SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

How to Optimize an SSD / HDD When You're Ready to Reinstall the Operating System​

This will show how to remove / over-write all existing data from a Solid State Drive (SSD) or a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), it'll work for both, then how to create a partition and then format that partition before install begins so you have a clean drive to start the installation with.

   Note

Before you start this, in the Windows start menu search box type diskmgmt.msc right click the entry and click "Run as Administrator" if you get a User Account Control (UAC) prompt enter your user credentials and click Yes; make very sure you know the correct drive number of the drive you want to do this to if you have more than one SSD / HDD in the machine, you don't want to do the wrong one.

   Warning

Do not do this to any SSD or HDD that has data on it you don't want to lose, the first thing this does is to mark the drive as "Unallocated Space" and then writes zeroes ( 0's ) to the entire drive, it's known as a "Secure Erase" and it will make data un-recoverable, it cannot be done to just a single partition on a drive, it will do the whole drive.
You have been warned!

   Information

It may be a help to over-write the HDD Master Boot Record (MBR) before you start any other procedure using the diskpart clean command, rather than the clean all; it takes just seconds to complete so you will have "unallocated" space to use either the Windows installer to create and format the partition(s) or use diskpart for that, however you choose.

Let's get started!

Step One

Boot To DISKPART

If need be, view this tutorial at the link below for an out-line of the process.
How to Boot to DISKPART at PC Startup

1) In the command window that opens type diskpart then hit the <enter> key then type list disk <enter> if you have more than one SSD / HDD in the machine it'll list them all.

Have a look here to view additional important information on this entire process.
click any image to enlarge

2) Now in the command window type select disk # (# = target disk number) then <enter>, you will get "Disk # is now the selected disk".

3) Now type clean <enter> you will get a blinking cursor telling you that clean all is working like in the second snip down, just relax and let it work.


4) When it finishes you'll get "DiskPart succeeded in cleaning the disk" in the command window.

To leave diskpart at any time and return to the Windows 7 installer type exit two (2) separate times and hit <enter> after each and you will be returned to the installer to continue the installation process.

Step Two

Create a Partition

1) Create a single partition of the entire HDD / SSD

Still in the same command window, to create a partition of the entire HDD / SSD, it is suggested if you are using one of the larger, 1 - 2TB HDDs that you use the outline in #2 below to create a single 100GB partition to do the installation to or #3 below if you would like to include the new Windows 7 System Reserved partition, as we're now seeing serious issues with some trying to install to such large partitions.

Do not format the created partition(s) with the installer if you create them using this process as the installer will delete all this info, the second snip shows how to select "where to install" during the installation process, click to highlight/select the "Windows 7" partition and click next.

Now skip down to #5 below to start the installation.
click any image to enlarge


2) Create a specific size partition

If you wanted to create a specific size partition, say 100GB you would add the size you want to create in MBs like in the command below.
create partition primary size=102400 <enter>
1024MB = 1GB - 1024x100 = 102400, you can use/create any size you like.

You can always extend the Windows partition to include the remaining unallocated space on the HDD / SSD or create additional Primary partitions or an Extended partition after the installation completes if you choose.

Do not format the created partition(s) with the installer if you create them using this process as the installer will delete all this info, the second snip shows how to select "where to install" during the installation process, click to highlight/select the "Windows 7" partition and click next.

Now skip down to #5 below to start the installation.


3) Create the System Reserved partition

If you should want to add the "System Reserved" partition back after the clean all, see this snip; of course you would have to select to install Windows 7 to the partition labeled as "Windows 7" during the install and do not format either partition with the installer.

The reason for suggesting to create the System Reserved at 200MB instead of the new default of 100MB is an attempt to curb some of the issues we're now seeing with the partition being too small when dual/multi booting and it also being needed for use with the Windows 7 Backup and Restore and BitLocker programs.

You can always extend the Windows partition to include the remaining unallocated space on the HDD / SSD or create additional Primary partitions or an Extended partition after the installation completes if you choose.

The second snip shows how to select "where to install" during the installation process, click to highlight/select the "Windows 7" partition and click next.


4) See this tutorial for the "align" argument

Align a Solid State Drive for Windows Installation

5) That's it, you're now done with the command window, type exit <enter> to leave diskpart and exit <enter> again to close the command window; if you're using a Windows 7 full installer it will go to the "Select Language" screen to continue the installation process as usual.

For those using a created repair CD or a Vista installer type exit <enter> to leave diskpart and exit <enter> again to close the command window; at the System Recovery Options dialog box that's still open click Restart to finish the process.

Enjoy!

Related Tutorials

---

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/127744-clean-install-windows-7-ahead-xp.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/127918-clean-install-windows-7-ahead-vista.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/119151-system-reserved-create-using-disk-management.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/123170-system-reserved-create-dual-boot.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/121536-system-reserved-multi-boot-logical-partitions.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/76383-disk-cleanup-extended.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/70822-ssd-tweaks-optimizations-windows-7-a.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/107566-dual-boot-create-partitions-using-pwbd.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/109752-partition-recover-space-used-older-os.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/87768-password-reset-options-windows-7-a.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/818-disk-cleanup-open-use.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93322-partition-wizard-use-bootable-cd.html
• SSD Alignment
• How to physically Install an SSD and transfer the Operating System

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Bilal, thank you.

 

[toughbook]

I may have jumped the gun here too fast. I had to perform a F/W update on my Samsung 470 256GB SSD. That all went well, it erased my OS as planned. I then thought....Does the F/W just get written onto the SSD and wipe the drive, or does it also clean it? I have no way of knowing.
At this point now the SSD has the F/W loaded with no O.S. I booted from my install disc to get at the repair, install, command prompt, etc area. I entered what you stated at the top of the post on how to do a Secure All. I get to the point where it says Clean All and the icon is directly underneath it as your pic shows. Is this how it stays until it's finished, is there anyway for me to know it's doing anything? With it being an SSD it is slient of course. Or does it not do anything since there is no O.S on it? It is showing 238 Size 238 Free. It is a 256 drive, which leaves me to believe that it is formatted with a little bit of info on it. I want it CLEAN!

If someone can advise me that would be great. I could sit here for 2 or 3 hours waiting or move on?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello mate.



You will get a blinking cursor until it's finished, then you will get a "Successfully Cleaned ... " message like in the #4 snip, that is when it will be done, don't mess with it until it finishes.

 

[toughbook]

Thank you! I went ahead and started installing but it had only just begun the 1st step. I will go back and do it the Clean All again.

Thanks again!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

If you have run the clean all once and it completed, then you would only need to run the clean command to remove the format configuration data and then start the installation again, the clean command only takes seconds to complete.



You may care to have a look through this tutorial at then link below for additional information.

Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command

 

[Ukiii]

Hi BFK,
As far as I remember, your tutorial had a snip with allign=64 not 1024 for SSD. Why the change? Does this have any impact to the speed of SSD?

Another question is: if I do the allign=64 to System Reserved space on my SSD (the 200MB), is it necessary to do the allign=64 to the remaining part of the SSD?

Thank you.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hi BFK,
As far as I remember, your tutorial had a snip with allign=64 not 1024 for SSD. Why the change? Does this have any impact to the speed of SSD?

Another question is: if I do the allign=64 to System Reserved space on my SSD (the 200MB), is it necessary to do the allign=64 to the remaining part of the SSD?

Thank you.

Hello again Lucas.


You are correct, it is just that 1024 is more in line with the default Windows align size; I believe that just doing the first partition on the drive is sufficient.

 

[Ukiii]

Nice one BFK, you're a legend.
+rep

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Thanks mate, I'm glad I could help!

 

[marcelduchamp]

Thank you Carl and theog!

sorry I don't see where to send a message to you so i m going to quote- in this tutorial is it necessary to create a partition or can i just swipe it and reinstall on the same one? i mean by that is step 2 necessary thanks x

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello marcelduchamp, welcome to Seven Forums!


No you don't have to create a partition but you will get the new Windows 7 "System Reserved" partition whether you want it or not if you do the clean all and don't create at least one partition using diskpart to do the installation to.

 

[marcelduchamp]

hi thanks for the reply, tried the steps given in the tutorial , but my interface was not the same when i opened diskmgmt.msc it was not a command prompt window so ws unable to follow on...

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

hi thanks for the reply, tried the steps given in the tutorial , but my interface was not the same when i opened diskmgmt.msc it was not a command prompt window so ws unable to follow on...

You have to boot the Windows media and follow this tutorial at the link below, it can't be done from the Windows desktop.

DISKPART : At PC Startup

 

[marcelduchamp]

Oh right! thanks

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Oh right! thanks

Be sure to post back here to let me know how it sorts out.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Can't find all the drives

Have old drive I want to wipe completely. Have tried Gparted and fsck with no luck.

Have then come across this tut and type in diskpart and the screen doesn't list any drives. Am I doing something wrong??

http://i56.tinypic.com/rsr1nd.png

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You have to give it some commands.

Like list disk

use /help to see more commands

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok

Thanks ignazatsonic - to my aid again - might need up calling you the Lone Ranger lol!! Don't know who you are going to have as Tonto though??:roflmao:

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Still trying

Ignazatsonic have got to reading a bit in the app but am not getting ast this.

I have tried typing in CLEAN & CLEAN Disk 1 and gone to help a fair bit but cannot get to selecting that drive.

Sorry mate but as you know I am bit thick with stuff like this.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Here they are mate, as soon as the elevated command window opens.

diskpart <enter> after all commands

list disk

select disk # (# your disk number)

clean all

Be advised: this will destroy all data on the entire HDD.