How do i wipe windows 7

[BurntNewt]

Im wondering how to wipe windows 7. all the methods i found require a installation disk(which i dont have) or they give options i do not have.

[ShadySocks]

Is your system a prebuilt?

[TheKDub]

Define wipe...

 

Perhaps this?

 

Do you want to do a fresh install? If so, you'll need the installation disk. (You can download the ISO online, check http://reddit.com/r/microsoftsoftwareswap they usually have links to downloads for most newer windows versions)

You'll also need drivers, I'd suggest getting those before reinstalling windows, that way the process goes a little quicker.

[yathis]

format the disk and wipe it 18 times

[BurntNewt]

4 minutes ago, ShadySocks said:

Is your system a prebuilt?

yes its a lenovo laptop 

[BurntNewt]

5 minutes ago, TheKDub said:

Define wipe...

 

Perhaps this?

 

Do you want to do a fresh install? If so, you'll need the installation disk. (You can download the ISO online, check http://reddit.com/r/microsoftsoftwareswap they usually have links to downloads for most newer windows versions)

You'll also need drivers, I'd suggest getting those before reinstalling windows, that way the process goes a little quicker.

wipe as in format but keep the os 

 

but i dont have an installation key and would like to keep windows seven. if i have to get ten i will 

[ShadySocks]

Just now, BurntNewt said:

yes its a lenovo laptop 

If you have a flash drive, you can create a bootable windows 7 flash drive, then use it instead of an installation disk. Windows10 has a much more streamlined process if you want to use media creation tool.

[TheKDub]

1 minute ago, BurntNewt said:

wipe as in format but keep the os 

You'll have to do a fresh install, Microsoft didn't add that function until windows 8.

[BurntNewt]

Just now, ShadySocks said:

If you have a flash drive, you can create a bootable windows 7 flash drive, then use it instead of an installation disk. Windows10 has a much more streamlined process if you want to use media creation tool.

would it be easier to completely wipe the drive and download windows 10 

 

[ShadySocks]

6 minutes ago, BurntNewt said:

would it be easier to completely wipe the drive and download windows 10 

 

Definitely. Download windows media creation tool, run it, choose 'DONT keep my files', that's it.

[BurntNewt]

1 minute ago, ShadySocks said:

Definitely. Download windows media creation tool, run it, choose 'DONT keep my files', that's it.

can you walk me through the steps of doing that instead. i already have the media creation tool and i know how to get it on the drive

 

i just need help with wiping the drive

 

[m0k]

10 minutes ago, BurntNewt said:

would it be easier to completely wipe the drive and download windows 10 

 

yeah but you would need to have your win7 CD available for win10

if you no longer have your CD key then consider just using the Win10 Upgrade Assistant

If the upgrade gives you issues then you can always do a Fresh Start from within Win10 after

[ShadySocks]

1 minute ago, BurntNewt said:

can you walk me through the steps of doing that instead. i already have the media creation tool and i know how to get it on the drive

 

i just need help with wiping the drive

 

Just double click it, it will put you through a wizard

[BurntNewt]

1 minute ago, ShadySocks said:

Just double click it, it will put you through a wizard

thats the problem i have no space on that computer

 

[ShadySocks]

Just now, BurntNewt said:

thats the problem i have no space on that computer

 

You are wiping it anyway, just delete/uninstall some stuff

[BurntNewt]

1 minute ago, ShadySocks said:

You are wiping it anyway, just delete/uninstall some stuff

It will? 

[Electronics Wizardy]

Just now, BurntNewt said:

It will? 

doing any format or reinstall will delete all files.

[ShadySocks]

3 minutes ago, BurntNewt said:

It will? 

I think you are looking for an 'in place upgrade' which is only in windows10 (and it usually doesn't do anything)

[BurntNewt]

23 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

doing any format or reinstall will delete all files.

Yea want to re format it but don't know how 

 

[Electronics Wizardy]

Just now, BurntNewt said:

Yea want to re format it but don't know how 

 

Do you really want to format or do you want a clean install of windows. A formatted drive will be blank, so won't boot at all.

 

Make a windows install disk with a iso file and rufus, then boot from that.

[BurntNewt]

Just now, Electronics Wizardy said:

Do you really want to format or do you want a clean install of windows. A formatted drive will be blank, so won't boot at all.

 

Make a windows install disk with a iso file and rufus, then boot from that.

I want to have a install of windows 10 and have no files on it other than default ones. Can you walk me through doing that. 

[Electronics Wizardy]

Just now, BurntNewt said:

I want to have a install of windows 10 and have no files on it other than default ones. Can you walk me through doing that. 

Download a iso here https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

 

download rufus here https://rufus.akeo.ie/

 

Point rufus to a usb drive and the iso file, then boot form the usb and delete all partitions.

[BurntNewt]

2 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Download a iso here https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

 

download rufus here https://rufus.akeo.ie/

 

Point rufus to a usb drive and the iso file, then boot form the usb and delete all partitions.

Will this reformat the drive and out windows ten on it 

[Electronics Wizardy]

Just now, BurntNewt said:

Will this reformat the drive and out windows ten on it 

You will have a page to chose what to partition and where to install. Delete all exisitng partitions and it will be formatted.

[JoostinOnline]

59 minutes ago, yathis said:

format the disk and wipe it 18 times

Or once.  It's the same either way.  It's not possible to recover something after it has been overwritten.  Like 30 years ago it was theorized that you could on a mechanical drive using a magnetic force microscope, but it's never been done.