I'm geting nuts over here!!!

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  1. Posts : 23
    Windows 7 32 bits
       #1

    I'm geting nuts over here!!!


    If there is thing i hate about windows is that how everything became automatic and user friendly! Am I the only one who misses the time where formatingg the hard drive was as simple as going to DOS and write: Format C:

    DONE!!

    But now I can't and I'm going nuts over here... I have windows 7 in my laptop and I need urgently to format the hard drive in order to erase some unwanted files from old windows instalations and virus that I can't get rid of. I tried to create a partition but the same user friendly windows system only allows me to create a partition with 1.77Gb which is not enough to install windows there and then do the job.

    So, guys, can you help me out?? How can I do to format C: in windows 7???

    Thnaks in advance...
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6,305
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #2

    Hi, welcome to the forums :)

    I would advise you perform a Custom Install which will completely install Windows over your existing system while putting everything into a Windows.Old folder. You can then move any wanted files or remove the folder after installation. More detailed into in the tutorial...


    OS
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5,642
    Windows 10 Pro (x64)
       #3

    Boot up from the installation media. When at the drive selection screen. Select the desired partitions and Delete them. Then install windows on the blank drive. Or if you perfer the manual way. While booted in the installation media hit: SHIFT + F10. then enter "diskpart".
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 23
    Windows 7 32 bits
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hi!

    Guys, the costum instalation doesn't solve any problem, as I said, I want to get rid of files, I want to format. How do I boot from the dvd drive? I tried everything but it's not working... I pressed ESC, DEL, F6, F1, F8... it's not allowing me to choose boot order...
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 23
    Windows 7 32 bits
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Ok, I manage to find out, the problem is, now the computer isn't starting via dvd! Although I select the boot order and I specifically say to the computer to boot from there, it reads the dvd drive, and then it starts again with the C:, vi windows 7. So, any more suggestions to format this junk?

    Thanks in advance!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 6,305
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #6

    The custom install can be run from within Windows and will still have the exact same effects as a clean install.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #7

    Hello jonybigude, welcome to Seven Forums!


    Here's everything you are looking for and then some.


    After you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media, use Step One of this tutorial at the first link below to do a wipe (secure erase) to the entire Hard Disk Drive / Solid State Drive.
    • Then if you do not want to create the new Windows 7 "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #2 to create, format and mark Active a single 100GB partition to do the installation to.
    • If you do want to create the "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #3 to create, format and mark Active the System Reserved partition and then create and format the 100GB partition to do the installation to.
    Either way, running the "clean all" then creating and formatting the partition(s) using diskpart will get you the best possible space to do a clean install of Windows 7 to; you can always extend the Windows partition to include the remaining unallocated space on the HDD / SSD or create additional Primary partitions or an Extended partition after the installation completes if you choose.

    SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

    DISKPART : At PC Startup

    Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 23
    Windows 7 32 bits
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Ok, maybe it is something that I am doing wrong, but the problem is that I already have 3 folders in my C: named "Windows.old" from previous windows instalations. I want to delete them and I can't, the system doesn't let me! The files are there, but when I press "delete" there is an error message saying that it is not possible to delete the files because they are not there or are being used. I already tried to do it running as administrator, same result, later I tried as safety mode and the result was the same... So, I really need to format! Or at least to find a way to do a bigger partition (I have more than 100Gb free, but the Computer managment only allows me to do a partition of 1.7Gb because it says that it is the limit because of the unmovable files. Weird...).

    Some suggestion?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 6,305
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #9

    Have a butchers at the following...

    1, Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools then right-click Disk Cleanup and select Run as Administrator
    2, Click More Options then Cleanup in the Shadow & Restore section
    3, In the Disk Cleanup tab, scroll down and see if there are any entries for Previous Windows Installations. If so, check the boxes and click OK
      My Computer

  10.   My Computer


 
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