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]

Hey Bare Foot Kid, thanks so much for the prompt response. Have a great weekend.

Thanks for writing up the tutorial.

My pleasure mate, be sure to post back here with updates.

 

[JRockZ]

i just bought a 64Gb SSD drive, got it cheep! i started to install windows and it errored out then windows couldnt find the drive at all, after several reboots and that i then started this tutorial when i ran clean all on disk 0 which was showing as 55gb it started to clean then popped up an error Virtual Disk Service Error: The object has been deleted. Then afte rthat i tried to select disck 0 again and it said there is no disk selected, so i changed over to disk 1 which is 1909mb and i ran clean all on it and it succeded with no problems.
Now im still missing the 55gb drive,, i have yet to reboot but will shortly and see what if anything that does.......

Disreguard, the drive was bad i tried everything and was unable to get it to work right so i returned it and got a new one thats working PERFECT!

 

[rukkis]

Cant give rep cause Im a newbie I guess, but thanks. Ended my 24hr struggle.

 

[miqballin]

Hey everyone. New to this forum. Read your guide BFK and it's great work. This forum is doing a nice job with all these tutorials/guides. I am trying the 'clean all' command for the second time. The first time I tried and moved onto the installation part, I made an 80GB partition for the system and the rest for other data. I went on to install windows on to the 80GB partition but I got the 'windows could not format a partition on disk 0, error: 0x80070057'. I'm trying the 'clean all' command again but it has been ~2 hours [it's not frozen because the cursor is blinking] for a 230GB HDD. Is that abnormal? Should I restart the computer and try again? Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Miqballin, and welcome to Seven Forums.

That is a bit longer than usual for only a 230GB HDD, but if you still have HDD activity (HDD light blinking on case), then it's best to let it finish so you don't have to start over.

 

[JRockZ]

I forogt to post back here, i had found a few SSD drives that were returned as defective at (not sure i can say the name so i'll abbreviate) McCntr 60Gb drives for 30 bucks and only had the problem with that first one i posted about above, ive since used this tut about 6 more times with perfect results! So TYVM BFK!

 

[miqballin]

Hello Miqballin, and welcome to Seven Forums.

That is a bit longer than usual for only a 230GB HDD, but if you still have HDD activity (HDD light blinking on case), then it's best to let it finish so you don't have to start over.

I don't think the lights on my case work for HDD or power. I might have forgotten to plug the cables in when I first build this PC or maybe something happened later on. However, it had been 3+ hours actually and I had a gut feeling that something wasn't right so I closed the command window. I then went on to make a partition from the 'Disk 0 Unallocated Space' by clicking 'New' but after a few seconds of the blue circle spinning/loading, nothing happened. I restarted the PC and tried to make a partition again and this time it has been spinning/loading for 10+ minutes. Should I restart and try again? I just want to make a partition so I can do this process:
Type diskpart and press enter.
Enter list disk and note the number of the disk you want to install on.
Enter select disk n n is the number of the disk.
Enter list partition and note the number of the partition you want to install on.
Enter select partition n n is the number of the partition.
Enter active

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

You could start over, but try using "Clean" instead of "Clean all" to see how it does.

 

[miqballin]

You could start over, but try using "Clean" instead of "Clean all" to see how it does.

Alright so I started diskpart again > list disk > select disk 0 > create partition primary size=71680 (for 70GB) > select partition 1 > active but active doesnt go through and I receive this error:

DiskPart has encountered an error: Data error <cyclic redundancy check>. See the System Even Log for more information.



Edit: Realized I forgot clean command after select disk 0. Will try again after restarting PC.

Edit#2: Also, sometimes when I restart, it stays at the first screen longer than usual. It happens at random restarts. What could be causing that? Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Did you run clean on the disk first before trying to create a new partition on the disk?

 

[miqballin]

Did you run clean on the disk first before trying to create a new partition on the disk?

I made sure to do that this time however a new problem has arise. After I enter in create partition primary size=71680 I receive this error:

Virtual Disk Service error:
The service's cache has become corrupt.

DiskPart has referenced an object which is not up-to-date.
Refresh the object by using the RESCAN command.
If the problem persists exit DiskPart, then restart DiskPart or restart the computer.

I am going to try the RESCAN command and redo it and post back. Thanks.

 

[miqballin]

Ok so I did the RESCAN command and it says DiskPart has finished scanning your configuration.

Edit: I started again from select disk 0 > clean > create partition primary size=71680 > select partition 1 > active > format fs=ntfs and guess what.. I received this error at 100% completed: DiskPart has encountered an error: The parameter is incorrect. See the System Event Log for more information.

This is getting more and more confusing

 

[BeKure]

Thank you but the partition I create on my SSD never saves. It may be because I am forced to reboot my computer in order to reattempt the installation process. I'm trying to clean install Windows 8 on a SSD and this didn't work either. I keep getting the same error.

 

[Brink]

Hello BeKure,

Please only continue this in your original thread at the link below instead. This way it will all be kept together for you to get better help with.

Need To Free Up Space on SSD To Install Windows 8

 

[BeKure]

My apologies.

 

[Brink]

No apology needed mate. I just wanted to make sure you get the best help with it.

 

[EarlZ]

To clarify "Clean All" is not the same as a secure erase from Parted Magic or HDD Erase ?

 

[Brink]

To clarify "Clean All" is not the same as a secure erase from Parted Magic or HDD Erase ?

Hello Earl,

With a secure erase, each pass it does is one overwrite of everything on the drive. The more overwrites that are done, the less likely anything can be recovered.

"Clean All" does 1 pass each time you run it. This is usually good enough unless you are concerned about professionals trying to recover data.

The others can do many passes, but it will take a lot longer to finish.

Hope this helps.

 

[mezo91]

Does this process on all hdd or can it be made on the windows partition

 

[Novice 4 Fun]

Question re: Partitions

This thread has been helpful. I am doing a clean install of Windows 7 on a 232 GB HDD. The laptop will be used for basic home computing, nothing heavy duty. Which of the three options within Step Two should I select? (I suspect my needs/use of the machine will not require something as sophisticated as Option 3.)

I read in this tutorial that there have been problems with some HDDs or partitions that are "too large". So, my questions: 1) Which of the three options do you recommend for me (I prefer simplicity so long as the machine will run well)? 2) If more than one partition is recommended, then how many and what size for each?

[A note to Barefoot Kid if he happens to see this - I appreciate your personal website.]