partial install of Win7 Pro OEM - How can I clean it out?

miketvsubs · 17 Feb 2014

I'm trying to do a clean install of Win7 Pro SP1 OEM, but all I'm getting at startup is a black screen with a pointer. I still get the Win7 startup animation, so it's at least partially installed. So how can I clean the old partial installation out of my hard drive so I can get on with my life?

I've got another thread asking what to do about a black screen & pointer problem, if anyone is interested in helping with that problem....
Installation limbo - black screen with pointer
so far, it's been viewed 142 times, but apparently nobody can solve the riddle.

bigmck · 17 Feb 2014

miketvsubs said:

I'm trying to do a clean install of Win7 Pro SP1 OEM, but all I'm getting at startup is a black screen with a pointer. I still get the Win7 startup animation, so it's at least partially installed. So how can I clean the old partial installation out of my hard drive so I can get on with my life?

Give this tutorial a read and it should be everything you need. Clean Install Windows 7

miketvsubs · 17 Feb 2014

bigmck said:

Give this tutorial a read and it should be everything you need. Clean Install Windows 7

Thanks, but I've got that same link in the other post I mentioned. As I said there, I can only get to step 10 before problems appear.

theog · 17 Feb 2014

To clean install:
1) Clean the HD Drive, using Step one in this tutorial:
SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
than
~~2a) clean install with the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disk.~~
2b) Clean Install Windows 7

~~2c) UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with~~

gregrocker · 17 Feb 2014

Back up your files, power down to unplug all other HD's and peripherals,

Boot into BIOS setup, Set DVD drive first to boot, HD second, set SATA controller to AHCI, Save changes and Exit. If you have UEFI Boot choices then proceed with UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with. If you don't want a UEFI install you can Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7. This video can help you decide: UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS - YouTube

Next boot into Windows 7 installer DVD or flash stick burned or written using tool and latest official ISO for your licensed OS version here. I would use a fresh ISO written with tool in Step 2 if yours is in question.

If your BIOS Boot menu

At first installer screen Press Shift + F10, or enter System Recovery Options to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

Next click Install Now, then Custom install to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.

In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.

After install you can adjust partition size or Create new partitions for data, etc. in Disk Mgmt. You are creating the partition here for the purpose of wiping the HD and marking Active which overcomes certain install failures.

miketvsubs · 18 Feb 2014

theog said:

To clean install:
1) Clean the HD Drive, using Step one in this tutorial:
SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
than
~~2a) clean install with the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disk.~~
2b) Clean Install Windows 7

~~2c) UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with~~

Thanks for the help. I'm in diskpart right now, on the "SSD/HD optimization for reinstall" tutorial you linked. I'm on Step2: Create A Partition, & I can't make heads or tails of it. I can't tell if I'm supposed to format or not, & I don't know whether I should skip to #5 or continue entering commands in diskpart (as shown in the diagram). Could I get a hand with this?

Also, I'm showing 2 Disks:
Disk 0 online 465GB of 465GB Free
Disk 1 No Media 0GB of 0GB Free
....I'm not sure what the deal is with Disk 1.

Thanks again for the help

miketvsubs · 18 Feb 2014

gregrocker said:

I would use a fresh ISO written with tool in Step 2 as yours is in question.

Thanks for the help. I'm trying theog's method first, & if it doesn't work I'll be back to try yours.

I don't understand the part you mentioned that my ISO is in question....I have a store-bought disk that I've treated like a baby, & it has already worked flawlessly on 2 previous installs....

gregrocker · 18 Feb 2014

Then you can save that as the last thing to try. The symptoms sound like issues we see solved by trying a new installer.

miketvsubs · 18 Feb 2014

gregrocker said:

Then you can save that as the last thing to try. The symptoms sound like issues we see solved by trying a new installer.

Ok now I see....I guess I didn't realize the installer could be somewhere other than on the disk.

Got any advice regarding the 3 issues I posted above? I'm kind of at a wall until I figure out
A) if I need to continue entering command lines into diskpart as the pic shows in the SDD/HD Optimize tut STEP2: Create A Partition Step1 (or if I should skip to step #5)
B) If I should format or not. The SDD/HD Optimize tutotial isn't very clear, here. (Same part)
and
C) What I'm supposed to do with Drive 1, which is showing 0GB free of 0GB.

thanks again

gregrocker · 18 Feb 2014

miketvsubs said:

Got any advice regarding the 3 issues I posted above?

I gave you a series of steps which solve 90% of install failures. Which ones have you already tried?

Note that I broke out the actual Diskpart commands in the steps so you wouldn't have to struggle with the tutorial you complain about. But you have to actually do the steps.