Windows 7 Reformat Question

[Gloin22]

Hi,

So I will be reformatting my PC. I got two partions, C and D. I used to only have C with everything but I created D for some data I backed up there to keep.

When I go through re installing process and both partitions show up during installation and I click to reformat and delete everything off C and re install Windows there, after the installation process, all the data on D I backed up will still be there right? It wouldn't be wiped or anything?

This is just for my confirmation.

Thanks in advance.
Regards.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Yes, theoretically.

A wiser course would be to have a backup of what's on D in case a mistake is made.

Normally, you wouldn't "reformat" C. You'd delete it when you come to the partitioning screen during the installation.

That will create "unallocated space".

At the next step, you'd tell Windows to install to that unallocated space.

 

[Gloin22]

Thanks

So you'd think create another partition (E) and back up there's whats on D? ( you see no external hard drives, USB 2GB only and slow net meaning backing to cloud not ideal)

And thanks for that tip.

Regards.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Thanks

So you'd think create another partition (E) and back up there's whats on D? ( you see no external hard drives, USB 2GB only and slow net meaning backing to cloud not ideal)

That's not really what I mean.

I meant to have a backup of what's on D on a totally different drive. Not just on a different partition on the same drive.

Offhand, I can't recall anyone having trouble with your plan UNLESS they MISTAKENLY tell Windows to install to the wrong partition. You have to make sure.

If you don't have D backed up, you are at risk all the time. Any hard drive can drop dead for no apparent reason at any time. I just had one quit a couple of days ago, for no apparent reason. It won't spin at all.

But backups are up to you. Many people prefer to live dangerously. Many people don't much care about their data.

 

[gregrocker]

Boot the Win7 installation disk, choose only C, format and click Next.

Look over these steps for doing a perfect Clean Reinstall Windows 7
which compiles everything that works best to get and keep a perfect install.