In need of simplified install instructions for SSD (please read).

[Anesthetize]

You can use Ted's tutorial to reinstall. However, your SSD is new and I would not use the 'Clean All' command, just use clean and follow the rest.

How does 'clean' differ from 'clean all?'

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

You can use Ted's tutorial to reinstall. However, your SSD is new and I would not use the 'Clean All' command, just use clean and follow the rest.

How does 'clean' differ from 'clean all?'

The clean command only removes the format configuration data and the clean all over-writes the entire SSD / HDD with zeroes. ( 0 )

 

[Anesthetize]

You can use Ted's tutorial to reinstall. However, your SSD is new and I would not use the 'Clean All' command, just use clean and follow the rest.

How does 'clean' differ from 'clean all?'

The clean command only removes the format configuration data and the clean all over-writes the entire SSD / HDD with zeroes. ( 0 )

I'm not sure what format configuration data means. Umm, the 'clean' all completely wipes the SSD as if it were new?

 

[essenbe]

Ted, I believe a secure erase is preferable to a clean all on a brand new SSD. It being only 1 day old, I think the clean command is sufficient.

 

[essenbe]

How does 'clean' differ from 'clean all?'

The clean command only removes the format configuration data and the clean all over-writes the entire SSD / HDD with zeroes. ( 0 )

I'm not sure what format configuration data means. Umm, the 'clean' all completely wipes the SSD as if it were new?

Basically, the clean command is nothing more than a low level format.
The clean all command writes zeros to every sector of the drive externally.
A secure erase writes zeroes to every sector also, but it is an internal command to the drive and the SSD does it itself.
This article posted by Ted should explain secure erase.
Clean all can be destructive to the drive if done too often.

 

[Anesthetize]

This...is becoming a bit much for me tonight. I think my best bet would be to forget about it entirely today, and start fresh tomorrow.

I know you guys are doing your best to help, and I really appreciate it, but my lack of knowledge with hardware, and windows etc. has every reply you guys give me raising more questions. And it's not because you're not explaining well enough, it's just because I, again, lack the understanding with this stuff.

I'll come back tomorrow, and start fresh.

Thanks again.

 

[essenbe]

We'll be here tomorrow.

 

[whs]

Compare "clean" to "quick format" (it works only on the control records) and "clean all" to "full format" (it writes a buch of stuff on the disk and takes much longer).

 

[Anesthetize]

Okay. An early start here. My goal today is at least to wipe the SSD to get it ready for a fresh install of Windows. I have a faulty GPU it seems, so I need to get another one sent out which'll probably get here Monday now. So while that gives me a couple of days to get this SSD sorted, I'm much prefere today to be the day.

Okay, I just want to point this out. In your replies, can you guys please keep things as simple as possible! and if 'computery' terms need to be said, perhaps add some kind of explanation as to what it is/how it's done etc. I'd much appreciate that!

I'm going to pretend like the rest of this thread doesn't exist for now, and start fresh. So, first question of the day:

I need my SSD to be as if I'd just bought it, completed wiped and ready to have windows 7 cleanly installed. What's the best course of action here?

Again, please post a reason why, and if that must include 'computery' terms, try to explain the whole thing in a simple manor.

You guys have put up with me this long, so there's hope for me yet!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I need my SSD to be as if I'd just bought it, completed wiped and ready to have windows 7 cleanly installed. What's the best course of action here?[/b]

Again, please post a reason why, and if that must include 'computery' terms, try to explain the whole thing in a simple manor.

As far as I know, an SSD is no different than a regular HDD in your case. You don't need to do any advance preparation to do a clean install. I certainly didn't on my SSD and it performs fine. You can delete any existing partitions as part of the ordinary Windows install process when you boot from the Windows disc. You don't need to do a separate "completely wipe" operation.

There's nothing really special about an SSD install. Windows 7 is smart enough to know it's an SSD and will do what should be done like proper alignment and turning off defragmentation.

Just make sure all other drives are disconnected before you begin.

And make a decision on how many partitions you want and what size you want them to be before you begin. Most people just use a single partition on an SSD if it is 128 GB in size or smaller.

Unless I am misunderstanding something about what you are trying to do. I didn't review the entire thread.

 

[essenbe]

Hello Brett, what ignatzatsonic said is true. But if you want it to be back to factory condition, just use the link to OCZ forums I gave you. But in your case that isn't necessary. I just reinstalled to my SSD, and didn't do the secure erase, I just did like ignatzatsonic said. Windows will do it for you.

 

[essenbe]

Bret, are you having any problems? Let us know how things are going.

 

[Anesthetize]

You can delete any existing partitions as part of the ordinary Windows install process when you boot from the Windows disc. You don't need to do a separate "completely wipe" operation.

So how do I go about doing what you said? just unplug the HDD, put the windows 7 disc in and install again to the SSD?

Also, my SSD didn't have any partitions, or just one big partition, depending on how that's looked at. It was all just one space. So when I put the windows 7 disc in, it'll ask me if I want to delete this partition? and if I say yes, it'll delete everything on the SSD for me to then install Windows 7 again?

Also, I have the OEM version of Win 7, so I just need to check as it's an install-once disc, will I be able to install Win 7 again with it?

Bret, are you having any problems? Let us know how things are going.

I'm doing okay at the moment, not tried anything yet

 

[essenbe]

You can delete any existing partitions as part of the ordinary Windows install process when you boot from the Windows disc. You don't need to do a separate "completely wipe" operation.

So how do I go about doing what you said? just unplug the HDD, put the windows 7 disc in and install again to the SSD?

Also, my SSD didn't have any partitions, or just one big partition, depending on how that's looked at. It was all just one space. So when I put the windows 7 disc in, it'll ask me if I want to delete this partition? and if I say yes, it'll delete everything on the SSD for me to then install Windows 7 again?

Also, I have the OEM version of Win 7, so I just need to check as it's an install-once disc, will I be able to install Win 7 again with it?

Bret, are you having any problems? Let us know how things are going.

I'm doing okay at the moment, not tried anything yet

First, I don't understand what you mean by an install once disk. Most OEM disks are tied to that computer, but you can install as many times as you want, but just to that computer.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You can delete any existing partitions as part of the ordinary Windows install process when you boot from the Windows disc. You don't need to do a separate "completely wipe" operation.

So how do I go about doing what you said? just unplug the HDD, put the windows 7 disc in and install again to the SSD?

Also, my SSD didn't have any partitions, or just one big partition, depending on how that's looked at. It was all just one space. So when I put the windows 7 disc in, it'll ask me if I want to delete this partition? and if I say yes, it'll delete everything on the SSD for me to then install Windows 7 again?

Also, I have the OEM version of Win 7, so I just need to check as it's an install-once disc, will I be able to install Win 7 again with it?

You'd disconnect the HDD, connect the SSD, and boot from the Windows disc. Fairly early in the install process you will see a screen that asks you where you want to install Windows. Look for the choice "Advanced drive options" and choose it. That will lead you into the partition screens where you should be able to delete all existing partitions. If you then install, Windows will make 1 new big partition and format it and install Windows.

Don't worry about it. If you get to a screen you don't understand, someone can walk you through it. The main point is to disconnect your other drives---that avoids certain problems.

Yeah--you better confirm the EULA on that OEM Windows 7. OEM discs are generally tied to one instance of hardware, but I think you can reinstall to the same hardware multiple times.

 

[Anesthetize]

You can delete any existing partitions as part of the ordinary Windows install process when you boot from the Windows disc. You don't need to do a separate "completely wipe" operation.

So how do I go about doing what you said? just unplug the HDD, put the windows 7 disc in and install again to the SSD?

Also, my SSD didn't have any partitions, or just one big partition, depending on how that's looked at. It was all just one space. So when I put the windows 7 disc in, it'll ask me if I want to delete this partition? and if I say yes, it'll delete everything on the SSD for me to then install Windows 7 again?

Also, I have the OEM version of Win 7, so I just need to check as it's an install-once disc, will I be able to install Win 7 again with it?

Bret, are you having any problems? Let us know how things are going.

I'm doing okay at the moment, not tried anything yet

First, I don't understand what you mean by an install once disk. Most OEM disks are tied to that computer, but you can install as many times as you want, but just to that computer.

Yeah, I think that's what I meant. Though again, I got it wrong

 

[Anesthetize]

You can delete any existing partitions as part of the ordinary Windows install process when you boot from the Windows disc. You don't need to do a separate "completely wipe" operation.

So how do I go about doing what you said? just unplug the HDD, put the windows 7 disc in and install again to the SSD?

Also, my SSD didn't have any partitions, or just one big partition, depending on how that's looked at. It was all just one space. So when I put the windows 7 disc in, it'll ask me if I want to delete this partition? and if I say yes, it'll delete everything on the SSD for me to then install Windows 7 again?

Also, I have the OEM version of Win 7, so I just need to check as it's an install-once disc, will I be able to install Win 7 again with it?

You'd disconnect the HDD, connect the SSD, and boot from the Windows disc. Fairly early in the install process you will see a screen that asks you where you want to install Windows. Look for the choice "Advanced drive options" and choose it. That will lead you into the partition screens where you should be able to delete all existing partitions. If you then install, Windows will make 1 new big partition and format it and install Windows.

Don't worry about it. If you get to a screen you don't understand, someone can walk you through it. The main point is to disconnect your other drives---that avoids certain problems.

Yeah--you better confirm the EULA on that OEM Windows 7. OEM discs are generally tied to one instance of hardware, but I think you can reinstall to the same hardware multiple times.

Cheers mate. Your explaination made everything sound so easy. I'll give this a go some time today and see how I get on!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Here' you go mate, follow this guide.


How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7

 

[Anesthetize]

Got it back to how it was! Such a relief. Probably seems like such a trite issue to have, but it means a lot to me that you guys stuck with me on this and got my problems sorted!

You're all good peoples, and thank you all. I really appreciate it

Now that's done and dusted, I can relax and forget about this computer for today, which is exactly what I'm gonna do. So I should be back tomorrow with some questions about partitioning the HDD/SSD so I fully understand what it is I'm doing, and why I'm doing it before I actually do it.

So again, thank you all very much. And as always, I really appreciate the help

 

[essenbe]

Glad you have it the way you want it. Go play some games and enjoy it.