Solved Format Hard Drive...

[JacobMCB]

Hey guys, I have a HP Pavilion dv7 laptop. Recently, my computer has encountered some sort of hard drive issue. It started with the constant windows repair loop (yes, I tried all the solutions to fix this) and we found out it was an issue with my C drive. Anyways, I can't boot my computer, nor can I access safe mode. It tells me I need a windows repair disk.

I enter one that I created with my mother's computer and it runs. But, it tells me that my computer is missing drivers.

Anyhow, I don't have any sort of repair disk because the computer I got was refurbished from Microcenter and didn't come with any sort of disk. I've the computer for just over a year now and have had no issues with it until Sunday.

Is there a way that I can format my C drive without actually being able to boot windows? I can access the C drive from the repair disk and it tells me "you must format this disk to use it," I press "format" and it tells me that this disk cannot be formated because it may be disconnected or in read only mode. I went ahead and reconnected the wires from the hard drive to the C drive to see if that was the issue, same problem.

Anyways, how can I format my C drive?

 

[Brink]

Hello Jacob,

If you like, you could download a Windows 7 ISO file for your edition from the link below from any computer to create a bootable Windows 7 installation DVD/USB from the ISO file.

Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links
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Afterwards, you could boot from the installation DVD/USB to do a clean install of Windows 7. Be sure that you have your product key written down first. You'll need it to activate the clean install with.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html
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Hope this helps,
Shawn

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[JacobMCB]

This is extremely helpful, thank you VERY MUCH. The issue.. How do I find my Windows activation key if I cannot start my computer?

 

[Britton30]

It is supposed to be on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop or maybe inside the battery compartment. IF none was provided contact Micro Center ,it is supposed to be include per the MS license agreement.

 

[JacobMCB]

Thanks for all the help guys, probably seems like I'm a newbie. XD Anyways, it's all fixed now. I didn't even have to format my C: drive, just had to repair windows. Apparently it had suffered a "Fatal error" during an update.

 

[Brink]

Great news Jacob. Be sure to write down your product key and keep it somewhere safe in case you may need it again.

 

[Britton30]

Grand news and a better solution.