Erase Hard Drive and Reinstall Windows

[laina2491]

I intend to sell my computer soon, but before doing so I'd like to clear the hard drive and remove all my personal data. I've done a bit of research on the topic and found a few programs (DBAN, Eraser) that seem to do this. I'm not exactly sure which program is best though, or what exactly they do.

I would also like to reinstall Windows 7 after erasing the hard drive. However, my copy of Windows 7 is an upgrade from the computer's original OS, Windows Vista. The computer didn't come with any system recovery or OS install disks so I'm not sure how to boot and install and OS after erasing everything. Will I be able to just put in the Windows 7 upgrade disk and install it? (I can't imagine it could be that simple, but who knows!)

I do kind of remember a "clean install option" when I upgraded - would that be the same as clearing the hard drive and reinstalling?

Thanks!

 

[Petey7]

Hello and welcome to the boards.

You are making a good choice by removing all personal data from the hard drive. I'm sure any program will do this just fine. As for how they work, the erase the drive, then go back two or three more times to make sure they got everything on the drive. It is much more thorough then simply reformatting. As for installing Windows 7 again, there is a tutorial here on how to make a disc that you can install a fresh copy of any version of 7 from. There is also a tutorial on this site (don't have the link handy at the moment) that might be a little clearer if the first tutorial is confusing at all.

If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask.

 

[Petey7]

Found the other article for you: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85813-windows-7-universal-installation-disc-create.html

 

[theog]

I intend to sell my computer soon, but before doing so I'd like to clear the hard drive and remove all my personal data. I've done a bit of research on the topic and found a few programs (DBAN, Eraser) that seem to do this. I'm not exactly sure which program is best though, or what exactly they do.

I would also like to reinstall Windows 7 after erasing the hard drive. However, my copy of Windows 7 is an upgrade from the computer's original OS, Windows Vista. The computer didn't come with any system recovery or OS install disks so I'm not sure how to boot and install and OS after erasing everything. Will I be able to just put in the Windows 7 upgrade disk and install it? (I can't imagine it could be that simple, but who knows!)

I do kind of remember a "clean install option" when I upgraded - would that be the same as clearing the hard drive and reinstalling?

Thanks!

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?ltr=C

 

[gell]

format

I bought a copy of W7 on Ebay, now Microsoft tell it is a pirate. I would like to format it to get rid of it but don't know how to do it, Can you help?

 

[theog]

I bought a copy of W7 on Ebay, now Microsoft tell it is a pirate. I would like to format it to get rid of it but don't know how to do it, Can you help?

You can clean your HD with this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

Clean install with this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html?ltr=C