Is this the right approach for a truly clean install?

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  1. Posts : 6,021
    Win 7 HP SP1 64-bit Vista HB SP2 32-bit Linux Mint 18.3
       #1

    Is this the right approach for a truly clean install?


    Good afternoon,

    I am just about to reinstall my Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit system.

    I want to do a clean install.

    My question is in two parts:

    (A) Is it best to boot to diskpart first and use only DISKPART> clean as opposed to DISKPART> clean all as in Step 1 in this tutorial:

    SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

    ...to set the whole of drive C: to unallocated space, and then exit diskpart to let the installation from the DVD take over (does the DISKPART> clean all not over-write the HDD Master Boot Record?).

    (B) Will I then be able to setup two further partitions (besides the C: partition of course) during the DVD installation process, one being for user profiles and data and one being for system image?

    I intend to do the installation using this tutorial:

    Clean Install Windows 7

    ...but also include this tutorial:

    Relocate Userfolders during Windows 7 installation.pdf

    ...for user profiles and data.

    Does this sound right or have I gone adrift somewhere?

    Am I right in saying that if I do the installation this way I will not end up with a Windows.old file?

    I am just trying to get the cleanest system to start with in which I can clean install.

    Thanks in advance.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #2

    - If you delete all partitions using Win 7 installation disk and then create new (to install Win 7) it will create a 120M MS reserved partition that is useless, unless you have Win 7 ultimate and going to use Bitlocker.
    If you use diskpart to delete all partitions, create a new one and then go to install and point to install on that partition, the 120M MS reserved partition won't be created.
    I think that to trick windows installation wizard to gain 120M on a 120G disk makes no sense.

    - If you delete all partitions, create new and install Windows on it, there will be no Windows.old folder.
    - If you delete all partitions, create new, you can set the size of the partition. The remaining size can be split on more partitions and formatted in order to have drive C: with Win 7 and D: with \users and other data.


    I have a 128G SSD GPT with
    - 100M UEFI partition (Fat32)
    - 120M MS reserved (RAW)
    - 83 G for Windows (NTFS)
    - 40 G for Linux (ext4)

    I have a 1T HDD GPT with one NTFS partition for D:\Users and Data.

    On a third disk, 1T Backup HDD GPT disk, I have some similar configuration to what you want to build.
    - 100M UEFI partition (Fat32)
    - 120M MS reserved (RAW)
    - 83 G for Windows (NTFS)
    - 930G NTFS partition for D:\Users and Data.

    To relocate the users folder to D:
    https://www.sevenforums.com/attachme...d-relocate.zip
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 6,021
    Win 7 HP SP1 64-bit Vista HB SP2 32-bit Linux Mint 18.3
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks for the reply Megahertz07, it is very much appreciated.

    I am still trying to get my head around this, unfortunately without much success.
    At the moment I only have drive C: with NO partitions running Windows 7 Home premium 64-bit.

    What I basically want to do is:

    (1) Format the hard drive. I thought doing this with DISKPART> clean would overwrite the whole disk with zeros. I thought this is what is known as a Secure Erase. I was going to do this once I get to the Language screen. I understand it to be like a quick format.

    (2) Setup two extra partitions apart from C:, one for user profiles and data (drive U) and one for system images (drive S). I was going to do this within the installation itself when I get to the Drive options (advanced). I don't know where I need to format the C:, U: and I: partitions though.

    (3) Then when I get to the screen where you should enter your username and computer name I was going to Relocate User Folders using the Notepad script (the same as the one you sent me, thank you) and then using the System Preperation Tool:

    C:\Users\Administrator>cd \Windows\System32\Sysprep
    C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep.exe /audit /reboot /unattend:U:\relocate.xml

    (4) Continue with the installation until completion.

    Can you please advise me where I am going wrong?

    Thanks in advance.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #4

    Paul, Diskpart is a very powerful command tool, but is a little tricky as you must do the right sequence. To do what you want to do (make many partitions on a single disk) you don't need Diskpart. You can use the win 7 installation wizard to do it.
    - Diskpart - clean doesn't format. It deletes the partition.
    - As you only have one disk, I can't see why you want to relocate \users to another drive.
    - Don't save the the disk images on the source disk. If you loose the disk, you loose everything.

    My suggestions:
    - Basically is a Clean Install Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums
    - Boot from win 7 installation disk. Go to install - Advanced- delete ALL partitions - create new. Choose a size for C:.
    - On The remaining space you can create a new partition (U: ) and then on the remaining space, I:. The letters probably will be assigned as D: and E:. Don't worry, you can change it latter.
    - Begin installation. When it asks to the enter the user, enter audit mode. (ctrl+shift+f3).
    - Once you reboot you will be administrator. Open disk manager and change the partitions letters to U: and I:. I personally don't think that it's a good idea as U is at the end of the list. I would make users to D: and the CD/DVD ODD to X:. The image can be I:.
    Edit Relocate - W7HP.xml.txt and change the ODD drive letter to the one you have set on the previous step. Save it as Relocate.xml and put it on the root of the drive that will have \users (D: or U: )
    Edit Sysprep.cmd.txt to match the drive letter you choose. Save as Sysprep.cmd.
    Execute Sysprep.cmd to begin the relocation.
    Folow Kari tutorial https://www.sevenforums.com/attachme...stallation.pdf
    Last edited by Megahertz07; 05 Jul 2017 at 14:36.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 6,021
    Win 7 HP SP1 64-bit Vista HB SP2 32-bit Linux Mint 18.3
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks again Megahertz07 for your time and effort in answering me, it is very much appreviated.

    Thinking about it I am going to make the users drive F: and image drive I: because I assume there is a down side to using a drive letter so far down the list as U:?

    I have pretty much followed your suggestions and the link you posted are the instructions I will be using, thank you.

    The reason for wanting to relocate \users to another drive is that if I have a problem with the C: drive which will only have my system and programs I can re-image it without having to worry about backing up my folders and documents.

    I will have to save the images on the I: partition for now as money is tight, but I will be buying an external hard drive to use for imaging when I can afford it.

    I do appreciate the fact that if the disk gets corrupted that I will lose everything, system, documents and images. I do backup my folders and documents to a USB on a very regular basis.

    Just a couple of questions though please.
    (1) I have a 500GB hard drive. What size do you recommend for drive C: if I am only going to have Windows 7 Home Premium, my programs and Office 2010. I was thinking of about 100GB.

    (2) I could then allocate 100GB to the \users partition and 100GB to the image partition. This would leave me with 200GB that will still be un-allocated and that I could use in the future to expand a partition if it is needed. Is that correct please?

    (3) Do I need to format these partitions, and if so, how do I do that please?

    (4) You say:
    Edit Sysprep.cmd.txt to match the drive letter you choose d. Save as Sysprep.cmd.
    Execute Sysprep.cmd to begin the relocation.
    I am not sure how to execute this!

    In Kari's instructions he states that once the lines:

    C:\Users\Administrator>cd \Windows\System32\Sysprep
    ...and...
    C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep.exe /audit /reboot /unattend:U:\relocate.xml

    ...are both confirmed with Enter, that the System Preparation Tool dialog telling it is working on our script takes over and creates the \users on drive F:.

    I don't quite follow this bit.

    Your Notepad script contains two extra lines at the beginning:
    net stop wmpnetworksvc <---------
    pause <--------
    cd c:\Windows\System32\Sysprep
    c:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\sysprep.exe /oobe /reboot /unattend:\relocate.xml


    Isn't this what is applied in the relocate.xml script?

    I am almost there, it is just these couple of points that I need clarifying please.

    Thanks in advance.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #6

    - What program you use to create the disk image?
    - Do you have a boot able CD or DVD that has the restore image program?
    - If you have a problem with the C: drive, which will only have your system and programs, how you're going to launch the program to restore the image as C:?

    I would only do 2 partitions:
    85G C: for system and programs
    Remaining space for D: for Data and images
    To have Data and images on same partition gives you more freedom

    - As you have a 500G disk:
    - 85G for C: is more than you're going to use.
    - 100G for I: is ok if you're going to have only one image.
    - Remaining to Data

    As I wrote, you can create the partitions when you begin the installation wizard. You can also create only one partition for C: and once you enter audit mode and logged as administrator, you can go to disk manager and on the free space create the others partitions. I don't remember, but I think that when you create a new partition it will be formatted. If not, you can format it (NTFS).

    If you open a CMD window and type a cmd line you have to give a enter to execute. The file I gave you is a batch file that will execute line by line. the line net stop wmpnetworksvc is just to be sure the sysprep will be executed. You only have to replace the drive letter where you going to place the Relocate.xml
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 6,021
    Win 7 HP SP1 64-bit Vista HB SP2 32-bit Linux Mint 18.3
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Hi again Megahertz07,

    I will be using AOMEI Backupper as my imaging software. I have used it before and it does the job very nicely indeed.

    I have a boot able DVD that came with the computer for the reinstallation.

    Seeing I am going to use the I: partition as my image partition I will be able to restore the C: image from a USB I create through AOMEI Backupper.

    I will image my computer as and when I feel it necessary, so I could have a dozen or so images that is why I want to have a separate partition solely for images.

    I will initially make an image when the install has finished and all the updates are installed.
    I will probably make another image once I have installed Office 2010 and all the updates are installed.
    I will then make images when I feel it necessary.

    Megahertz07 said:
    If you open aCMD window and type a cmd line you have to give a enter to execute. The file Igave you is a batch file that will execute line by line. The line net stop wmpnetworksvc is just to besure the sysprep will be executed. You only have to replace the drive letterwhere you going to place the Relocate.xml

    So am I right in saying that I copy the file Relocate - W7HP.xml to the root of the users partition F:.
    Then I go into an elevated command and type in Sysprep.cmd and press Enter?

    Am I right in saying that this replaces me having to type in the following:

    C:\Users\Administrator>cd\Windows\System32\Sysprep
    ...and...
    C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep.exe/audit /reboot /unattend:F:\relocate.xml

    ...which are both confirmed with Enter, and then the System Preparation Tool takes over and creates the \users on drive F:?

    Thanks again.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #8

    Paul,
    As you plan to have many images:
    - 85G for C:
    - 100G for F:
    - Remaining for I:

    - Once you enter audit as administrator, you have to open disk management to see what drive letters has been assigned to the partitions. Change the drive letters:
    - Change ODD to X: so it will always be the last one.
    - Change Data partition to F:
    - Change Image partition to I:

    - Edit Relocate - W7HP.xml.txt and change the ODD drive letter X:. Save it as Relocate.xml and put it on the root of the drive that will have \users (F: )
    - Edit Sysprep.cmd.txt and change the drive where is Relocate.xml, now F:. Save as Sysprep.cmd.
    Execute Sysprep.cmd by double click. It will execute the fist line and pause. Hit any key and it will proceed with moving \users to F:. Once it reboots, follow Kari tutorial to finish.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 6,021
    Win 7 HP SP1 64-bit Vista HB SP2 32-bit Linux Mint 18.3
    Thread Starter
       #9

    OK thanks Megahertz07, I will be giving this a go this evening.

    I assume that the ODD is the CD/DVD ROM drive? It is currently D:.
    Where do you suggest I save the Sysprep.cmd to?
    Would you use Disk Management or Diskpart in Elevated Command Prompt for the partitioning?
    I didn't realise that you could do these sort of things while actually in the middle of an installation!

    As I said, I will give this a go this evening and let you know how I get on.

    Very many thanks.

    EDIT:
    Is it safe to leave unallocated space in case I need extra space at some time in the future?
    I was thinking that if I used 100 GB EACH for C:, F: & I:, I will be left with 200 GB.
    Last edited by Paul Black; 20 Jun 2017 at 10:06.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #10

    Paul Black said:
    OK thanks Megahertz07, I will be giving this a go this evening.

    I assume that the ODD is the CD/DVD ROM drive? It is currently D:. Yes ODD = CD DVD
    Where do you suggest I save the Sysprep.cmd to? any place
    Would you use Disk Management or Diskpart in Elevated Command Prompt for the partitioning? Disk Management
    I didn't realise that you could do these sort of things while actually in the middle of an installation!

    As I said, I will give this a go this evening and let you know how I get on.

    Very many thanks.
    Good luck
      My Computers


 
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