Reformating harddrive

[moosetracker]

I read about the fact that windows 7 doesn't reformat the harddrives and leaves all your old clutter on and just creates a new section of clutter.
I read I could pick to repartion if if restarted booting up from Windows 7 on the CD.. Which I did, but never saw any offer to repartion (which I would love to do because my drive on XP had to be spliced into 2 partiions because XP could not handle the size.. I would love to go to one partion.) But I know repartioning also reformats..

Anyway I guess I did a clean install (although I saw nothing that offered the clean install, but I know moving for XP to 7 needed that.)

It just forced me to put everythine into a windows.old folder (which I can't find).. And looking at my drive the either windows 7 is a REAL pig, or yup... my old data is eatting up my space with it's clutter.

Although 7 is up, I want a redo.. Can anyone tell me how to do it right with a repartion and format?

 

[kegobeer]

First - update your system specs. If you start having issues, we won't have to guess about your hardware configuration. The link is in my signature.

Second - http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...ck-reference-list-installing-windows-7-a.html

 

[TheSchaft]

Welcome to Seven Forums, moosetracker.

Check out this tutorial - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html it should give you the info you need.

(Sorry keg - didn't see you there.)

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You should come to a point where you are asked about partitions and where you want to install Windows 7.

At that point, you have to select "advanced options" or "custom install" or something like that and it will drop you into a new screen where you can delete all existing partitions and continue.

If you don't choose any further options such as creating several partitions, you will end up with one big partition.

 

[moosetracker]

How do I get info on my specs in windows 7? It is a homemade computer from a friend..

 

[moosetracker]

Hmmm... I will need to look again. I spent ALOT of time in that window, as the system could not find my harddrives, and I had to kill the install to search the internet for them. Nice if the program they gave you warning of issues had told me then it would be a problem.

Actually due to the issues I printed the screen out. I see only Where do you want to install Windows?
a table with Name of Disk, Total size, free space, type
Under the table is a refresh
then load drivers
and (in my picture, the Warning Windows cannot be installed to Disk 0 Partion 1. (show details).. then the Next button..

Where on that screen would be something about partions?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

For system information:

Control panel/Performance information and tools/Advanced tools/View advanced system details in system information.

That will get you to most of it.

On the install screens, look for "drive options/advanced". You have to choose "custom install" earlier in the process.

 

[moosetracker]

I got to the control panel.. then I have
system Security
Network & internet
Hardware & sound
Programs
userAccts & family safty
Apperance & personalization
clock, Language & Region
Ease of Access..

No "Performance information & tools".. I have Windows 7 professional if that makes a difference.

 

[kegobeer]

For your install question - have you reviewed this thread yet? http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...ck-reference-list-installing-windows-7-a.html

 

[ignatzatsonic]

in control panels in the upper right, choose "small icons", not category.

 

[moosetracker]

Ok I updated my specs with what I could find from there, and some other things like mouse & keyboard.

I looked at custom clean install but it just took you through basics.. Everything I did that packaged up the old crud.. and left it sitting on the harddrive.

 

[moosetracker]

I don't know why my last message never posted.. This may get dupped if the other one ever arrives..

I updated my specs with what I could figure out using the control panel info.

I looked over the clean install and it is exactly what I went through, but it doesn't tell you that your old windows would be packaged and stored with the name of windows.old.. Mine did.. So I know there was no reformat.

I also looked at partitions, but #1 that does not show the partion to wipe out the drive. #2.. Shows how to add a partion, not delete one.

 

[kegobeer]

Click on custom install, then drive options (advanced) - in there you can format whatever partition you want.

 

[moosetracker]

Sorry took so long to get back.. hit a problem where I can't go forward or back.
I believe the problem with my harddrive not being recognized kept me from seeing the advanced button you guys are telling me about. (It is not there when I have the problem.).. Most likely in my first install I was so excited to get the drivers and remove that problem, I jumped forward from that page without seeing the new buttons materialize.

So I went back to that spot. But my harddrive drivers had the same problem (again).. Only this time the very same cd I used to pull the driver the first time, during browse only shows folders, and will not show any dll to choose this time, so I am stuck with the error.

Thought to reformat drive with my old windows XP to see if clearing the drive out would clear whatever now will not show the driver from the CD.. (thinking I could reinstall XP if this doesn't work and I can't get the drivers to be able to install W7).. But, I forgot XP is also an upgrade, and it of course does not see W7 as a valid lower version.. And over the years I don't know what I did with my older version (I think that was W 95)..

So I guess I could by software to wipe out the drive, but I now fear not being able to get XP or W7 to install afterwards.. So I am just kind feeling stuck.

 

[moosetracker]

Doesn't seem XP built a backdoor for an upgrade, as it did in Vista & W7. Since I have 2 valid versions of XP, I even tried to put both in the machine at the same time, hoping when I checked it would see one as the installed version.