Fresh Install - format?

[AP88]

Hi everyone!

I have searched and didn't find much to answer my question. I recently got a new Lenovo netbook that came with Win 7. I decided to upgrade my current laptop with Win 7. I wanted to do a fresh install, but I wasn't able to format my drive. My laptop is an LG P1 Pro laptop.

During the installation, the option to format the drive was greyed out and the partition was named as a system drive . I decided to proceed anyway and I was able to still install Windows 7. The old files were put into a windows.old folder. I also suspect there may be a hidden recovery partition for windows xp. I'll have to look into that when I get home (I'm at work).

Now, I still want a fresh install. What steps should I take?

Basic Specs
-Core duo 1.83 Ghz
-1gb ram
-100 gb HDD
-ATI Radeon X1400

Thank you!

 

[richc46]

Do it over, this time boot from the DVD, not the OS.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?filter[2]=General Tips

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello AP88, welcome to Seven forums!



Will you please post a snip/screen-shot of the entire disk management drive map so we can see what you have going on as there may be a fairly simple way to resolve the situation.

In the Windows start menu right click computer and click manage, in the left pane of the "Computer Management" window that opens click disk management and post a snip of that.


How to Post a Screenshot in Seven Forums

 

[AP88]

@richc46 - I installed via DVD the first time, but I'll try again using the guide.

@BFK - I will take a pic when I get home from work

Thank you for your replies.

 

[karlsnooks]

that pic is very important so that we can give you the best advice. Looking forward to the pic.

 

[AP88]

Hi guys,

Sorry for the delay with the picture. Hope this helps.

Thank you again for the replies. This forum is very helpful so far!

 

[eldinv]

I'm confused, you want to re-install Windows 7, the one in the picture?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello again.





If there is nothing at all on the PC that you want to save, if there is make a backup of that before you proceed; use this first tutorial at the link below to do a "clean all" of the entire Hard Disk Drive (HDD) it will over-write everything on the HDD and give you a clean slate to install Windows 7 to; there is no hidden XP partition at all.


SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

 

[Carl Lawrence]

I'm a bit, if you want to re-install Windows 7. You cannot format the drive unless you do a clean install.

 

[karlsnooks]

Reading of the links listed by Bare Foot will provide you with insight.

 

[AP88]

Thanks for your replies. I'm not looking to re-install, I'm looking to format. I'll give these a try when I get home. I will report back with the results.

 

[karlsnooks]

ap,
To simply format:

1. Create a System Repair Disc,
2. Go to a command prompt using your System Repair Disc,
3. Wipe the disk clean
4. Format the disk

Detailed explanation:
________________________________________
CREATE A SYSTEM REPAIR DISC
START | type System Repair | Enter key | Create Disc button
________________________________________

________________________________________
GO TO A COMMAND PROMPT USING A SYSTEM REPAIR DISC
1) Insert System Repair Disc into optical reader.
2) Shutdown your computer.
3) Boot up your computer from the System Repair Disc (if needed, Power on button, immediately hit F2 key, change boot order to have boot from cd/dvd first).
4) Wait while a mini-version of Windows is loaded and finally the System Recovery Options dialog appears.
5) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog |
will show Select a keyboard input method |
NEXT button
6) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog
will search your system for installed versions of Windows.
7) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog |
select the Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows radio button |
NEXT button
8) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS |
will show Choose a recovery tool and list the following |
System Repair
System Restore
System Image Recovery
Windows Memory Diagnostic
Command Prompt
9) Click on command prompt


You can remove the System Repair Disc. A mini Win 7 has been installed to a ram drive labeled X:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________

WIPE A DISK CLEAN AND FORMAT THE DISK

• type DiskPart, Enter key
• type List disk, Enter key
note the numeral of the disk you want to clean
for example purposes, I’ll be using the numeral 2
• type Select disk 2, Enter key
• type Detail disk, Enter key
this info will let you know if you selected correctly
• type Clean ALL, Enter key
your entire disk is being overwritten with zeros.
This can take a considerable amount of time
After Clean is finished,
and only after clean is finished--
• type FORMAT fs=NTFS quick, Enter key
• type EXIT, Enter key (only after Format is finished)
• type EXIT, Enter key (this gets you back where you were)
________________________________________

Remove the System Repair Disc if you haven't already.
Shutdown computer.
Power up computer.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

I think they may be confusing terms and may want to create another partition out of some of C:, if so have a look at these tutorials at the links below.


How to Shrink a Partition or Volume in Windows 7


How to Create a New Partition or Volume in Windows 7

 

[AP88]

I'm happy to report that the tutorials posted solved my problem! I was able to clean the disk, format, and install windows 7. Thank you all for your help!!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Glad you have it running, thanks for the update.