I've heard that diskpart / clean all is very thorough, but I don't know how to do this on my netbook since the main drive of the computer in use can't be the one selected for clean all. Is there another way to do this, or an alternative that would be just as thorough? Any suggestions / instructions would be much appreciated. I have Windows 7 starter (32 bit).
Hi and welcome,
Yes, that's correct - You can perform a DISKPART/CLEAN ALL command from the command prompt when you boot from a Windows 7 installation USB (I assume you don't have a DVD drive?)
Do the following:
1. Download your exact same version of Windows in an ISO format from here:
Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life
2. Burn the ISO to a 4GB USB flash drive using this tool:
Microsoft Store Online
3. Boot from this USB (check boot order in BIOS), and at the Languages screen press CTRL+F10 to open the command window
4. At the X:> prompt type diskpart and hit enter
5. Now type:
- list disk and hit enter (you should only have 1 disk and it should be labelled disk 0)
- select disk 0 and hit enter
- clean all and hit enter
This might take some time.
Once it has completed, follow step 3 but now install as normal. Activate your installation using the COA sticker under the netbook. Job done.
Post back if you need more help.
Regards,
Golden
Ahhhh....I see you edited your post after I had posted. Windows Starter is an issue as there isn't an ISO download for that....so you cannot follow the steps I posted.
The best suggestion I can offer is this:
Windows Defender Offline
Regards,
Golden
If you remove the ei.cfg file from the 32 bit ISO file Starter will be in the list of available editions to install.
A 32 bit universal install disk will have starter on it.
Download any 32 bit version. Then use the tool listed above to make the bootable USB thumb drive. Then just go into the sources folder and delete the ei.cfg file. You may have to display hidden files to see it. Then when you boot from the USB thumb drive, instead of being locked into one version it will display a list of editions to install. Select "Starter" and then use the product code on your COA sticker. You may have to activate by phone, but once you explain what you did you'll be all set.
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create
USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create
One suggestion, before you do the wipe, make sure you have all the drivers you'll need for the netbook for things like the video, touchpad, ethernet port, wifi, etc... They should be available on the mfrs website, download them to a usb stick so you have them available.
Everything you need is here to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.
After Step 1 run the eicfg removal tool on the downloaded ISO to unlock Starter version, then continue with the steps to get a perfect reinstall.
Stop suggesting the "clean all" command, its completely unnecessary and a waste of time, running "clean" by itself twice is more than enough to get rid of partitions and leave disk ready to be reinstalled.
It's been over a year since the debate linked below occurred and "Clean" command alone has worked fine for the many occasions where apparent boot sector corruption or conflict is blocking install, HD boot, even in several cases BIOS post. I've come to save "Clean All" only for making data unrecoverable by most means, e.g. when the PC is being sold or HD disposed.
Diskpart a concurrent second call is made before the first is complete
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