Deleting Windows from HDD ?

I was playing around & installed a Windows 7 image on a new HDD to see how fast a fresh install boots up. The HDD was intended for storage & now I want to use it for that. When I put the image on it I never thought about the implications on deleting it. But now I realize there are the 2 regular partitions & the 100MB System Reserved partition on it. If I format the C and D partitions that still leaves the System Reserved to be dealt with. And of course there’s the matter of getting rid of the partitions & putting the HDD back into a single partition just like it was when new & in the box.

I searched quite a bit & this particular Partition Wizard seems like it will do the job.
Thanks for Downloading MiniTool Partition Wizard Free

It’s bootable off of a CD & therefore don’t have to rely on having a working HDD with Windows on it. IOW connect the HDD in question & boot the PC with the Partition Wizard disc in it & follow the instructions.

Does this seem like a reasonable way to restore the HDD to new condition?
Or is there some other preferred recommended approach?
Any suggestions & comments would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

The bootable CD is the product I meant. The link I posted is what came up after I downloaded the bootable CD software.

What do mean "may have altered an existing OS implementation"? The image was put on a new HDD.

I'll have to put the HDD back in in order to get a screenshot.

You already download the exe to create a Partition Wizard Boot disc. (i did use the same method.)
Now you want to wipe clean.

1. Let the new HDD in the computer, ignore your HDD with Windows OS, no need to insert yet.
2. Insert the PW disc, if cannot, then do it at point #5.
3. Turn on the computer AND continue to press F2 to go to the BIOS option.
4. In the boot option, do go to change the boot startup to CD drive.
5. Before doing F10 -> Save BIOS and boot.
Do ensure that the PW disc is inside and running then proceed to point 6.

6. This PW disc will boot to Partition Wizard directly, hence no need to do anything.
7. Prompt to proceed.
8. Please wait....

9. Now you are at Partition Wizard. MiniTool Partition Magic 9.
10. Select the 1st partition and at the menu (left) or top (Icon) select Delete and confirmation.
11. Select the 2nd partition and Delete. If any more partition you want to delete, same procedure.

12. Then you can create one partition.

13. Exit -> click on the top right window.

14. Do not forget to go to F2 and change the boot option, after you had done.

There should not be any problem, as i had done several times.

Eric.

Computer Management snap in does all of that. You can resize and delete partitions within it. No need to install that.

MilesAhead said:

Are you going to leave the HD in the machine? IOW, you will have 2 physical HD after you reinstall Windows? If not why not get a docking station and plug the drive into it? Even the fast ones are very cheap these days.

Once you have your Windows system running again you can use the diskpart command in an Admin command prompt to clean up the HD in the dock, create a primary partition, then format it NTFS etc..

Depending on the size of the drive it may take a couple of hours to do a slow format. But I recommend it since it will mark bad sectors as it writes zeroes to the drive. It may save problems later.

1) I have the original HDD with Win7 & programs & data on it. I planned on keeping this as-is as a backup. It will not remain connected & I might get a docking station or enclosure for it.

2) There's the "experimental" HDD which I want to clean up & use for data only.

3) And an SSD to which I just installed a clean copy of Win7.

1) I have the original HDD with Win7 & programs & data on it. I planned on keeping this as-is as a backup. It will not remain connected & I might get a docking station or enclosure for it.

2) There's the "experimental" HDD which I want to clean up & use for data only.

3) And an SSD to which I just installed a clean copy of Win7.

If you want to wipe a HDD I suggest using CCleaner. Great program for wiping HDDs.

Eric3742 said:

You already download the exe to create a Partition Wizard Boot disc. (i did use the same method.)
Now you want to wipe clean.

9. Now you are at Partition Wizard. MiniTool Partition Magic 9.
10. Select the 1st partition and at the menu (left) or top (Icon) select Delete and confirmation.
11. Select the 2nd partition and Delete. If any more partition you want to delete, same procedure.

12. Then you can create one partition.

13. Exit -> click on the top right window.

There should not be any problem, as i had done several times.

Eric.

Is there an extra step to create one partition as mentioned in step #12, or will that happen automatically because all the partitions have been deleted?

Will the data also get deleted when the partitions get deleted, or should the HDD be formatted?

Mike99 said:

Eric3742 said:

You already download the exe to create a Partition Wizard Boot disc. (i did use the same method.)
Now you want to wipe clean.

9. Now you are at Partition Wizard. MiniTool Partition Magic 9.
10. Select the 1st partition and at the menu (left) or top (Icon) select Delete and confirmation.
11. Select the 2nd partition and Delete. If any more partition you want to delete, same procedure.

12. Then you can create one partition.

13. Exit -> click on the top right window.

There should not be any problem, as i had done several times.

Eric.

Is there an extra step to create one partition as mentioned in step #12, or will that happen automatically because all the partitions have been deleted?

Will the data also get deleted when the partitions get deleted, or should the HDD be formatted?

When you format it, you will delete all of your data. You have to delete the partition, or extend your C:, if you have two to make it one partition. Your Computer Management snap in can do all of that.