How to wipe out everything on computer for reinstallation of Windows 7

[ignatzatsonic]

he may still be able to use f10 at the install startup screen and do diskpart to clean the drive no ?

scrooge

Sure, but what kind of an install will he end up with, using this disk that we cannot be sure about?

 

[dynamite140]

Okay here the screenshot.

 

[scrooge]

he may still be able to use f10 at the install startup screen and do diskpart to clean the drive no ?

scrooge

Sure, but what kind of an install will he end up with, using this disk that we cannot be sure about?

guess you right,

i think he should do as you said about downloading the iso. do you have a link for it for him?

scrooge

 

[dynamite140]

okay guys... what should i do now? I posted the screenshot.. though i don't see how that helps b/c its literally the same thing as i typed earlier??

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I have a dell desktop and i have the windows 7 reinstallation CD. The few times i have reinstalled it, i just place the CD in and reinstalled it. However... each time i do this, i go check my C drive and i thing see everything wasn't deleted.

Well i just reinstalled windows and i see 388GB free of 451GB.

Can someone teach me how to completely delete everything so my computer would be like brand new?

That screenshot is about what I expected.

Above are quotes from your original post.

It implies to me that your Dell "Windows" disk, even if you "delete all partitions", will ultimately result in a 3 partition installation, like you have now.

I doubt if you can do a "custom install" in the same sense that someone with a retail Windows disk could do. You'll still end up with what Dell wants you to have.

A better move might be to "clean up" your existing install---I'm assuming your existing install works fine.

Or consider downloading an ISO and installing it as I mentioned above, if you can confirm from others that it could be activated with your Dell product key----if you have one.

 

[Hipster Doofus]

Before going any further you could download 'virtualbox' & see if you can load the disc into there. That way you will see what exactly is going to happen. That's if you can do that with a dell disc.

 

[dynamite140]

How do i clean up then?

I do not think i have a dell product key. I don't see any 25 digit thing. All i see is 20 letters/digits.


This was the Reinstallation cd Dell sent me after i requested for it. So i assume this isn't a retail version.

 

[dynamite140]

So are you saying at that page with the partition, there is really nothing i could have done as in deleting partition?

I'm very confused at this moment.

 

[derekimo]

okay guys... what should i do now? I posted the screenshot.. though i don't see how that helps b/c its literally the same thing as i typed earlier??

Because those discs are from Dell, I don't think you are going to get any different setup than you have now.

OEM discs like that will usually just set it back up like it was before.

Can you confirm if you do or don't have a Windows.old folder?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19151-windows-old-folder-delete.html

It does seem like a lot of space being used for a clean install.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You can begin by typing disk cleanup into the start box and follow the prompts. It may find a lot of stuff to delete.


Dell disks may not have a 25 character product key. I don't know. Dell does strange things.

 

[dynamite140]

yes i do have that old windows folder. Its about 62gb...

 

[ignatzatsonic]

So are you saying at that page with the partition, there is really nothing i could have done as in deleting partition?

I'm very confused at this moment.

No--you could have deleted the partitions I think.

But when the install was done, you would have 3 partitions.

An ordinary retail disk would result in 2 partitions--no "recovery' partition.

But, if you had gone through with it, deleting all partitions, you probably would have got back all of your drive space--just like it was on the day you got it.

Leaving aside the issue of the product key, which may be legit for all I know.

 

[derekimo]

yes i do have that old windows folder. Its about 62gb...

There's your space,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19151-windows-old-folder-delete.html

if you don't want anything in there get rid of it.

 

[dynamite140]

derekimo, thats what i asked earlier. I said can't i just delete that folder and everything would be clean? But wouldn't it be more clean as oppose to deleting it this way?

Would you guys recommend me to just install the cd again and then delete all 3 partitions as oppose to just deleting this old windows folder? The thing was the last time i reinstalled windows... i basically just deleted this old windows folder. But i felt like my computer got slower this way and really want a CLEAN INSTALL.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

derekimo, thats what i asked earlier. I said can't i just delete that folder and everything would be clean? But wouldn't it be more clean as oppose to deleting it this way?

Would you guys recommend me to just install the cd again and then delete all 3 partitions as oppose to just deleting this old windows folder? The thing was the last time i reinstalled windows... i basically just deleted this old windows folder. But i felt like my computer got slower this way and really want a CLEAN INSTALL.

In your previous installations with this disk, I assume you did not choose to delete any partitions?

If you have a valid product key, you should be able to delete all 3 partitions and start all over---you'd have 3 partitions like you have now.

I don't know that your performance would improve. I can't recall hearing of any issues with that Windows.old folder.

It's kind of your call, considering you are not sure about the product key.

You would need a valid product key to use the ISO download as well.

You need to get to the bottom of the product key thing. As long as there is doubt, don't wipe all partitions.

 

[derekimo]

derekimo, thats what i asked earlier. I said can't i just delete that folder and everything would be clean? But wouldn't it be more clean as oppose to deleting it this way?

Would you guys recommend me to just install the cd again and then delete all 3 partitions as oppose to just deleting this old windows folder? The thing was the last time i reinstalled windows... i basically just deleted this old windows folder. But i felt like my computer got slower this way and really want a CLEAN INSTALL.

You are just going to get the same thing again from those Dell OEM discs.



Do you have a sticker like one of these on your computer?

 

[dynamite140]

Everytime i reinstalled windows 7... i did not delete a partition. All i did was select the partition with the most space ... which is number 3. But can i even delete a partition? I don't see the delete thing so i assume i have to highlight it and then delete?

Someone mentioned i could do the disk thing with deleting the disk. But I can't do that either...

 

[dynamite140]

Hi. Yes i have that key. Its the sticker on my dell desktop... with the product key. Yes its 25 letters/numbers.



No, i don't have that sticker of the Certificate of Authority though...

 

[derekimo]

Everytime i reinstalled windows 7... i did not delete a partition. All i did was select the partition with the most space ... which is number 3. But can i even delete a partition? I don't see the delete thing so i assume i have to highlight it and then delete?

Someone mentioned i could do the disk thing with deleting the disk. But I can't do that either...

Did it ask you for a product key when you installed before?

 

[dynamite140]

Everytime i reinstalled windows 7... i did not delete a partition. All i did was select the partition with the most space ... which is number 3. But can i even delete a partition? I don't see the delete thing so i assume i have to highlight it and then delete?

Someone mentioned i could do the disk thing with deleting the disk. But I can't do that either...

Did it ask you for a product key when you installed before?

Nope. Never did.