Reverting back to a Clean HD

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  1. Posts : 318
    Genuine windows 7X64
       #1

    Reverting back to a Clean HD


    Hello everyone i just installed win 7 on a new 500GB hard drive, on my OLD upgraded machine,(not my main machine) i would like to wipe that HD clean and try installing a Diffrent, older, OS. or use it for a secondary HD on my MAIN machine. I dont belive i can format the Active partition with in windows 7 ?, how do i remove window 7 and the system restore partition from the HD?.

    Thanks in advance
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 28,845
    Win 8 Release candidate 8400
       #2

    Pantz said:
    Hello everyone i just installed win 7 on a new 500GB hard drive, on my OLD upgraded machine,(not my main machine) i would like to wipe that HD clean and try installing a Diffrent, older, OS. or use it for a secondary HD on my MAIN machine. I dont belive i can format the Active partition with in windows 7 ?, how do i remove window 7 and the system restore partition from the HD?.

    Thanks in advance
    A thrid party app, a dos disk, any other OS boot disk will do it.


    Ken
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 318
    Genuine windows 7X64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    thank for the quick reply there ZZ. so DBAN will do the job just fine then ?
      My Computer

  4.    #4

    You can also use Diskpart from elevated Command Prompt in other HD OS, or from booted Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD:

    DISKPART
    LIST DISK
    SELECT DISK # (for old Win7 HD you want deleted)
    CLEAN ALL (zeroes the disk; takes awhile; drop "all" if you dont' want full clean, just deletion)
    create partition logical
    select partition 1
    assign letter=d (replace d with desired available letter)
    format
    exit
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  5. Posts : 318
    Genuine windows 7X64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    so what would be the Elevated command to use DISKPART to wipe the only drive (500GB) on my system?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 318
    Genuine windows 7X64
    Thread Starter
       #6

    ok i think i have figured it out, once i make the disk active, just type "clean" or "clean all" and it should wipe my disk so that i will be able to install another OS or make it a clean secondary drive to my main machine?.
      My Computer

  7.    #7

    If you want to use the old HD for a secondary data drive, then run the commands as given from the OS on that machine or from booted Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD.

    If you want to prepare the old HD to install an OS, then change "logical" to "primary" in the commands, and add "Active" just before format.

    Pantz said:
    ok i think i have figured it out, once i make the disk active, just type "clean" or "clean all" and it should wipe my disk so that i will be able to install another OS or make it a clean secondary drive to my main machine?.
    Actually you are using "Clean all" (to zero) or "Clean" (quicker) to wipe off the Active flag which is blocking deletion of the HD. You could do the same with "inactive" but since you want it cleaned then "clean all" is cleanest of all.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 318
    Genuine windows 7X64
    Thread Starter
       #8

    ok i got an error when i typed in "clean all" from the elevated command prompt ( as the admin ), Virtual disk service error clean is not allowed on the disk containing the current boot, system, pagefile, i guess i am going to have to use a 3rd party software to get this HD cleaned ?.
      My Computer

  9.    #9

    Normally "clean all" will ignore active flag.

    Try:

    DISKPART
    LIST DISK
    SELECT DISK # (for target HD)
    LIST PARTITION
    SELECT PARTITION (for old OS partition)
    INACTIVE
    SELECT DISK # (same HD)
    CLEAN ALL
    then whatever formatting you want to do, or use installer

    The best partition manager for Win7 is free Partition Wizard bootable CD.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #10

    Pantz,
    Boot your system up from a Recovery CD or UFD.
    When you get that Recovery Menu, choose Command Prompt.
    You will now be able to use DiskPart without any complications.

    You can do the same thing if you have a Win7 DVD. Just boot from the DVD and when you get to the first screen wanting a response from you, use Shift + F10 to get to a command prompt.
    At this point in time, you are actually running a WinPE (Pre-execution Environment) from ram. If you would like, you can remove the DVD since you've got what you need running in ram from a ram drive with the letter X:
      My Computer


 
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