Help please...

Warfare · 29 Jan 2010

I am trying to do a clean install of windows 7. I currently have Windows 7 installed. I bought a UPGRADE version on windows 7 ultimate.

I tried the tutorial above, but when I go to custom installation FORMAT and NEW are grayed out.

Will I need to install Windows XP then upgrade? Or is there another way to do the clean install?

gregrocker · 29 Jan 2010

You have to boot the installer to get the Drive Tools to delete/create/format. partitions.Boot from CD - How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD - Boot to CD

You do not need to install XP to use an Upgrade version. The DVD will scan the HD at bootup, see an OS and allow Upgrade version key.

Clean Install Windows 7

Warfare · 30 Jan 2010

I did, I was in the setup at the time, the settings were still grayed out. DO I need to run the installer in windows first, then boot from CD?

Capella · 30 Jan 2010

Hmmm, if you boot from the dvd, the upgrade setting shouldn't be greyed out in any case. are you sure you booted from the dvd correctly? If you did, you should have seen a "windows is loading" black animation and a low resolution windows setup being displayed.

gregrocker · 30 Jan 2010

Warfare said:

I did, I was in the setup at the time, the settings were still grayed out. DO I need to run the installer in windows first, then boot from CD?

No. Boot the DVD, select Custom install, then use Drive Options to repartition as you wish, then format before install.

If you cannot use the Drive Tools to format for some reason, go ahead and install Win7 in the selected partition.

Warfare · 30 Jan 2010

sparkie said:

Hmmm, if you boot from the dvd, the upgrade setting shouldn't be greyed out in any case. are you sure you booted from the dvd correctly? If you did, you should have seen a "windows is loading" black animation and a low resolution windows setup being displayed.

Yes, I did.

gregrocker said:

No. Boot the DVD, select Custom install, then use Drive Options to repartition as you wish, then format before install.

If you cannot use the Drive Tools to format for some reason, go ahead and install Win7 in the selected partition.

I did exactly this, The FORMAT button is grayed out. The partition says 298 gig Harddrive, 30 gig left of free space.

Brink · 30 Jan 2010

Hello Warfare,

In addition to the above, this can show you other options on how to do a clean install with a Upgrade Windows 7 incase that does not work out.

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Hope this helps,
Shawn

gregrocker · 30 Jan 2010

Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command

Do you want to wipe and format the drive first? If so, boot the Win7 DVD, select Repair My Computer on second screen, click through to Recovery Tools list and open a Command Line, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (for Windows 7 disk)
clean
create partition primary
select partition 1
assign letter=c:
active
format
exit

Now boot back into the DVD, select Custom install and install. You may need to use one of the workarounds in Brinks tutorial above if you install to pre-formatted HD.