What is a clean install exactly?

Hi all,

I just want to clearly ask what is a clean install of Windows?

Note this is not related to the clean install links already found here at SevenForums ie one example HERE

I want to start by stating:

• You do NOT want to preserve your data, programs, or system drivers.

• You want to delete your current operating system, and install Windows clean.
• Plus You are not changing to a different OS or format

Here's my example.
If a computer had a faulty partition, and the user only formatted the drive and then was still able to install Windows successfully (this is possible on some faults with partitions) Would that be counted as a clean install?

Further. (the common scenario)
If a user only formatted a drive without knowing if the partition was ok or not, then installed Windows successfully, Would that be counted as a clean install?


My concern, is should a 'clean' install be known as removing the existing OS partition as well? (This is not related to other partitions or even any existing Recovery partitions.
I note, that many Recovery partitions, actually do fully remove any existing partitions on the OS drive/partition. This may or may not be given as a user choice during the recovery image process.

I feel this is somewhat grey in the support technical area. Some say yes, some say no.
I personally say yes a 'clean' install requires a mandatory removal of the OS drive/partition. This has caused some debate on the forums I attend!
The reason why I state removal of partition is because its not 'clean' otherwise.

I would prefer as many responses as possible, but I'd like someone to define 'clean' install as per sevenforums understandings as well. I may also use this topic as a reference to other forums.

Thanks, in my view should be an easy answer, otherwise no one must really know!

Thanks Admin

So to put it in my words exactly (referring exactly to your reply)

A 'clean' install means removing the OS partition fully
Anyway that's my understanding.

a clean install generally means--starting from scratch...in other words...

A Windows 7 clean install simply means an installation of Windows 7 on an unused partition on your hard drive. In most cases, though, a clean install of Windows 7 means to remove an existing operating system (Windows XP, Linux, Windows 7... doesn't matter) and to replace it with a fresh installation of Windows 7.

Brink said:

It only applies to whatever partition or HDD that you want to install the fresh/clean copy of Windows on.

Yes, that, right.

A fresh copy/clean copy of Windows on an already partitioned drive, should have that partition removed first.

I forgot to add, this is not related to a brand new drive.

Put another way...a clean install is simply a vanilla OS install starting fresh from zero - not an upgrade of an existing OS or repair install or any other kind of install that preserves or upgrades an existing OS.

A clean install does not necessarily mean deleting an existing OS partition. If that were the case, then clean installs would preclude any way of dualbooting.

If you already have one or more OSes and you install another OS to its own partition, that's a clean install too (apart from the fact that Windows 7 will place its boot files into an existing active partition and set up a boot menu automatically).

Tips for getting a perfect Clean Reinstall: Reinstalling Windows 7

You can leave the factory Recovery and tools partitions, but its unlikely they will run after clean reinstall so be sure to make your Recovery Disks. Then you can consider deleting them to recoup the HD space.

Do you have the installation DVD for your licensed version listed on the COA sticker?