How do I wipe my HD for a fresh install? (Vista Business 32bit) Sorry

[jjr]

Sory this is Vista Business 32bit but now too many folks on that forum. What had happened when I tried to the the install I deleted the space where it says unallocated (see pix) so now when I start my pc I get the boot screen and have the choice of starting w/ a older version of Windows or Vista I click on Vista and it runs ok?

Also I noticed that the Vista install almost took up 80gb if space so I guess I really screwed up...

 

[gregrocker]

Do both listings on the Boot Menu work when you choose each? If so you might have installed a second Vista to the other HD which should have been unplugged during the install. Look on that drive now to see if you see Windows or User folders.

If not you likely just have a ghost boot listing which can be removed by typing msconfig into the Start Search box, then on Boot tab delete the other listing.

If you ran the install from Vista and did not correctly boot the installer, it might have created a Windows.old folder in C which archives all of the old OS. If so once you have everything needed out of it you can delete it using Disk Cleanup.

Or you can start over and follow the same steps for a Clean Install Windows 7
using the Drive Options in Steps 7/8 to delete all partitions on Disk0 to create and Format a new install partition. Be sure to unplug the other HD, or at least make sure you don't select it during install.

 

[jjr]

What I did do is to delete the recovery (space 39 mb)so that space is empty. I can not delete that space with the MS config. I do not have win 7 to install over and the cost to buy another copy is more then the PC is worth

WHat happens when I start the pc it opens to the boot window and the C: drive is already highlighter and I get the message if you do not chose the other option (boot from a older version of windows) the pc will auto start in 24 sec or I can just click on the ender to start it

I'm just going to live with it for now, I think I installed close to 300 freaking updates for the Vista hehe .

I do have the Win 7 64 bit recovery disk from my new laptop but I do no think it would work had enough fun today

Thanks,
J

 

[AddRAM]

What exactly is it you want to do, delete the defunked OS off the boot screen ?

You do not use msconfig to delete space, you use it to delete the older OS listing.

If msconfig won`t delete it then use EasyBCD.


https://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/

What do you mean "buy another copy" ?????

Do you own a windows 7 license (key) or not ?

If you want to add those 39 MB to C: you can do it with Partion Wizard.

http://www.partitionwizard.com/index.html

 

[jjr]

What I want to do it delete that 39mb box in front. I did a fresh install after I tried the first time,and it was normal size but that box I can not delete.

 

[AddRAM]

It is deleted, it`s unallocated space, you can`t make it dissapear it`s part of the hard drive.

Re read my last post.

 

[jjr]

Thanks sort of figured that out. Next time I do a reinstall I will know better. That partition Wizard looks like I could get in a lot of trouble using that

BAck to the WIn7, I have that on my other pc that does have the license key and I have the Dell reinstall disk. The PC with the problem is a Vista system with the COA sticker and I have the Dell Vista reinstallation CD. I did not even want try 7 on that because if it did not work it would of been a waste of time


J

 

[AddRAM]

If Vista is taking up 80 GBs, I would re install now before you add anything to it, it will take you 15 minutes.

Disconnect any other hard drives BEFORE YOU START.

Make sure you delete all partitions. Step 7 of tutorial.

Follow this, it works the same for Vista.

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

 

[jjr]

I did try to format that and I was able to to that to the C but the unallocated space it would do nothing?

Again thanks for the help,

J

 

[AddRAM]

That`s because you just formatted C: and it didn`t change anything.

You have to delete all the partitions by highlighting the partition, then click disk options, then you choose delete.

It`s in the tutorial, step 7. Start reading.

You want the entire hard drive to look like this. Once that`s done you just click next.

 

[jjr]

OK will do, that also means I would have to reinstall everything again correct?

What I did on the first try was just to delete what was in the unallocated box then installed to the C . So after that when I went to reinstall I deleted C and then I tried the unallocated box that was empty, when chose that box the delete option was greyed out.

J

 

[AddRAM]

Re Install everything again ?

I thought you just did this ?

Just use partition wizard to add the 39 MB to C:

Once again I`m telling you, YOU CAN`T delete unallocated space.

39 MB is not even worth worrying about.

Something is definitely wrong if you only have 7.2 GB free of 74 GB, no way I would leave it like that. What have you added to it ?

Vista only takes up about 15-18 GBs.

 

[jjr]

I know and on top of that I tried turning on the pc and it now boots correctly? This was the first time since I started reinstalling everything hours ago, phew and will look into the partition wizard.

About the limited space on the HD the first time I did not delete C I just installed to it I think that was the issue. The next time I deleted C and thin did the install, I think it took something like 13gb, big difference...

Again many many thanks!

 

[gregrocker]

I asked if you have a windows.old folder in C which is created when you run the installer from C instead of booting it. That would account for why its using so much disk space since it contains the entire old OS. You can delete it using Disk Cleanup.

Had you booted the Win7 disk you could also have correctly deleted all partitions during install.

If you're happy with performance I'd keep what you have.

You cannot use the other Win7 license on this PC. If you have one to spare then I'd Clean Install Windows 7 , otherwise stick with what you already own on there.

 

[jjr]

Yes did that the second time around and yes I'm happy with the way it is now, is just a older second pc.

TY,
J