Is it possible to delete an old OS install on a partition?

[SkimmyMcG]

I can't seem to find anything that has the exact problem as me, I've gone through tons of OS installs with this computer and have just one single left over installation on it's own partition with nothing else, it uses about 25GB's out of the 50GB partition so I want to get rid of it to free up some space for when I install Windows 8. Each time I try to format the partition I get, "Windows was unable to complete the format" I only have one hard drive if that helps. Would I be able to format it when I go to install Windows 8 and it asks where to install it to?

[Sauron]

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hmmm, that's not a good sign... the drive might be dead or dying... try using a live gparted disc to see if you can manage formatting it with that.

[SkimmyMcG]

hmmm, that's not a good sign... the drive might be dead or dying... try using a live gparted disc to see if you can manage formatting it with that.

I was able to format it with CCleaner, but now it says I need to format it before I can use it, when I try to format it I get the, "Windows was unable to complete the format" error. Could I use command prompt to do it do you think?

[Sauron]

I was able to format it with CCleaner, but now it says I need to format it before I can use it, when I try to format it I get the, "Windows was unable to complete the format" error. Could I use command prompt to do it do you think?

 

I think the drive is basically dead, was it important to you? Do you need a suggestion for a new drive?

[SkimmyMcG]

I think the drive is basically dead, was it important to you? Do you need a suggestion for a new drive?

I don't think the drive is dead seeing as that is only a partition and there's nothing wrong with the rest of my partitions.

[Sauron]

I don't think the drive is dead seeing as that is only a partition and there's nothing wrong with the rest of my partitions.

 

There might be a problem that only affects certain parts of the drive, including the part that is written on when you make a new partition. This means that as long as you read from it (use an existing partition) it's fine, but you my be unable to write to it. Honestly if none of those programs work I can't think of any other explanation. As a last attempt try formatting it directly in ntfs with ccleaner and see if windows recognizes the partition.

[Opcode]

Have you tried deleting all of the partitions within Windows setup and then creating a single main partition to install Windows on?

[SkimmyMcG]

There might be a problem that only affects certain parts of the drive, including the part that is written on when you make a new partition. This means that as long as you read from it (use an existing partition) it's fine, but you my be unable to write to it. Honestly if none of those programs work I can't think of any other explanation. As a last attempt try formatting it directly in ntfs with ccleaner and see if windows recognizes the partition.

It worked, somewhat, I formatted it with CCleaner like you suggested, then I got a message saying Windows had to format the partition before I could use it, but when I try to let Windows format it it says, "Windows was unable to complete the format" 0.0 So I went, oh well and forgot about that, then I turned off my computer, went to turn it back on this morning and got, "Missing operating system" Did a bunch of different things trying to fix it, couldn't. Installed Windows 7 again, then installed 8, or at least tried to, I launched it through the setup file in my bootable Windows 8 USB stick, it guided me through the, "installation" and then it restarted my PC and gave me the usual install screen where you can format drives and such, tried to install like normal from there and was told I can't install Windows 8 on my HDD because it's not a supported file system. So I turn off my PC and take out my USB stick, turn it back on and oddly enough I have Windows 8 installed. Is that somewhat normal do you know? Sorry for the long post, wanted to try and explain it all to the best of my abilities.

[Sauron]

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Weird not sure what happened but hey, if it works...

[anders_b]

of what i can remember when you install windows 8 and select wich drive you want to install it on you can format drive and if that dont work try this http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1971428/windows-create-partition-installing-empty-hard-drive.html

[SkimmyMcG]

Weird not sure what happened but hey, if it works...

That's my thought exactly. Thanks for your help!

[NumLock21]

Reason why you're not able to complete the format is, the boot files are located in that partition. The easiesy way would be to just insert your Win8 disc, to delete all partitions. Why do you need to install Win7 and then Win8? Is you're a upgrade editions? Other option is to hook it up to another machine and delete the partitions from there.

[macpro622776]

Reason why you're not able to complete the format is, the boot files are located in that partition. The easiesy way would be to just insert your Win8 disc, to delete all partitions. Why do you need to install Win7 and then Win8? Is you're a upgrade editions? Other option is to hook it up to another machine and delete the partitions from there.

 

@SkimmyMcG: I would do the first option - back up any data on it, the in the Windows installer, delete all the partitions, recreate them the way you like, and install Windows. Do not hook it up to another machine and delete the partitions from there, because you'll end up deleting the boot files and destroy the existing partition configuration and possibly end up with a dead hard drive that would require repatitioning anyway, but you'll lose all your data.