OK to do clean re-install windows7 drive C:? Affect other partitions?

[extracube]

Just a basic user here so thought I would ask somewhere on the internet before attempting. Have windows7 installed on drive C:, and have win7 and winxp installed on two other partitions (E: & F: ) on the same hard drive.

Last year I used EasyBCD so that 7 and XP could dual boot as options.

Now the main partition drive C: has way too much crap on it, want to just reinstall windows 7 all over again but leave everything else alone. Will reinstalling windows 7 to drive C: affect the whole drive, i.e. Master Boot Record, special boot loader or anything like that -- do I risk damaging other partitions in any way or any precautions I should take / be aware of?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello and welcome extra mate I am NO expert but if I understand you correctly you have 7 installed ?twice? and will end up with three installs of 7 plus the XP if you go ahead.

I stand to be corrected but I think you can install again on the same drive it will keep the "old" Windows there too.


Any chance of a screen shot of the Disk Management screen? and some system specifications would be real good too.

 

[extracube]

Thanks for the welcome. No what I was thinking is that I want to wipe my current partition C: windows 7 completely clean and at the same time to leave the rest of the drive fully in tact.

I am thinking of popping the Windows 7 DVD into the drive from power on, reformat part C:, and then select to do a full clean install of windows 7 onto the same partition C:. However, I want to make sure that, because partition C: is the "official" first portion of a drive, that if I tamper with it (reformat, install new OS, and so on) that it doesn't alter the entire drive itself (i.e. the master boot record, and so on).

I want to do all this because my partition C: is loaded down with too much garbage, so a "repair" isn't good enough, I want to completely clean it. Thanks.

 

[sk0t0s]

I'm no expert either but i think its ok for you wipe the drive C: and re-install windows 7 in it. Just don't delete the partition so your other OS on E: and F: will be intact.

Just remember the size of drive C: so that you'll know what to format when you come to that "window" that you have to choose which drive will you want to install your windows.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Just to make absolutely sure we are on the same track you are talking of one hard drive?

If so I am not so sure the install wlil wipe the drive. I have never heard of anyone installing into a partition tobe honest.

I can tell you how to wipe that partiton C: but it is usually the OS partiton.

Can we see a pic of that Disk management window before yuo do anything.

 

[AddRAM]

Just format the proper partition and you`ll be fine. As mentioned, know exactly the size of the partition you want to reinstall on so you don`t accidentally install on the wrong partition. Post the pic of disk management from within the windows 7 you want to reinstall on. You can then get the exact size, or look in Computer properties to get the size of C.

 

[nilank]

If all you wanna do is format only C: and reinstall Windows 7 there, this won't effect data on other partitions. Boot information will be recreated during Windows installation and saved on C drive. Though I'm not sure if you'll able to access your older installations of Windows or not since you seem to have a messed up system (two installations of Windows 7? And XP too?).

 

[gregrocker]

When you install Win7 last after XP it should configure a Dual Boot menu. If not install EasyBCD to add XP.

You clearly said you had another Win7 along with XP and didn't clarify when you were asked about this. You should delete all partitions except the XP partition you wish to save, and any data partitions you want to save.

If you have further questions post back the requested screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image - Windows 7 Forums.

If you'll also stick with the steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 you will get and keep a perfect install. The sub-tutorial for Clean Install Windows 7 details in Steps 6-7 how to delete all the partitions not needed to create and format new for install.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

When you install Win7 last after XP it should configure a Dual Boot menu. If not install EasyBCD to add XP.

You clearly said you had another Win7 along with XP and didn't clarify when you were asked about this. You should delete all partitions except the XP partition you wish to save, and any data partitions you want to save.

If you have further questions post back the requested screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image - Windows 7 Forums.

If you'll also stick with the steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 you will get and keep a perfect install. The sub-tutorial for Clean Install Windows 7 details in Steps 6-7 how to delete all the partitions not needed to create and format new for install.

With you Greg and just about what I have been saying all along especially a screen shot as I would really like to see what that drive looks like.

Perhaps I am just too stupid and old for this but I just cannot see how you can fit two installs on the same drive and expect it to work in any sensible fashion and if you could what is the point??

 

[gregrocker]

It's a little cleaner to have them on separate HDs installed with the other unplugged, but that's not always possible so multi-booting on the same HD is pretty easy and will normally configure itself when you install the newest OS last.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

It's a little cleaner to have them on separate HDs installed with the other unplugged, but that's not always possible so multi-booting on the same HD is pretty easy and will normally configure itself when you install the newest OS last.

Ok Greg I was just curious as to why though I have this picture in my mind what little is left of a drive with 10 installs of 7 on it - there seems to be no point to it.

Perhaps I am missing something perhaps you can have more than one at a time running

Personally I would stick the second install on a SSD and get rid of the other partition and just use the BIOS to boot to which drive you want to boot from - which I am testing out as of now with four drives and four different OS's.

 

[gregrocker]

The vast majority of Multi Boots are with Linux, XP, Vista or now Win8.

Most cases of multi-booting one or more Win7 copies are test installs for various purposes. Right now I am testing SIW2's new SP2 mock-up created from all the updates since SP1, so I have it Dual-Booting on a second Win7 partition. It's worked out so well I am setting it up and within a few days will probably delete my old SP1 install and recover the partition space into the new OS.

There are also a whole legion of multi-booters who only like doing so using Virtual Machines, which doesn't appeal to others because it often is on a smaller window within the host OS window.