Is this the right approach for a truly clean install?

[Paul Black]

Good afternoon,

I am just about to reinstall my Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit system.

I want to do a clean install.

My question is in two parts:

(A) Is it best to boot to diskpart first and use only DISKPART> clean as opposed to DISKPART> clean all as in Step 1 in this tutorial:

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

...to set the whole of drive C: to unallocated space, and then exit diskpart to let the installation from the DVD take over (does the DISKPART> clean all not over-write the HDD Master Boot Record?).

(B) Will I then be able to setup two further partitions (besides the C: partition of course) during the DVD installation process, one being for user profiles and data and one being for system image?

I intend to do the installation using this tutorial:

Clean Install Windows 7

...but also include this tutorial:

Relocate Userfolders during Windows 7 installation.pdf

...for user profiles and data.

Does this sound right or have I gone adrift somewhere?

Am I right in saying that if I do the installation this way I will not end up with a Windows.old file?

I am just trying to get the cleanest system to start with in which I can clean install.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Megahertz07]

- If you delete all partitions using Win 7 installation disk and then create new (to install Win 7) it will create a 120M MS reserved partition that is useless, unless you have Win 7 ultimate and going to use Bitlocker.
If you use diskpart to delete all partitions, create a new one and then go to install and point to install on that partition, the 120M MS reserved partition won't be created.
I think that to trick windows installation wizard to gain 120M on a 120G disk makes no sense.

- If you delete all partitions, create new and install Windows on it, there will be no Windows.old folder.
- If you delete all partitions, create new, you can set the size of the partition. The remaining size can be split on more partitions and formatted in order to have drive C: with Win 7 and D: with \users and other data.


I have a 128G SSD GPT with
- 100M UEFI partition (Fat32)
- 120M MS reserved (RAW)
- 83 G for Windows (NTFS)
- 40 G for Linux (ext4)

I have a 1T HDD GPT with one NTFS partition for D:\Users and Data.

On a third disk, 1T Backup HDD GPT disk, I have some similar configuration to what you want to build.
- 100M UEFI partition (Fat32)
- 120M MS reserved (RAW)
- 83 G for Windows (NTFS)
- 930G NTFS partition for D:\Users and Data.

To relocate the users folder to D:
https://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/general-discussion/396918d1488553519-my-computer-freezes-randomly-while-hdd-light-turns-solid-red-relocate.zip

 

[Paul Black]

Thanks for the reply Megahertz07, it is very much appreciated.

I am still trying to get my head around this, unfortunately without much success.
At the moment I only have drive C: with NO partitions running Windows 7 Home premium 64-bit.

What I basically want to do is:

(1) Format the hard drive. I thought doing this with DISKPART> clean would overwrite the whole disk with zeros. I thought this is what is known as a Secure Erase. I was going to do this once I get to the Language screen. I understand it to be like a quick format.

(2) Setup two extra partitions apart from C:, one for user profiles and data (drive U) and one for system images (drive S). I was going to do this within the installation itself when I get to the Drive options (advanced). I don't know where I need to format the C:, U: and I: partitions though.

(3) Then when I get to the screen where you should enter your username and computer name I was going to Relocate User Folders using the Notepad script (the same as the one you sent me, thank you) and then using the System Preperation Tool:

C:\Users\Administrator>cd \Windows\System32\Sysprep
C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep.exe /audit /reboot /unattend:U:\relocate.xml

(4) Continue with the installation until completion.

Can you please advise me where I am going wrong?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Megahertz07]

Paul, Diskpart is a very powerful command tool, but is a little tricky as you must do the right sequence. To do what you want to do (make many partitions on a single disk) you don't need Diskpart. You can use the win 7 installation wizard to do it.
- Diskpart - clean doesn't format. It deletes the partition.
- As you only have one disk, I can't see why you want to relocate \users to another drive.
- Don't save the the disk images on the source disk. If you loose the disk, you loose everything.

My suggestions:
- Basically is a Clean Install Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums
- Boot from win 7 installation disk. Go to install - Advanced- delete ALL partitions - create new. Choose a size for C:.
- On The remaining space you can create a new partition (U: ) and then on the remaining space, I:. The letters probably will be assigned as D: and E:. Don't worry, you can change it latter.
- Begin installation. When it asks to the enter the user, enter audit mode. (ctrl+shift+f3).
- Once you reboot you will be administrator. Open disk manager and change the partitions letters to U: and I:. I personally don't think that it's a good idea as U is at the end of the list. I would make users to D: and the CD/DVD ODD to X:. The image can be I:.
Edit Relocate - W7HP.xml.txt and change the ODD drive letter to the one you have set on the previous step. Save it as Relocate.xml and put it on the root of the drive that will have \users (D: or U: )
Edit Sysprep.cmd.txt to match the drive letter you choose. Save as Sysprep.cmd.
Execute Sysprep.cmd to begin the relocation.
Folow Kari tutorial https://www.sevenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/119213d1291161650-user-profiles-create-move-during-windows-7-installation-relocate-user-folders-during-windows-7-installation.pdf

 

[Paul Black]

Thanks again Megahertz07 for your time and effort in answering me, it is very much appreviated.

Thinking about it I am going to make the users drive F: and image drive I: because I assume there is a down side to using a drive letter so far down the list as U:?

I have pretty much followed your suggestions and the link you posted are the instructions I will be using, thank you.

The reason for wanting to relocate \users to another drive is that if I have a problem with the C: drive which will only have my system and programs I can re-image it without having to worry about backing up my folders and documents.

I will have to save the images on the I: partition for now as money is tight, but I will be buying an external hard drive to use for imaging when I can afford it.

I do appreciate the fact that if the disk gets corrupted that I will lose everything, system, documents and images. I do backup my folders and documents to a USB on a very regular basis.

Just a couple of questions though please.
(1) I have a 500GB hard drive. What size do you recommend for drive C: if I am only going to have Windows 7 Home Premium, my programs and Office 2010. I was thinking of about 100GB.

(2) I could then allocate 100GB to the \users partition and 100GB to the image partition. This would leave me with 200GB that will still be un-allocated and that I could use in the future to expand a partition if it is needed. Is that correct please?

(3) Do I need to format these partitions, and if so, how do I do that please?

(4) You say:
Edit Sysprep.cmd.txt to match the drive letter you choose d. Save as Sysprep.cmd.
Execute Sysprep.cmd to begin the relocation.
I am not sure how to execute this!

In Kari's instructions he states that once the lines:

C:\Users\Administrator>cd \Windows\System32\Sysprep
...and...
C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep.exe /audit /reboot /unattend:U:\relocate.xml

...are both confirmed with Enter, that the System Preparation Tool dialog telling it is working on our script takes over and creates the \users on drive F:.

I don't quite follow this bit.

Your Notepad script contains two extra lines at the beginning:
net stop wmpnetworksvc <---------
pause <--------
cd c:\Windows\System32\Sysprep
c:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\sysprep.exe /oobe /reboot /unattend:\relocate.xml


Isn't this what is applied in the relocate.xml script?

I am almost there, it is just these couple of points that I need clarifying please.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Megahertz07]

- What program you use to create the disk image?
- Do you have a boot able CD or DVD that has the restore image program?
- If you have a problem with the C: drive, which will only have your system and programs, how you're going to launch the program to restore the image as C:?

I would only do 2 partitions:
85G C: for system and programs
Remaining space for D: for Data and images
To have Data and images on same partition gives you more freedom

- As you have a 500G disk:
- 85G for C: is more than you're going to use.
- 100G for I: is ok if you're going to have only one image.
- Remaining to Data

As I wrote, you can create the partitions when you begin the installation wizard. You can also create only one partition for C: and once you enter audit mode and logged as administrator, you can go to disk manager and on the free space create the others partitions. I don't remember, but I think that when you create a new partition it will be formatted. If not, you can format it (NTFS).

If you open a CMD window and type a cmd line you have to give a enter to execute. The file I gave you is a batch file that will execute line by line. the line net stop wmpnetworksvc is just to be sure the sysprep will be executed. You only have to replace the drive letter where you going to place the Relocate.xml

 

[Paul Black]

Hi again Megahertz07,

I will be using AOMEI Backupper as my imaging software. I have used it before and it does the job very nicely indeed.

I have a boot able DVD that came with the computer for the reinstallation.

Seeing I am going to use the I: partition as my image partition I will be able to restore the C: image from a USB I create through AOMEI Backupper.

I will image my computer as and when I feel it necessary, so I could have a dozen or so images that is why I want to have a separate partition solely for images.

I will initially make an image when the install has finished and all the updates are installed.
I will probably make another image once I have installed Office 2010 and all the updates are installed.
I will then make images when I feel it necessary.

If you open aCMD window and type a cmd line you have to give a enter to execute. The file Igave you is a batch file that will execute line by line. The line net stop wmpnetworksvc is just to besure the sysprep will be executed. You only have to replace the drive letterwhere you going to place the Relocate.xml

So am I right in saying that I copy the file Relocate - W7HP.xml to the root of the users partition F:.
Then I go into an elevated command and type in Sysprep.cmd and press Enter?

Am I right in saying that this replaces me having to type in the following:

C:\Users\Administrator>cd\Windows\System32\Sysprep
...and...
C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep.exe/audit /reboot /unattend:F:\relocate.xml

...which are both confirmed with Enter, and then the System Preparation Tool takes over and creates the \users on drive F:?

Thanks again.

 

[Megahertz07]

Paul,
As you plan to have many images:
- 85G for C:
- 100G for F:
- Remaining for I:

- Once you enter audit as administrator, you have to open disk management to see what drive letters has been assigned to the partitions. Change the drive letters:
- Change ODD to X: so it will always be the last one.
- Change Data partition to F:
- Change Image partition to I:

- Edit Relocate - W7HP.xml.txt and change the ODD drive letter X:. Save it as Relocate.xml and put it on the root of the drive that will have \users (F: )
- Edit Sysprep.cmd.txt and change the drive where is Relocate.xml, now F:. Save as Sysprep.cmd.
Execute Sysprep.cmd by double click. It will execute the fist line and pause. Hit any key and it will proceed with moving \users to F:. Once it reboots, follow Kari tutorial to finish.

 

[Paul Black]

OK thanks Megahertz07, I will be giving this a go this evening.

I assume that the ODD is the CD/DVD ROM drive? It is currently D:.
Where do you suggest I save the Sysprep.cmd to?
Would you use Disk Management or Diskpart in Elevated Command Prompt for the partitioning?
I didn't realise that you could do these sort of things while actually in the middle of an installation!

As I said, I will give this a go this evening and let you know how I get on.

Very many thanks.

EDIT:
Is it safe to leave unallocated space in case I need extra space at some time in the future?
I was thinking that if I used 100 GB EACH for C:, F: & I:, I will be left with 200 GB.

 

[Megahertz07]

OK thanks Megahertz07, I will be giving this a go this evening.

I assume that the ODD is the CD/DVD ROM drive? It is currently D:. Yes ODD = CD DVD
Where do you suggest I save the Sysprep.cmd to? any place
Would you use Disk Management or Diskpart in Elevated Command Prompt for the partitioning? Disk Management
I didn't realise that you could do these sort of things while actually in the middle of an installation!

As I said, I will give this a go this evening and let you know how I get on.

Very many thanks.

Good luck

 

[Paul Black]

Thanks,

Just to clarify, is this script correct please:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<settings pass="oobeSystem">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<FolderLocations>
<ProfilesDirectory>D:\Users</ProfilesDirectory>
<ProgramData>C:\ProgramData</ProgramData>
</FolderLocations>
</component>
</settings>


<cpi: offlineImage cpi:source="wim:X:/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

What about the two drives in RED, do they need to be changed?

And this script:

net stop wmpnetworksvc
pause
cd c:\Windows\System32\Sysprep
c:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\sysprep.exe /oobe /reboot /unattend:F:\relocate.xml

Thanks.

EDIT:
I assume I can put these two Notepad scripts on a USB and then copy them to the C: drive and run them from there?

 

[Megahertz07]

<ProfilesDirectory>D:\Users</ProfilesDirectory>
must be changed to
<ProfilesDirectory>F:\Users</ProfilesDirectory>
as your data drive (\users) will be on F:

The script is OK

 

[Paul Black]

I have been away for a while and got back at the weekend.
I tried to setup my laptop yesterday and have problems.

I decided to use D: as the Users/Data partition and I: as the Image partition.
Setting up the partitions went OK after deleting all the partitions except the Disk 0 Partition 1: WINRE.
I copied both the files below into the D: drive and run the Sysprep from the D: drive by double clicking it.
BTW, after setting up the D: and I: partitions the DVD drive went to F:.

Relocate - W7HP.xml code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<settings pass="oobeSystem">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<FolderLocations>
<ProfilesDirectory>D:\Users</ProfilesDirectory>
<ProgramData>d:\ProgramData</ProgramData>
</FolderLocations>
</component>
</settings>
<cpifflineImage cpi:source="wim:F:/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM" xmls:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

Sysprep.cmd code:

net stop wmpnetworksvc
pause
cd c:\Windows\System32\Sysprep
c:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\sysprep.exe /oobe /reboot /unattend:D:\Relocate- W7HP.xml

The computer did not reboot automatically, I had to do it manually.

It dropped me back to where it should have done after the cleanup window appeared and I carried on.
When the installation was complete I still had the Users/Profiles etc on the C: drive???
I never got asked for the Product Key either.
The desktop doesn't look right either, it looks like it hasn't finished installing if you know what I mean!

Please help!

Thanks in advance.

EDIT:
The laptop is very slow doing anything. Not as it should be for a clean install.
There are no items in the Startup etc.
In the D: drive there are only the two files posted above.
Th max amount of disk space for system protection is set to zero, I know this should be about 10%.
The screen resolution is also large like when you go into Safe Mode.
Also when I looked at Turn Windows features on or off it caused a system crash followed by a system restart.

I am just going through things that I will want to customize when I manage to get the partitions and user profiles sorted out.
I will obviously be re-installing Windows again because it is certainly not right at the moment.

 

[Paul Black]

Has anyone got any ideas please? :banghead:
Thanks in advance.

 

[Megahertz07]

Paul,
You can, but I don't recomend to move ProgramData from C: to D:
<ProgramData>C:\ProgramData</ProgramData>

When you launched Sysprep.cmd, was the Relocate - W7HP.xml at D: root (D:/)?
Was the Win 7 installation disk on the ODD drive F: when you launched Sysprep.cmd?

 

[Paul Black]

Thanks for the reply,

When I got to the stage of CTRL + SHIFT + F3 and then cancelling the System Preparation Tool 3.14 information box, I clicked Start>Computer and then double clicked the D: drive. It told me that the drive needed to be formatted which I did using quick format. I then copied the Relocate - W7HP.xml file to the D: root (D:/) drive which is the drive I want all my data and documents to save to.

I also copied the Sysprep.cmd file to the D: root (D:/) drive and double clicked it to launch it.

It appeared that the DVD drive had changed from D: to F:, I assume this is because when I set up the 3 partitions, one for Windows 7 (C:), one for the data and documents (D:) and the other for imaging (E:), that it changed the D: to F:?

Have I got the coding wrong?
Is that why it is not working?

I don't quite understand when you say...
You can, but I don't recomend to move ProgramData from C: to D:
< ProgramData>C:\ProgramData</ProgramData>
...I just want to allocate the user folders to D: to save all my documents and data to so if C: gets corrupted I will not lose my data..

Thanks in advance.

 

[Megahertz07]

You can move:
- C:\users to D:\users with the line <ProfilesDirectory>D:\Users</ProfilesDirectory>
- C:\ProgramData to D:\ProgramData with the line < ProgramData>D:\ProgramData</ProgramData>

C:\ProgramData is a system folder where the program configuration files are stored, so I don't recommend moving to D:
So I would leave ProgramData where it is by default. Set < ProgramData>C:\ProgramData</ProgramData>

You probably didn't do the right sequence. Read Kari tutorial and follow it.

 

[Kari]

This is the command you told you used when running Sysprep:

c:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\sysprep.exe /oobe /reboot /unattend:D:\Relocate- W7HP.xml

There seems to a space in your answer file name between the hyphen and letter W. Earlier on that same post you write the same filename with two spaces, both before and after the hyphen.

Both would cause Sysprep to fail. Always (I repeat: always!) when a path contains spaces it must be in quotes, in your case like this:

c:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\sysprep.exe /oobe /reboot /unattend:"D:\Relocate- W7HP.xml"

Even better would of course be to use simple filenames without spaces or special characters. Why don't you just rename the file as relocate.xml?

BTW, there are no issues involved in relocating ProgramData folder, too. Windows 7 fully supports relocating it and Users folder. However, in the future, in case you one of these days decide to upgrade to Windows 10, relocated ProgramData prevents the upgrade. Windows 8 and later do no longer support relocating ProgramData; you can upgrade from 7 to 10 with relocated Users folder, but not if ProgramData is relocated, too.

In addition, I want to quote myself here from the same tutorial on our sister site TenForums.com. It's important to be sure the drive letters remain the same when setup (OOBE) starts after Sysprep. Read the below, ask if it raises any questions:

   Warning

Please read this before proceeding!

Windows "likes" to set the the drive ID letters like this:

• Drive C: > The system drive where Windows will be installed
• Drive D: > First optical drive (CD / DVD drive)
• Drive E: > Second partition on the same disk where the C: is located, or in case that disk only has one partition, the first partition on the secondary disk

Now when you sysprep telling it to move the Users to a specific drive, after the reboot Windows might find that intended target drive for Users folder has another drive ID letter and your intended drive D: is now E:. Sysprep fails and you have to reinstall.

To be sure you are able to use your chosen partition for the relocated Users folder you need to set the drive letters manually before the sysprep is run. In Audit Mode you can do this for instance with Disk Management by manually changing the drive letters. In below example I want to secure that Users folder will be moved to D drive:

• Change the optical drive letter to something at the end of the alphabet, I use W:
• Change the drive letter of the partition or disk you intend to use for the Users folder to D:
• If the partition or disk you want to use already has a letter D:, change it to something else, close the Disk Management, open it again and change the letter back to D:

See the tutorial at our sister site the Seven Forums: Drive Letter - Add, Change, or Remove in Windows - Windows 7 Help Forums

I recommend to always set drive letters manually to override the defaults.

(Quote from Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10 Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials )

Kari

 

[Megahertz07]

Paul, it seems that you haven't follow my instructions from post #4.

"Edit Relocate - W7HP.xml.txt and change the ODD drive letter to the one you have set on the previous step. Save it as Relocate.xml and put it on the root of the drive that will have \users (D: or U: )"

What is on Disk 0 Partition 1: WINRE?
Although you can reenter sysprep from a running windows, I'll recommend you to start from the beginning.
Follow my instructions on post #4.

 

[Paul Black]

Thank you both for your replies.

I am just re-installing again and have got further than on previous occasions.
I changed the DVD-ROM drive to X:.
I copied the two files (Relocate.xml & Sysprep.cmd) into the root of D: (after quick formatting) and run the Sysprep.cmd file.

It is giving me the error:

Windows could not parse or process unattend answer file.
[D:\Relocate.xml]. The answer file is invalid. The error was detected at line 11 column 1 of the answer file.

Here is the code I am using for the Relocate.xml file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<settings pass="oobeSystem">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<FolderLocations>
<ProfilesDirectory>D:\Users</ProfilesDirectory>
<ProgramData>C:\ProgramData</ProgramData>
</FolderLocations>
</component>
</settings>
<cpifflineImage cpi:source="wim:X:/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM" xmls:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

Here is the code I am using for the Sysprep.cmd file:

net stop wmpnetworksvc
pause
cd c:\Windows\System32\Sysprep
c:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\sysprep.exe /oobe /reboot /unattend:\Relocate.xml

What is wrong please?

Thanks in advance.