Installing without a CD/USB and cleaning HDD


  1. IkeVeles
    Posts : 3
    Win 7 Pro x64
       New #1

    Installing without a CD/USB and cleaning HDD


    I messed up my OS, got a BSOD and it lagged a lot. I did a System restore and it got better but it still lags a bit.
    Now I'd like to fully clear and clean/reset my HDD. Do I do this with diskpart clean all? Also, will this damage my HDD, is it safe? I did a 'clean all' about 2 days ago when I was switching from Linux to Win.
    And I'd like to do that without using a CD/USB flash drive. I have an .iso image with Windows on it with a valid product key. If I mount the .iso on a virtual drive (using Daemon Tools for example) could I do it that way and cleaning the HDD too?
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  3. ignatzatsonic
    Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       New #2

    Don't know about using Daemon tools, but "clean all" isn't typically needed for a fresh install. But it can't hurt.

    Can't you "clean all" in the same way you did it about 2 days ago? It's usually done from a command prompt after booting from an ordinary Windows 7 install disc.
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  4. IkeVeles
    Posts : 3
    Win 7 Pro x64
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    ignatzatsonic said:
    Don't know about using Daemon tools, but "clean all" isn't typically needed for a fresh install. But it can't hurt.

    Can't you "clean all" in the same way you did it about 2 days ago? It's usually done from a command prompt after booting from an ordinary Windows 7 install disc.
    I can't do clean all like I did before. I had a USB with my Windows on it before. Now I don't, and I wont have it anytime soon.
    If clean all doesn't "hurt", then I'll do it just in case. I don't want to have any (more) problems with my OS if it leaves any traces of the older OS. Will a custom install do the similar job? I just don't want ANY traces of older OSs, files, documents or registries.

    So can I do it (clean all) without using a CD/Flash drive? Doesn't have to be Daemons tools, any software for virtual drives will do.
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  6. Ztruker
    Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       New #4

    You can't have virtual drive without a booted operating system. You can't destroy (clean all) the drive you are booted from, so, bottom line, you need to boot from CD\DVD or USB.
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  7. AddRAM
    Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       New #5

    Just boot from the dvd and format the install partition or delete all the partitions and create new or leave the entire drive as unallocated space and just click next.

    Clean Install Windows 7
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  8. IkeVeles
    Posts : 3
    Win 7 Pro x64
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    Is a DVD disk (4.7GB) enough for a Windows 8 1? I know it's enough for Win7
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  10. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #7

    Everything is here to get and keep a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums.

    Not necessary to run Clean All which is overkill and hard on the drive. In some rare cases of install failure we use Diskpart Clean Command to clear the partition table and boot sector, but like Brian says above you really only need to boot the installer and delete all partitions using the Drive options pictured in Steps 7/8 of Clean Install Windows 7
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