Reformat gone bad - please help

Update: I changed the boot device to dvd drive and restarted pc with upgrade disc loaded and nothing happened. By that I mean I was prompted to start windows normally as usual.

If one were to make the 'mistake' of leaving a DVD in the DVD drive while reformatting drive C: could it possibly erase what's on the DVD???

Right, of course. I tried booting the dvd 4 consecutive times but it just wouldn't boot. I was thinking the DVD may have been erased, because whenever I put the disk in I didn't hear anything at first, but then I could hear the DVD revving up and then I was prompted to download the upgrade wizard. I decided to try to reinstall via the wizard, but apparently the wizard is reading the other two Windows 7 downloads currently on my pc as though I have already installed Windows 7 via the wizard, because it was then skipping ahead to step 3 (which is the last step) prompting me to download drivers. In other words, it doesn't give you the option to back up and choose step 1 again. I suppose it's possible it could be reading that way because of the very first time I installed the upgrade.

I did take it upon myself to explore the file on the dvd which read "Common Drivers" and decided perhaps I should copy them to a folder on my desktop incase I should need them. There were approximately 5 gb worth of drivers there, but I'm not sure which of them I might need or if the half dozen drivers I downloaded from the Acer support site would be sufficient enough. I could of course take a picture of the list of drivers if you think they might be worth exploring.

So, I'm not sure if I should attempt to reformat the drive and attempt to delete both old downloads of Windows and try again to install with upgrade disc (I am actually a bit doubtful it can be done without having Windows Vista on this machine, not that I'm doubting you guys) or if there is some other way I can reinstall windows with the intention of reformatting both drives and ergo deleting both old downloads of Windows. I'm certainly open to suggestions.

Slartybart said:

There's an 8 second window that asks you to press a key to boot the DVD. Maybe you didn't see itI'm not sure why you were prompted to start Windows normally

arayfo1 said:

Update: I changed the boot device to dvd drive and restarted pc with upgrade disc loaded and nothing happened. By that I mean I was prompted to start windows normally as usual.

arayfo1 said:

If one were to make the 'mistake' of leaving a DVD in the DVD drive while reformatting drive C: could it possibly erase what's on the DVD???

Not unless it is a RW DVD and you made the mistake of formmatting the DVD (that would be two mistakes)

No, sorry. Reformatting C: is how I got into this mess to begin with. I have not reformatted either drive since.

I'm gonna go grab something to eat. Check in with you guys later. Thanks.

Slartybart said:

what are you doing? Formating C:?

1. Boot the computer from your Windows 7 installation DVD/USB.
NOTE: Make sure that the CD/DVD drive is selected first and your HDD second in the boot priority order in your BIOS settings. Usually it is by default.

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Is it absolutely necessary that the HDD be my second boot device? Because the way my BIOS is set up I can't make my CD/DVD drive my first boot device without making my HDD my third boot device.