Unable to reformat computer after upgrade to 7

luvzariel · 28 Mar 2011

I had upgraded my laptop from Vista to Windows 7. I want to do a destructive reformat but nothing I try works. I was supposed to press one of the F keys (can't recall right now but have tried them all) and none of those work. Everything I have tried has failed. I really REALLY need to get this thing reformatted. I tried using the upgrade disk and now when I reboot it tries to upgrade Windows...which is turning into an all night process.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

severedsolo · 28 Mar 2011

Hi luvzariel (Final Fantasy reference?) Welcome to the forums,

I think this is what you want: Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command

Rather than going through Disk Management as the tutorial suggests though, put your Windows 7 disk into your drive, boot it and go to "Repair My Computer" from there go to Command prompt, and then follow the instructions.

Hope it helps/

luvzariel · 28 Mar 2011

Thank you Martin...actually Ariel is my cat lol. I didn't mention that the disk I have is an upgrade disk....not the actual Windows 7 installation. Will that still work??

severedsolo · 28 Mar 2011

I don't see any reason why not. It is perfectly possible to do a clean install from an upgrade disk. Unfortunately i don't have an upgrade disk myself to test it with. Worth a shot though.

Oh, before I forget. Unless you have another machine to read the instructions from, write them down first

I shouldn't need to say it, but there is always someone

gregrocker · 28 Mar 2011

You can use an Upgrade version installer to clean Install Win7:

Back up your files, Boot the installer, choose Custom install then Drive Options to delete partitions, repartition and format. How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD - Boot to CD

The installer will scan the HD to see the previous OS and allow Upgrade key. If not, leave the key blank during install and do one of these workarounds afterward: Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version - Windows 7 Forums

If you delete all partitions to create New ones and format, the installer will issue a 100mb System Reserved boot partition which conveniently places the Repair Console (normally only on the DVD or Repair CD) on the F8 Advanced Boot Tools menu. Partition as you wish and format before install following illustrated steps given here: Clean Install Windows 7

The installer is mostly driver-complete, with newer arriving quickly via optional Windows Updates. Just in case, have your Wireless driver on flash stick or CD so you can get online quickly. Then enable hardware driver auto-updating and check for optional Updates.

Any drivers still missing in Device Manager can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for your model computer or device. Driver Install - Device Manager

Install updates and then programs slowly over time to gauge performance after each. Don't let any programs write themselves into msconfig>Startup as they slow startup, become freeloaders on your RAM/CPU and can spy on you. I only allow AV and gadgets. Startup Programs - Change

Use a lightweight free AV like MS Security Essentials which works perfectly with Windows 7 Firewall. http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

When it is finished, clean and order the HD perfectly using state-of-the-art free CCleaner Disk and Registry tabs, then Puran boot-time defragger after adding it's Intelligent Optimizer on Additional Operations tab.
CCleaner - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com
http://download.cnet.com/Puran-Defrag-Free-Edition/3000-2094_4-11386432.html

Then save a Windows 7 Backup image externally so you never have to reinstall again, just reimage the HD (or replacement) using DVD/Repair CD with the stored image. Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

Bare Foot Kid · 29 Mar 2011

severedsolo said:

I think this is what you want: Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command

Rather than going through Disk Management as the tutorial suggests though, put your Windows 7 disk into your drive, boot it and go to "Repair My Computer" from there go to Command prompt, and then follow the instructions.

Hope it helps/

Hello luvzariel, welcome to Seven Forums!

The information below is what is being referenced above; it is a complete wipe of the entire Hard Disk Drive using the installation DVD and does not matter that it is an upgrade disk; have a thorough look at the information and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

After you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media, use Step One of this tutorial at the first link below to do a wipe (secure erase) to the entire Hard Disk Drive / Solid State Drive.

Then if you do not want to create the new Windows 7 "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #2 to create, format and mark Active a single 100GB partition to do the installation to.
If you do want to create the "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #3 to create, format and mark Active the System Reserved partition and then create and format the 100GB partition to do the installation to.

Either way, running the "clean all" then creating and formatting the partition(s) using diskpart will get you the best possible space to do a clean install of Windows 7 to; you can always extend the Windows partition to include the remaining unallocated space on the HDD / SSD or create additional Primary partitions or an Extended partition after the installation completes if you choose.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

DISKPART : At PC Startup

Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

luvzariel · 29 Mar 2011

Thank you all for your advice!!! It's greatly appreciated. Will take some studying on my part. But these ideas will definitely come in handy.

Thank you again!

Jen

Bare Foot Kid · 29 Mar 2011

Hello again Jen.

Take all the time you need, you want to do it right the first time.

Be sure to post back here with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.