Drive clean?


  1. Posts : 1,351
    W7 Pro 32bit
       #1

    Drive clean?


    Hi,

    Is it smart to clean a SSD, before a install, like a zero fill format?

    If yes, what would be the best method?

    Thanks.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 1,351
    W7 Pro 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Is it possible to clean a single drive using diskpart?

    Thanks.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 31,238
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #3

    If performing a clean install from DVD or USB pen Drive there is an option when selecting where to install windows that allows you to remove existing and create new partitions and to format the resultant partitions as needed - that is the only preparatory disk work I've performed in the past and have never had any issues in many years and thousands of installs.

    My normal procedure these days is to delete all partitions on the system drive during the install and install onto the raw disk and let windows decide what partitions to create and how the format them
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 1,351
    W7 Pro 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Thanks @Barman58, for your views. So you mean to say that W7 DVD, during install, at step 4, after having deleted partitions, on the unallocated space to install W7, shall automatically format, before the install process starts......correct?
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 31,238
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #5

    Windows 7 will by default create and format two partitions in the empty unformatted space - the first is a System partition around 100MB and the rest of the free space becomes the C:\ drive that contains the OS.

    It will also format these to a spec that is best for the purpose (normally NTFS).

    It's advisable to have around 100- 200 GBytes of free space on a drive for an installation, (Perfect for the common sizes of SSD), but you can get away with 30-100 GBytes as long as you do not intend to install too many major apps which will be installed to C:\ by default
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #6

    Alexey2912 said:
    Is it possible to clean a single drive using diskpart?

    Thanks.
    Yes. That's what the command does.

    It does NOT clean a single partition. The command applies to the ENTIRE drive. You have complete control over WHICH drive, but not WHICH partition on each drive. You could clean 4 drives, but you would have to run the command 4 times.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #7

    Diskpart is dangerous, if you don`t know what you`re doing, don`t use it.

    Just format your install partition, that is enough.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,351
    W7 Pro 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Thanks all, appreciate your expert replies :), did let W7 DVD do it.
      My Computers


 

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