externally (or in a primary partition) so that you never need to reinstall again, just reimage the HDD using your Installer Repair console or Repair disk.

Thank you very much for the reply, appreciate it:)

I recall that when I purchase the PC,they gave me A LOT of disc, possible the recovery disc to restore PC into factory condition might be one of them?

and just now I manage to create a repair disc, so if I backup the image of my OS installed drive in other partition(f), I can use the repair disc to retrieve the information from the f drive then reinstall the whole thing. is it how it work?

I try to create a backup image of the main HDD, but it's too large size..did I do something wrong? cuz I install many software and already copy many media like music and movies in to my pc..is it because I move too much files into pc which causing the backup image become too large?

anyway to exclude the files like media or music in backuping the image of the main HDD, like I only want the OS and the user setting? this can be much smaller in size..

Thanks again and again for answering the questions..

richc46 said:

If your computer is a Dell, you do not need D, the DVD that your received with the computer is the same as D. You can find the info in your Dell manual.

It's a new info for me, thank you very much ^^
then I need no to worry..

Maxkhoon said:

and just now I manage to create a repair disc, so if I backup the image of my OS installed drive in other partition(f), I can use the repair disc to retrieve the information from the f drive then reinstall the whole thing. is it how it work?

I try to create a backup image of the main HDD, but it's too large size..did I do something wrong? cuz I install many software and already copy many media like music and movies in to my pc..is it because I move too much files into pc which causing the backup image become too large?

anyway to exclude the files like media or music in backuping the image of the main HDD, like I only want the OS and the user setting? this can be much smaller in size..

Thanks again and again for answering the questions..

Yes, you would boot the Repair disk and choose Recover using an Image which will detect your Backup Image in its partition or put into the root of an external drive, then reimage your HDD perfectly.

You may need to make more room in that recovery partition where you wish to store the Backup Image.

The way I find would do this is to first find out what size is needed by selecting Create a Backup Image in Backup Center, select DVD to see what size it wants to be.

Then in Disk Management>Shrink Volume on your C: Windows 7 drive by enough space so that combined with the deleted D: unallocated space it will be large enough to fit the Image. Then Create New Volume D: and format Primary NTFS so it is auto-detectable by the imaging app.

Now you can go back to Create an Image, select Drive, and it will find the new D: drive of the correct size to store your Backup Image there. It is also a good idea to copy it to an external drive in case of HDD failure so you can reimage to a replacement HDD.

gregrocker said:

Maxkhoon said:

and just now I manage to create a repair disc, so if I backup the image of my OS installed drive in other partition(f), I can use the repair disc to retrieve the information from the f drive then reinstall the whole thing. is it how it work?

I try to create a backup image of the main HDD, but it's too large size..did I do something wrong? cuz I install many software and already copy many media like music and movies in to my pc..is it because I move too much files into pc which causing the backup image become too large?

anyway to exclude the files like media or music in backuping the image of the main HDD, like I only want the OS and the user setting? this can be much smaller in size..

Thanks again and again for answering the questions..

Yes, you would boot the Repair disk and choose Recover using an Image which will detect your Backup Image in its partition or put into the root of an external drive, then reimage your HDD perfectly.

You may need to make more room in that recovery partition where you wish to store the Backup Image.

The way I find would do this is to first find out what size is needed by selecting Create a Backup Image in Backup Center, select DVD to see what size it wants to be.

Then in Disk Management>Shrink Volume on your C: Windows 7 drive by enough space so that combined with the deleted D: unallocated space it will be large enough to fit the Image. Then Create New Volume D: and format Primary NTFS so it is auto-detectable by the imaging app.

Now you can go back to Create an Image, select Drive, and it will find the new D: drive of the correct size to store your Backup Image there. It is also a good idea to copy it to an external drive in case of HDD failure so you can reimage to a replacement HDD.

Thank you. I think I really need an external hard disk since I dont have one..really useful to doing backup..because even combine the D: and the shrinked drive..it far than enough to backup the image that as big as 83gb..thanks again:)

Recovery partitions can be difficult to delete and may not even have an assigned drive letter. If you cannot delete it by ordinary means, it can be deleted with the "diskpart" command.

If you want to delete it, I would certainly do that before installing Windows 7.