Windows will not start - can't do a clean install

[wmsully2006]

I was able to boot Parted Magic, Memtest86+, Partition Wizard, and Seatools. Do they all just load on RAM? I already was able to get all my files with Parted Magic. I don't think I can open a command prompt. Can I use one of these bootable utilities to wipe the disk? Do I have to do a multi pass (secure wipe)?

 

[wmsully2006]

Ok, i've wiped the drive. Do I now have to make it active? Do I have to create partions or will the Windows installation disk create them for me? I read the clean install directions and I think I want a separate partition for the operation system. Do I choose the size or does windows do it. If I choose how big should I make it?
Thanks Alot

 

[Golden]

Windows will create the partition for you, across the entire disk. You can resize it later on, and add a separate data partition using Partition Wizard. For now, choose the default options and proceed with the install.

 

[wmsully2006]

I'm still in Partition Wizard now, for I used it to wipe the disk. Do I have to make it active or do I just close it then install windows?
Thanks

 

[Golden]

No, just exit and start the Window install.

 

[gregrocker]

Since you're there Create a new Primary partition of the size you want, then rightclick to Modify>Set to Active, OK, Apply steps. This will hedge your bet.

 

[wmsully2006]

What size do I want? Is this where windows would be installed? Or is this where my data would go?

 

[gregrocker]

You can create two partitions, one for Windows on the left side, then another for your data. You should have an idea of the size you need for Windows if you have a partition scheme in mind. Are you going to keep your User folders on it or link them from the data partition in order to keep the OS partition smaller for imaging purposes? If not then I'd make it at least 100gb.

 

[AddRAM]

Make it bigger, I`m tellin ya, go 150-180 GB for C

 

[wmsully2006]

Looking at my originaly snapshout, I had a system capacitypartition of 1.46 gig and 1.28 was used, then I had one that had a capacity of 453.89 gig, and then I had a recovery partition of 10.4 gig. Now I won't have the recovery any more or does windows still create this? Judging by this was my operating system in the smallest partition? how hard is it to link my folders?
Thanks

 

[AddRAM]

What size is your harddrive ?

Windows doesn`t create a recovery drive, the factory does that.

 

[wmsully2006]

500 gig

 

[AddRAM]

So give yourself a 200 Gig partition for Windows and the other 265 for storage.

Hard Drives sold as 500 GB drives are actually only 465 GBs

 

[wmsully2006]

Why was my Window partition so small before? (see photo on pg 2) Or is that Windows?

 

[gregrocker]

The only small partitions shown are the boot partition which contains only the boot files for Win7 (which won't be created if you use Partition Wizard as suggested, and the Recovery partition which comes from your OEM.

You didn't reply if you had a partition scheme in mind, e.g. placing User folders on a second partition to keep the Win7 backup image smaller for recovery purposes: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

If you don't have such plans then you can make your Win7 partition as large as you want. You should know what you want to store there vs. store on the data partition, so estimate its size based on that. Questions?

 

[AddRAM]

Why was my Window partition so small before? (see photo on pg 2) Or is that Windows?

It wasn`t small, it was 453 GBs

 

[wmsully2006]

I do not have a scheme in mind. I have never had to go this far to get a computer going again. I would like to have the most available storage space available. If I put the operating system on 1 side and the folders on the other, how hard is it to link them? If I did that what would the smallest size I could use for the operating system partition? Can you readjust the size later? If it's too small will windows run slowly?

 

[wmsully2006]

Sorry AddRam, I thought windows was installed on the "system" labeled one. Gregg just enlightened me a couple of minutes before your post.