Windows 7: How to wipe out everything on computer for reinstallation of Windows 7

ignatzatsonic · 31 Dec 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by scrooge

he may still be able to use f10 at the install startup screen and do diskpart to clean the drive no ?

scrooge

Sure, but what kind of an install will he end up with, using this disk that we cannot be sure about?

dynamite140 · 31 Dec 2011

Okay here the screenshot.

scrooge · 31 Dec 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by ignatzatsonic

Quote: Originally Posted by scrooge

he may still be able to use f10 at the install startup screen and do diskpart to clean the drive no ?

scrooge

Sure, but what kind of an install will he end up with, using this disk that we cannot be sure about?

guess you right,

i think he should do as you said about downloading the iso. do you have a link for it for him?

scrooge

dynamite140 · 31 Dec 2011

okay guys... what should i do now? I posted the screenshot.. though i don't see how that helps b/c its literally the same thing as i typed earlier??

ignatzatsonic · 31 Dec 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by dynamite140

I have a dell desktop and i have the windows 7 reinstallation CD. The few times i have reinstalled it, i just place the CD in and reinstalled it. However... each time i do this, i go check my C drive and i thing see everything wasn't deleted.

Well i just reinstalled windows and i see 388GB free of 451GB.

Can someone teach me how to completely delete everything so my computer would be like brand new?

That screenshot is about what I expected.

Above are quotes from your original post.

It implies to me that your Dell "Windows" disk, even if you "delete all partitions", will ultimately result in a 3 partition installation, like you have now.

I doubt if you can do a "custom install" in the same sense that someone with a retail Windows disk could do. You'll still end up with what Dell wants you to have.

A better move might be to "clean up" your existing install---I'm assuming your existing install works fine.

Or consider downloading an ISO and installing it as I mentioned above, if you can confirm from others that it could be activated with your Dell product key----if you have one.

Hipster Doofus · 31 Dec 2011

Before going any further you could download 'virtualbox' & see if you can load the disc into there. That way you will see what exactly is going to happen. That's if you can do that with a dell disc.

dynamite140 · 31 Dec 2011

How do i clean up then?

I do not think i have a dell product key. I don't see any 25 digit thing. All i see is 20 letters/digits.

This was the Reinstallation cd Dell sent me after i requested for it. So i assume this isn't a retail version.

dynamite140 · 31 Dec 2011

So are you saying at that page with the partition, there is really nothing i could have done as in deleting partition?

I'm very confused at this moment.

derekimo · 31 Dec 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by dynamite140

okay guys... what should i do now? I posted the screenshot.. though i don't see how that helps b/c its literally the same thing as i typed earlier??

Because those discs are from Dell, I don't think you are going to get any different setup than you have now.

OEM discs like that will usually just set it back up like it was before.

Can you confirm if you do or don't have a Windows.old folder?

Windows.old Folder - Delete

It does seem like a lot of space being used for a clean install.

ignatzatsonic · 31 Dec 2011

You can begin by typing disk cleanup into the start box and follow the prompts. It may find a lot of stuff to delete.

Dell disks may not have a 25 character product key. I don't know. Dell does strange things.