Installing without a CD/USB and cleaning HDD

[IkeVeles]

I messed up my OS, got a BSOD and it lagged a lot. I did a System restore and it got better but it still lags a bit.
Now I'd like to fully clear and clean/reset my HDD. Do I do this with diskpart clean all? Also, will this damage my HDD, is it safe? I did a 'clean all' about 2 days ago when I was switching from Linux to Win.
And I'd like to do that without using a CD/USB flash drive. I have an .iso image with Windows on it with a valid product key. If I mount the .iso on a virtual drive (using Daemon Tools for example) could I do it that way and cleaning the HDD too?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Don't know about using Daemon tools, but "clean all" isn't typically needed for a fresh install. But it can't hurt.

Can't you "clean all" in the same way you did it about 2 days ago? It's usually done from a command prompt after booting from an ordinary Windows 7 install disc.

 

[IkeVeles]

Don't know about using Daemon tools, but "clean all" isn't typically needed for a fresh install. But it can't hurt.

Can't you "clean all" in the same way you did it about 2 days ago? It's usually done from a command prompt after booting from an ordinary Windows 7 install disc.

I can't do clean all like I did before. I had a USB with my Windows on it before. Now I don't, and I wont have it anytime soon.
If clean all doesn't "hurt", then I'll do it just in case. I don't want to have any (more) problems with my OS if it leaves any traces of the older OS. Will a custom install do the similar job? I just don't want ANY traces of older OSs, files, documents or registries.

So can I do it (clean all) without using a CD/Flash drive? Doesn't have to be Daemons tools, any software for virtual drives will do.

 

[Ztruker]

You can't have virtual drive without a booted operating system. You can't destroy (clean all) the drive you are booted from, so, bottom line, you need to boot from CD\DVD or USB.

 

[AddRAM]

Just boot from the dvd and format the install partition or delete all the partitions and create new or leave the entire drive as unallocated space and just click next.

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

 

[IkeVeles]

Is a DVD disk (4.7GB) enough for a Windows 8 1? I know it's enough for Win7

 

[gregrocker]

Everything is here to get and keep a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums.

Not necessary to run Clean All which is overkill and hard on the drive. In some rare cases of install failure we use Diskpart Clean Command to clear the partition table and boot sector, but like Brian says above you really only need to boot the installer and delete all partitions using the Drive options pictured in Steps 7/8 of Clean Install Windows 7