How to wipe out everything on computer for reinstallation of Windows 7

[Hipster Doofus]

If it's still a bit unclear what to do the just get rid of the 'old windows'. Then over time do a bit more research into it.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

So right now what is the best option. Just reinstall it again? If i just delete the old windows folder... that wouldn't make it as clean right?

sonic... I have no idea. Is that what i need to do? What i want right now is to clean my computer and wipe it fully. Is deleting the partition then what i need to do? I remembered there was 3 or 4 partititions. So you want me to delete all of them? Or just leave the big one out? Are you 100% sure i can delete it? When i was at the screen... all i remembered was it told me to pick one and thats it.

If you delete them all, your entire hard drive will be "unallocated space"--without any partitions.

If you then continue after deleting all partitions, Windows will automatically create a new large partition for you and put Windows on it.

You will end up with 2 partitions: 1 tiny tiny one that contains your boot files and another large one that contains Windows itself.

But I have no idea if that is what you want to do.

I'm assuming you have a valid Windows installation disc and a proper Product Key.

Diskpart CAN be used to make partitions, but it is NOT required.

 

[dynamite140]

Yes i have the valid windows installation disc. That is how i did the installation.

So right now i should do it again... but this time make sure i delete the other partitions? There were 3-4 partitiions. So you are positive that the moment i hit that screen, then i delete all of the partitiions or all but 1?

Again, i want to wipe out everything on computer fresh.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I'd urge you to make backup disks so you can restore your Dell to factory condition before you do anything.

This Windows disk you have---did you get it from Dell or did you buy it somewhere?

What exactly does it say on it?

Do you have a product key?

 

[scrooge]

if you clean all the partitions make sure you don't need anything on them cause once you clean it it's gone. you'll have a hard time getting them back. in short make sure you no what your doing before doing it.


scrooge

 

[derekimo]

Yes i have the valid windows installation disc. That is how i did the installation.

So right now i should do it again... but this time make sure i delete the other partitions? There were 3-4 partitiions. So you are positive that the moment i hit that screen, then i delete all of the partitiions or all but 1?

Again, i want to wipe out everything on computer fresh.

Can you post http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

Of your disk management window maximized,

 

[dynamite140]

I got the disk from dell. Actually i requested it like 1 year before my warranty so they sent it to me free of charge.

Okay so i just installed the cd again. Now it says

Where do you want to install windows
Total Size Free Space Type
Disk 0 Partition 1 39MB 30Mb OEM Reserved
Disk 0 Partition 2 Recovery I Drive 14.6GB 9.2gb System
Disk 0 Partition 3 OS C Drive 451.1GB 388.8gb Primary


I picked Partition 3 last time. So what am i suppose to do now? You want me to highlight partition 1 and 2 and delete it?

 

[dynamite140]

I can't do that right now... im posting from my laptop at the moment while doing trying to clean my windows 7 on desktop computer...

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You should do what Derekimo asked you to do in post 26: post a screen shot of Disk Management so we know exactly what is going on.

If you have already done a reinstall, I'm not sure if that 14.6 gig "recovery" partition will ever help you.

Repeat: do you have a product key? Do you have a set of "recovery disks"?

 

[dynamite140]

Okay so right now what should i do then? I have those 3 options. Can i delete one of these partitions? That is what someone else said I'm suppose to do earlier when i was at that screen. But all i did was select partition 3 because it was the biggest partition.

I'm at that screen at the moment.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If it were me, I would barge on and delete all.

But it isn't me. It's you.

For that reason, caution is the best course.

That's why you need to post the screenshot as Derekimo and I have requested and you need to answer questions about recovery disks and product keys.

 

[dynamite140]

I have the recovery disc... the windows 7 reinstallation cd.

Product key. Well i have the disc and the paper holder where i put the windows disc on. Is it at the back?

Its US- then 6 letters/numbers, then 5 numbers, then 3 numbers, and then 4 letters. Is that it?

I can't post a screenshot because im at that page right now...

 

[ignatzatsonic]

That's not a recovery disk. That's an installation DVD.

Exactly what does it say on this disk???

A recovery disk is a disk or maybe 2 that are used to restore your Dell to the way it was when Dell shipped it to you.

Dell may have shipped them to you. If not, you can make them yourself (burn them to a disk), through a Dell program or menu choice.

A Windows retail product key will be 25 characters--5 groups of 5 characters. If you don't have a product key, you cannot activate any new Windows installation.

I'm not sure what those numbers you have are--maybe product key, maybe serial number, maybe unknown.

If you can't or won't post a screen shot, I'll bow out--I don't want see you go in the toilet when it is preventable.

 

[scrooge]

Where do you want to install windows
Total Size Free Space Type
Disk 0 Partition 1 39MB 30Mb OEM Reserved
Disk 0 Partition 2 Recovery I Drive 14.6GB 9.2gb System
Disk 0 Partition 3 OS C Drive 451.1GB 388.8gb Primary






i think this is what your trying to do . after formating drive 3 install windows on it.


scrooge

 

[dynamite140]

Hi... i CAN'T POST THE SCREENSHOT. That is my problem. Its not i don't want to post it.. i can't post it.


I DO NOT HAVE THE DRIVERS ADVANCED on my screen. All i have besides those partitions is REFRESH OR LOAD DRIVER...

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If what you have is a Dell Windows installation disk as opposed to an ordinary Windows installation disk, for all I know that disk may just restore your computer to the way it was when you got it---with the partitions you don't want and are now trying to get rid of.

As well as with all the crap Dell pre-installed on the PC--that you may or may not want.

Look at your documentation or provide more details about this disk.

I assume you have no other discs from Dell?

All you need to do to post that screenshot is to cancel where you are right now, take the DVD out of the drive, reboot, go to Disk Managment, capture the screen, and post it. No can do??

And I still don't know about your possible or possibly not product key.

 

[Hipster Doofus]

If you don't have the 'driver' screen then it is not a standard windows install disc. I have no experience with dell. Sorry.

 

[dynamite140]

I have a utility driver disc from dell. And one that says applications disc.

 

[scrooge]

he may still be able to use f10 at the install startup screen and do diskpart to clean the drive no ?

scrooge

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Not enough info yet.

What exactly does it say on this disk that may be a Windows disk or may be a "recovery" disk?

At this point, no one knows for sure what you will end up with if you use it--you might just be back where you were when it arrived.



I think (NOT SURE) that you can download a valid legal Windows 7 ISO, burn it to a disk, install, and then use your existing Dell product key to validate the install. You would need to download the exact same version of Windows 7 that you now have.

You need to confirm that will work from others, such as Gregrocker.

I'm antsy about you using that disk you have as I don't know enough about it or your product key.