formatted drive, need info

hello,

i have a seagate MOMENTUS 5400.4 (250GB) internal drive, this drive is supposed to be in my ASUS (the one to have win7 on it). but im thinking to maybe get a stable operating system on there, get it worked out, then upgrade to win7. so because i already have winXP pro, im thinking of starting off with that, then move to win7.
but in the XP installation (ive read up on this, here), if its a SATA drive (which mine is), i need to install drivers for it to finally install windows on it. is this true? where can i find these drivers??
the reason for this is because when i formatted my drive, i may have did it the wrong way. all i can see on the drive is two folders (recycle bin, and system something), the recycle bin obviously has the recycle bin in it, and the system folder is inaccessible.
but i can't help feel that i have formatted it wrong, the reason for originally formatting it was to wipe everything and start fresh, but i dont know if there should be any files on there ready to install an OS on there. like, i dunno, a bat file, or anything...

so if anyone can clarify this question, 'what files need to be inside a SATA INTERNAL drive before i can install an OS (or insert it back into a laptop)??', then that would be really helpful

(>'_')> bonecrusher <('_'<)

The recycle bin, and system volume information folders indicate you formatted this drive as either a logical partition, or extended partition.

Why would you want to install XP first, then upgrade to Windows 7? Why not a clean install instead?

thanks for getting back to me MADMAXDATA,

clean install?? from win7? it wouldn't happen to be the 'custom install or whatever its called is it?
its an evaluation version, so it doesn't have a clean install option.
unless your talking about winXP, then im all ears on how to do that.


i got two options:
- hopefully i can get better speeds out of my laptop by installing XP, no offence, like, i know this is a win7 forum, but i like my games.

/or/

- install winXP, get that settled in (drivers and what not), then upgrade to win7 (hopefully that will be successful), then virtualize XP in win7. like i said above, i like my games...

bonecrusher said:

hello,

i have a seagate MOMENTUS 5400.4 (250GB) internal drive, this drive is supposed to be in my ASUS (the one to have win7 on it). but im thinking to maybe get a stable operating system on there, get it worked out, then upgrade to win7. so because i already have winXP pro, im thinking of starting off with that, then move to win7.
but in the XP installation (ive read up on this, here), if its a SATA drive (which mine is), i need to install drivers for it to finally install windows on it. is this true? where can i find these drivers??
the reason for this is because when i formatted my drive, i may have did it the wrong way. all i can see on the drive is two folders (recycle bin, and system something), the recycle bin obviously has the recycle bin in it, and the system folder is inaccessible.
but i can't help feel that i have formatted it wrong, the reason for originally formatting it was to wipe everything and start fresh, but i dont know if there should be any files on there ready to install an OS on there. like, i dunno, a bat file, or anything...

so if anyone can clarify this question, 'what files need to be inside a SATA INTERNAL drive before i can install an OS (or insert it back into a laptop)??', then that would be really helpful

(>'_')> bonecrusher <('_'<)

If you would like to wipe the disk 100% clean before installing, then:

1. Boot from the Win7 DVD.
2. When the first dialog appears requiring an action from you, press SHIFT + F10 key combo.
3. You will end up at a command prompt showing X:>

Now use this procedure:

· type DiskPart, Enter key
· type List disk, Enter key
note the numeral of the disk you want to clean
for example purposes, I’ll be using the numeral 0
· type Select disk 0, Enter key
· type Detail disk, Enter key
this info will let you know if you selected correctly
· type Clean ALL, Enter key
your entire disk is being overwritten with zeros.
This can take a considerable amount of time
· type EXIT, Enter key (only after Clean is finished)
· type EXIT, Enter key (this gets you back where you were)

but i just wanna make sure, if i was to get a brand spankin new internal drive to install windows 7 onto it, like with everything off it (i mean everything, not even those two folders, the recycle bin and system volume info), do i need any files or folders that windows 7 depends on to install itself onto it?

and thanks karlsnooks for a reply such as yours, i will try to do it, but im a bit hazy on what that actually does. i mean, i know you gave a bit by bit explanation for all the steps, but whats it for?
im hoping it fixes my problem anyway...

bonecrusher

bonecrusher said:

but i just wanna make sure, if i was to get a brand spankin new internal drive to install windows 7 onto it, like with everything off it (i mean everything, not even those two folders, the recycle bin and system volume info), do i need any files or folders that windows 7 depends on to install itself onto it?

and thanks karlsnooks for a reply such as yours, i will try to do it, but im a bit hazy on what that actually does. i mean, i know you gave a bit by bit explanation for all the steps, but whats it for?
im hoping it fixes my problem anyway...

bonecrusher

The procedure will thorougly wipe your disk clean of anything and everything.

I always use the procedure when preparing to do a fresh install or to clean a computer before selling, giving away, or whatever.

ah, ok, thankyou very much.

sorry, i was just a bit curious on what it was gonna do

i will try it right now...

bonecrusher

Bonecrusher,

Looking forward to hearing your report of complete and full success.
Karl

thanks karl,

i just completed it not too long ago, completing the operation till the end with no dramas.

this has helped me towards installing windows 7 on my machine, my thread that has almost been resolved by the work of GREGROCKER.

' 'here is the post' '

i will notify you, along with other members who have helped me on my way, on the result of my machine

bonecrusher