Question about reformatting my hard drive and Win. 7

[Deathstroke]

So my PC was recently infected with viruses, and I was able to get rid of them with Malware bytes and Microsoft Security Essentials. Anyway, I;m not sure if I completely got rid of the viruses so I want to just completely wipe my hard drive and get rid of it all. When I go to reformat my Hard Disk, Windows says I cannot because it's in use.

I google'd around and some guides are saying that I'd be able to reformat and boot up through the Win. 7 installation disk; the problem is that I don't have a Win 7. installation disk. What do I do?

Thanks.

 

[windude99]

So my PC was recently infected with viruses, and I was able to get rid of them with Malware bytes and Microsoft Security Essentials. Anyway, I;m not sure if I completely got rid of the viruses so I want to just completely wipe my hard drive and get rid of it all. When I go to reformat my Hard Disk, Windows says I cannot because it's in use.

I google'd around and some guides are saying that I'd be able to reformat and boot up through the Win. 7 installation disk; the problem is that I don't have a Win 7. installation disk. What do I do?

Thanks.

If you have a Windows 7 product key, downlaod the installation disc that corresponds with your edition legally from here: Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life

 

[Deathstroke]

So my PC was recently infected with viruses, and I was able to get rid of them with Malware bytes and Microsoft Security Essentials. Anyway, I;m not sure if I completely got rid of the viruses so I want to just completely wipe my hard drive and get rid of it all. When I go to reformat my Hard Disk, Windows says I cannot because it's in use.

I google'd around and some guides are saying that I'd be able to reformat and boot up through the Win. 7 installation disk; the problem is that I don't have a Win 7. installation disk. What do I do?

Thanks.

If you have a Windows 7 product key, downlaod the disc that corresponds with your edition legally from here: Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life

I don't believe I have a product key. My PC came preloaded with Windows 7.

 

[windude99]

So my PC was recently infected with viruses, and I was able to get rid of them with Malware bytes and Microsoft Security Essentials. Anyway, I;m not sure if I completely got rid of the viruses so I want to just completely wipe my hard drive and get rid of it all. When I go to reformat my Hard Disk, Windows says I cannot because it's in use.

I google'd around and some guides are saying that I'd be able to reformat and boot up through the Win. 7 installation disk; the problem is that I don't have a Win 7. installation disk. What do I do?

Thanks.

If you have a Windows 7 product key, downlaod the disc that corresponds with your edition legally from here: Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life

I don't believe I have a product key. My PC came preloaded with Windows 7.

If it is a laptop, it will be on the bottom of the case or behind the battery. If it is a desktop, it wil be on the top of the case or one of the sides of the case. The sticker will be blue and will look like this: http://manila.olx.com.ph/buying-windows-7-prof-coa-sticker-only-100pcs-up-needed-iid-86224332

 

[Deathstroke]

If you have a Windows 7 product key, downlaod the disc that corresponds with your edition legally from here: Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life

I don't believe I have a product key. My PC came preloaded with Windows 7.

If it is a laptop, it will be on the bottom of the case or behind the battery. If it is a desktop, it wil be on the top of the case or one of the sides of the case. The sticker will be blue and will look like this: Buying: Windows 7 Prof COA Sticker Only 100pcs up! Needed - Manila - Computers - Hardware - coa windows7

Thanks! So when I have the product key, I get that download onto a disc?

 

[Deathstroke]

Still have one unanswered question.

 

[gregrocker]

Everything you need is here to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

 

[ignatzatsonic]

So when I have the product key, I get that download onto a disc?

Make sure you download the exact same version as originally came on the PC--Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit English, or whatever it was.

Burn the downloaded ISO to a good quality disk at low speed.

Disconnect all other hard drives. Then install from that disk. Choose "drive options, advanced" when you see that choice offered on screen. Then delete all existing partitions.

You should end up with 2 partitions: a very small System Reserved and a C partition covering the entire remainder of the drive.

You might want to download the LAN driver from the manufacturer's web site before you start. Put it on a USB or DVD drive so you will be able to establish an Internet connection when the install finishes.

The install should include SP1. I'd then go to Windows Update and get all critical and important new updates.

Then get antivirus going, activate, and carry on.

 

[Mooly]

Unless I have missed it somewhere in the above posts the easiest way to reinstall is to use the laptops manufacturers recovey method which is usually a hidden partition on the HDD. That returns the PC to day one out of the box condition and reformats the HDD during the recovery process.

Make and model of laptop to advise better maybe

 

[cyclic]

Mooly, sounds good to me, at least that possibilty should be explored. The only slight disadvantage is the amount of bloatware they include.

 

[Deathstroke]

Unless I have missed it somewhere in the above posts the easiest way to reinstall is to use the laptops manufacturers recovey method which is usually a hidden partition on the HDD. That returns the PC to day one out of the box condition and reformats the HDD during the recovery process.

Make and model of laptop to advise better maybe

Any idea on how I access this?

 

[gregrocker]

Where is the make and model of your laptop requested?

You specfically asked in the first post about clean reinstalling with Win7 DVD which is why we provided that information including the latest official Win7 installer and steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

This provides a superior install to the factory image which contains corrupting bloatware and useless utilities which have better version built into Win7. Most tech enthusiasts would not run such an install.

However if you wish to try it first, tell us your make and model and we'll show you how to run Factory Recovery from its partition to see if it works. I would first make the Recovery disks to have as a backup.

 

[Mooly]

Unless I have missed it somewhere in the above posts the easiest way to reinstall is to use the laptops manufacturers recovey method which is usually a hidden partition on the HDD. That returns the PC to day one out of the box condition and reformats the HDD during the recovery process.

Make and model of laptop to advise better maybe

Any idea on how I access this?

Make and model needed to advise on how/if it is done

It's usually little more than a sequence of keystrokes or holding some key at power on to enter the recovery menus.

What has been said about a true clean install is correct but it involves more work and you have to obtain (from the manufacturers site) all the drivers and utilities needed for it to be successful. The recovery method gives you a PC identical to day one.

If any security came as a trial... such as Norton... then if you do NOT wish to use it you should first activate the trial anyway and THEN visit the appropriate vendors site (such as Norton) and download and run the specific removal tool to remove all traces of the product. Then and only then can you think of installing something else such as Microsofts free security essentials which is an excellent all round package and light on resources.

 

[gregrocker]

Win7 is driver-complete in the installer and quickly updated via optional Windows Updates. Only import the drivers missing in Device Manager after all Updates are completed.

 

[Deathstroke]

I really appreciate the help. The Make and Model of my PC is an Asus K53E. The Windows ISO is almost done downloading.

 

[gregrocker]

You can try Factory Recovery first as shown in this link: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -Support- Troubleshooting K53E

I would make the Recovery DVD's first as shown in Method Two above in case Recovery from partition using F9 key fails.

If this is not sufficient then you can do the superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

 

[Deathstroke]

And going to back to Factory will completely reformat my HD, right? I have my user backed up so no worries.

 

[Deathstroke]

These are the Drivers, correct?

 

[gregrocker]

Yes they are all provided in Factory Recovery although afterwards there will be many Windows Updates - which will also update drivers under Optional Windows Updates. So I would do those first, patiently.

 

[Deathstroke]

Damn. I only have one disk available.