Partition the Hard Drive in a Windows 7 Install

Page 2 of 7 FirstFirst 1234 ... LastLast

  1. iseeuu
    Posts : 2,736
    ...
    Thread Starter
       New #10

    That is good news! Glad to hear it!

    Cheers!
    Robert
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  3. Lappy
    Posts : 11
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       New #11

    Hi all,

    So I've been on this forum, read everything I could to make sure I wouln't run into hurdles in order to do a clean re-install of Windows 7. Before we go any further, I had extended a partition earlier when I bought the computer and at the time I didn't know (I guess it's part of the learning process) that I couldn't have more then 4 primary partitions until the HD changed to a dynamic HD. Now I'm stuck with a dynamic HD and I want to get rid of it and start from scratch.

    So I get ready, boot from the dvd re-install and get to step 5 of this page: Select "Custom (advanced)". Well, to my knowledge, the option for "Delete" is gray and I cannot delete a partition. Is this typical?

    Thanks for the help.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. Brink
    Posts : 72,050
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       New #12

    Hello Lappy,

    You might see if you may be able to do OPTION FOUR in the tutorial below to convert the disk back to Basic, then see if you may be able to the above to delete afterwards.

    Convert a Dynamic Disk to a Basic Disk

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  5. DoubleZ
    Posts : 6
    Windows 7 x64 SP1
       New #13

    Hello everyone, I have some basic questions regarding this topic that I`d like to clarify before I do my first Win7 installation. So I`d like to have one primary partition for my win7 installation and another one for my data (probably an extended partition). I understand that I can create the primary partition in the installation process, but does it give the option to create an extended partition? If it doesn`t what should I do, leave all the unallocated space alone and then create an extended partition out of it in the disk management after installation? Also can I create a primary partition in the extended partition, in case I want to multi-boot in the future, trying to figure out the disk setup :) Thanks in advance!
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  7. Brink
    Posts : 72,050
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       New #14

    Hello DoubleZ, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    If you do not have a OEM computer with a factory recovery partition and these will be the only partitions on the single HDD (disk), then you could do either option below if you like:


    OPTION ONE:
    • At step 7 in the tutorial, you could delete all partitions for the Disk# that you want to install Windows 7 until there's only one "Unallocated Space" entry for that Disk#.
    • Install Windows 7.
    • After installation, shrink and create any partitions you like in Disk Management.

    OPTION TWO:
    • At step 7 in the tutorial, you could delete all partitions for the Disk# that you want to install Windows 7 until there's only one "Unallocated Space" entry for that Disk#.
    • Format the now first partition.
    • Use the Extend option to shrink it by how much you want to use for the other paritions.
    • Format the new second partiton.
    • Repeat extend and format if you wanted to create another partition from the second one.
    • When finished, finish the installation of Windows 7 to the first partition.
    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  8. DoubleZ
    Posts : 6
    Windows 7 x64 SP1
       New #15

    Hey Shawn, oh yeah I forgot to mention that I`m gonna be doing it on a brand new laptop with a fresh, raw hdd in it. So hmm, I think I should go with the first option, but shouldnt I at least create a partition for windows upon installation?
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  9. Brink
    Posts : 72,050
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       New #16

    No need to. Windows 7 will automatically format the selected disk# unallocated space and install on it. :)
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  11. seavixen32
    Posts : 7,730
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit
       New #17

    Hope you don't mind me cutting in, but you will be given the opportunity to create your Windows partition size when you get to step 7 of the tutorial.

    When you create your first partition Windows will also create a 100 MB boot partition in front of your main Windows partition so you'll have no worries on setting up a dual-boot configuration in the future.

    I'd recommend af least 100 GB for your Windows 7 partition and possibly more depending on how many applications you intend installing.

    I'd also advise you create your data partition at this stage and give it a quick format before you click Next to install Windows.

    You should now have three partitions, make sure you select the right one for Windows (it'll be the second one).
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  12. DoubleZ
    Posts : 6
    Windows 7 x64 SP1
       New #18

    So it doesnt really matter if my data partition is a primary partition or a logical drive?
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  13. seavixen32
    Posts : 7,730
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit
       New #19

    DoubleZ said:
    So it doesnt really matter if my data partition is a primary partition or a logical drive?
    No, not at all. You can have up to four primary partitions with the last one being an extended partition within which you can create logical partitions if you need more.

    Partition - Partitioning a hard drive | Kioskea.net
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 
Page 2 of 7 FirstFirst 1234 ... LastLast

  Related Discussions
Hello everyone, The main issue is that I have an ISO file on a USB and I've been trying to boot Windows from it. I get to the screen where it asks me which hard drive I want to install the OSS. I bought a new hard drive and as such it appears as Disk 0: Unallocated Space. From there, I select...
I have a new HP envy t215 desktop with intel I7 Processor on a Megatrends MB with an EFI partitionThe computer came with windows 7 pro but I want to temporally installWindows 8. I want to remove the hard drive with Windows 7 Pro and insert a new 1TB Sata drive for a fresh install of windows 8....
Hi, I just reinstalled win7 on a new hard drive and during the installation process, I split the disk into two equal partitions of 500gb. In 'My Computer' I can only see one partition which is the C drive but not the other partition. Looking in Disk Management, the other partition seems to be...
Hi guys i have just setup my computer with the windows 7 on its own hard drive and all my data on a seperate hard drive. My question is whats the best way to partition this second hard drive, i dont want to loose the data on it if possible. I know it can be done in the computer managment with...
hi, I have download windows 7, backed up all my drivers and copied all my important info onto my external Hard drive and am about to try and clean install windows 7. But do i have to partition the hard drive? My Dell laptop has a 110GB hard drive which came already partitioned. 10GB is...
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

 © Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:36.
Find Us