Can't reformat

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  1. Posts : 6
    Vista
       #1

    Can't reformat


    I am trying to install Win7 64x and I had 2 partitions originally, one system partition with 32x vista and one storage partition. I already backed them up on an external so I want to reformat the current internal drive and install windows 7 64x.

    In the installation screen, I went to Custom Install and Drive Options (following the tutorial here: Clean Install Windows 7 )

    Somehow my storage partition was set up as primary so I deleted it and extended my other partition. I am on step 8 of the tutorial but there the option to Delete Extend or Format is greyed out and cannot be selected. I have one partition currently, and all I can do is hit Next or Refresh or Load Drivers.

    What do I do?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #2

    If I understand you correctly, all of your data is backed up.

    If that is so, start over.

    You shouldn't have any need to extend any partitions.

    Boot from the installation disc and select custom install. When you come to the partition screen, select drive options advanced.

    Delete all partitions at the next screen. Make one new partition of your desired size. Mark it active.

    Continue with Windows install. When finished, go to Windows 7 Disk Management and make a new partition for your data. Then copy your backed up data to this new data partition.

    If this doesn't work, advise EXACTLY how far you get and what any error message is. As I recall, you have to highlight a partition before you can delete it.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6
    Vista
    Thread Starter
       #3

    That's what I was saying in my first post. I do not have the ability to delete. The option is greyed out.

    To be more clear:
    Delete, Extend, Format are not selectable and greyed out; I cannot click them.
    Next, Refresh, Load Drivers are selectable; I can click them.

    I think I may have to upgrade my BIOS to support 64x. Can anyone confirm? This will be my next step.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #4

    Are you selecting a partition before attempting to delete it?

    Why are you trying to extend a partition?

    The idea is to delete all partitions.

    There is an alternative involving the diskpart command, but make sure you are doing things right with the standard method.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 17,796
    Windows 10, Home Clean Install
       #5

    finniksa said:
    I am trying to install Win7 64x and I had 2 partitions originally, one system partition with 32x vista and one storage partition. I already backed them up on an external so I want to reformat the current internal drive and install windows 7 64x.

    In the installation screen, I went to Custom Install and Drive Options (following the tutorial here: Clean Install Windows 7 )

    Somehow my storage partition was set up as primary so I deleted it and extended my other partition. I am on step 8 of the tutorial but there the option to Delete Extend or Format is greyed out and cannot be selected. I have one partition currently, and all I can do is hit Next or Refresh or Load Drivers.

    What do I do?
    Did you boot from the DVD or the current OS?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 6
    Vista
    Thread Starter
       #6

    richc46 said:
    Did you boot from the DVD or the current OS?
    I am booting from the DVD. :)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 17,796
    Windows 10, Home Clean Install
       #7

    Ok Just wanted to be sure. If you booth from the OS, you would not have format, partition option, etc. Have A Great New Year.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 16,133
    7 X64
       #8

    Boot to the command prompt, type

    Diskpart

    sel disk 0

    detail disk

    ( make a note and post up exactly what it says)

    exi.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #9

    Here is an alternative.

    It is harmless assuming you have only 1 hard drive in your PC. If you have other hard drives, it would be safest to disconnect them before doing this:

    1.Once Windows 7 Setup is loaded, press Shift + F10 keys at the first setup screen (which allows selection of language, keyboard and locale). A Command Prompt window will be opened.

    2.Run Diskpart, the built-in disk partitioning tool of Windows 7 with the following command:

    diskpart

    3.Type in the following commands one by one, followed by the Enter key to create a partition (text in brackets are comments only):

    list disk (to show the ID number of the hard disk to partition, normally Disk 0)

    select disk 0 (change 0 to another number if applicable)

    clean

    create partition primary size=80000 (create a partition with 80 GB space; to use the entire disk as one partition, omit the “size=value” parameter switch; use a similar command to create more partitions if needed or create in Windows 7 after installation)

    select partition 1

    active

    format fs=ntfs quick

    exit

    4.Type exit at command prompt to close Command Prompt window.

    5.Continue Windows 7 installation as usual. Remember to just highlight and select the partition just created when you come to the partition screen.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 6
    Vista
    Thread Starter
       #10

    richc46 said:
    Ok Just wanted to be sure. If you booth from the OS, you would not have format, partition option, etc. Have A Great New Year.
    I'm not sure what to do then. I am booting from the DVD and I don't have those options. Do I need to upgrade my BIOS or something?
      My Computer


 
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