Deleting partitions, Format the whole drive...

[AstaLaVista]

Ok, I have my WD 160GB Vraptor partition and dual booting Vista & Win 7 ultimate x64. Disk 0

My 750GB Samsung used to be my old XP + Vista dual booting and it is partitioned as such. Disk 1

I have finished transfering all the pertinent data to my USB WD 320Gb Passport so now I want to format the whole drive and leave it as Back-Up for Data, Videos & Music + the ocassional game that doesn't fit on my Primary drive.

Here's the kicker, I am new to Vista & 7, if I remember correctly, in XP I used to go to Disk managment, select the disk and tell it to format it and it was done (I never did this often so I could be confused).

At any rate, the choices I get with Win 7 are:

1. If I right click on Disk 1, my only choices are... Convert to Dynamic Disk or Offline
2. Right clicking on either of the other Disk 1 partitions gives me more choices... Format, Shrink or Delete volume

My issue is that I do not want to have 2 more partitions but a full drive. I am sure that one of those options is the one I may need but I just don't know which one to choose and I really hate to work twice (if not more) to get to where I want to go.

any help tips or directions you guy may want to throw my way?

Thanks and May the force be with you

P.S.: I think I am over thiking this and as soon as I delete the volume, the partitions will go away and I am going to end where I want but I just like to be sure.
​

 

[SIW2]

Hi,

If you want to have DISK 1 as just one partition ( or make a clean start and then have 2 or 3 freshly formatted ones):

In Disk Management, right click each partition and delete.

You will then have unallocated space - you can rt click that and create and format new partitions of your chosen size - or just make one.

 

[zigzag3143]

deleting parts

Ok, I have my WD 160GB Vraptor partition and dual booting Vista & Win 7 ultimate x64. Disk 0

My 750GB Samsung used to be my old XP + Vista dual booting and it is partitioned as such. Disk 1

I have finished transfering all the pertinent data to my USB WD 320Gb Passport so now I want to format the whole drive and leave it as Back-Up for Data, Videos & Music + the ocassional game that doesn't fit on my Primary drive.

Here's the kicker, I am new to Vista & 7, if I remember correctly, in XP I used to go to Disk managment, select the disk and tell it to format it and it was done (I never did this often so I could be confused).

At any rate, the choices I get with Win 7 are:

1. If I right click on Disk 1, my only choices are... Convert to Dynamic Disk or Offline
2. Right clicking on either of the other Disk 1 partitions gives me more choices... Format, Shrink or Delete volume

My issue is that I do not want to have 2 more partitions but a full drive. I am sure that one of those options is the one I may need but I just don't know which one to choose and I really hate to work twice (if not more) to get to where I want to go.

any help tips or directions you guy may want to throw my way?

Thanks and May the force be with you
P.S.: I think I am over thiking this and as soon as I delete the volume, the partitions will go away and I am going to end where I want but I just like to be sure.
​

I find that the integrated disk mgr is limited. I use a 3rd party app called paragon disk suite 2009. the trial is free and will do anything.

Hope this helps
K

​

 

[AstaLaVista]

ok, thanks folks, just what I thought about deleting but now, I know that for a fact and feel better for it

 

[Dwarf]

You can also do this from within W7's installation if you boot from the disk. I've done this in the past from both Vista and W7. Follow this Tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html, in particular the Tip under 8. As you are not going to install W7 on this disk, simply remove the DVD and restart your system with the Reset Button once you have deleted all existing partitions on it. You can then format the drive in Disk Management when you boot back up into W7.