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[SOLVED]Help with removing OS from hdd

Zerolessmusic
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Go to solution Solved by Godlygamer23,

So don't do anything to the hdd, just install the new windows copy over it? If so, does that save files, that's not what I am looking to do, I want to wipe everything...

The Windows installer will give you options, like deleting the partition before installing it again.

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So, I have been having some issues with my PC and wanted to put a fresh version of windows (I am going to buy it because the HDD is from a pre built PC) but when I tried formating it | Open command prompt as admin. Format c:, OS (label), y, y but then it says "Can't lock drive, The volume is still in use, format failed"   What do I do from here?

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You can't remove Windows while it's running. You need to run the Installer from some sort of flash drive or disc, and then delete the partition.

"It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brain falls out." - Carl Sagan.

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you" - Edward I. Koch

"I didn't die! I performed a tactical reset!" - Apollolol

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Download Boot n nuke:

 

http://www.dban.org/

 

and that will remove all data off your hard drive.

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You can't remove Windows while it's running. You need to run the Installer from some sort of flash drive or disc, and then delete the partition.

Sorry, but I Don't really understand what you mean, just any installer? (Or something like the windows install?)

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Sorry, but I Don't really understand what you mean, just any installer? (Or something like the windows install?)

You need the Windows ISO, either on a disc or flash drive.

"It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brain falls out." - Carl Sagan.

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you" - Edward I. Koch

"I didn't die! I performed a tactical reset!" - Apollolol

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You need the Windows ISO, either on a disc or flash drive.

So don't do anything to the hdd, just install the new windows copy over it? If so, does that save files, that's not what I am looking to do, I want to wipe everything...

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[x] Intel Core i7 3770 [x] PNY xlr8 16gb(2x8) 1600mhz [x] Asus Strix 970 [x] Corsair h90, 3x corsair sp140, 1x Corsair af120 [x] ASRock Z77 Extreme4 [x] NZXT S340 [x] EVGA superNOVA NEX 650w [x] Asus xonar DG,Beyerdynamic dt770 Pro (80ohms), PreSonus M7, PreSonus AudioBox [x] WASD keyboard 104 key(Mx Brown) [x] Corsair M65 RGB [x] WD Blue 1TB 7200 HDD, WD passport 1tb [x] Asus VN247H-P, BenQ 2420Z [x]

 

Cycling Gear

 [x] Giant Defy 5 [x] CamelBak Classic 2L [x] Nishiki Socorro [x] Giro Bravo Blue Jewel/Black [x] Midland Xtra-Talk w/ Headset (For Group Rides) [x] Casio G-Shock G100-1BV [x] Zefal Saddle Bag [x] Giant Control Mini MTB+ Frame Pump [x] Schwinn Expanding Cage [x] 2* Giant 700c*25c Tubes - Presta Valve [x] 2* Tire Levers [x] Stanley Allen Key Set [x] Mini-Lock For Saddle Bag [x]
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So don't do anything to the hdd, just install the new windows copy over it? If so, does that save files, that's not what I am looking to do, I want to wipe everything...

The Windows installer will give you options, like deleting the partition before installing it again.

"It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brain falls out." - Carl Sagan.

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you" - Edward I. Koch

"I didn't die! I performed a tactical reset!" - Apollolol

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The Windows installer will give you options, like deleting the partition before installing it again.

Would you recommend doing that over what Sousuke said? And just a note, if it even matters, I am still going to be using the hard drive and the other hardware...

 

 

EDIT: also, I had issues with windows 8 updating to windows 8.1 and issues with factory reseting (keeping the os) earlier, will that mess with anything?

 

EDIT 2: The error I was getting ( still am) is: 0xc000000f

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Cycling Gear

 [x] Giant Defy 5 [x] CamelBak Classic 2L [x] Nishiki Socorro [x] Giro Bravo Blue Jewel/Black [x] Midland Xtra-Talk w/ Headset (For Group Rides) [x] Casio G-Shock G100-1BV [x] Zefal Saddle Bag [x] Giant Control Mini MTB+ Frame Pump [x] Schwinn Expanding Cage [x] 2* Giant 700c*25c Tubes - Presta Valve [x] 2* Tire Levers [x] Stanley Allen Key Set [x] Mini-Lock For Saddle Bag [x]
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Download Boot n nuke:

 

http://www.dban.org/

 

and that will remove all data off your hard drive.

Is that a method that will still let me use the hard drive?

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[x] Intel Core i7 3770 [x] PNY xlr8 16gb(2x8) 1600mhz [x] Asus Strix 970 [x] Corsair h90, 3x corsair sp140, 1x Corsair af120 [x] ASRock Z77 Extreme4 [x] NZXT S340 [x] EVGA superNOVA NEX 650w [x] Asus xonar DG,Beyerdynamic dt770 Pro (80ohms), PreSonus M7, PreSonus AudioBox [x] WASD keyboard 104 key(Mx Brown) [x] Corsair M65 RGB [x] WD Blue 1TB 7200 HDD, WD passport 1tb [x] Asus VN247H-P, BenQ 2420Z [x]

 

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Would you recommend doing that over what Sousuke said? And just a note, if it even matters, I am still going to be using the hard drive and the other hardware...

Yes. I recommend doing that over what Sousuke said. No, it doesn't matter. If you need help with doing it, I'm usually on the forum and my phone gets notifications about private messages being sent to me.

 

The hard drive is still usable. As long as the hardware in the drive functions, it can be formatted an infinite number of times and reused/re-purposed.

"It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brain falls out." - Carl Sagan.

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you" - Edward I. Koch

"I didn't die! I performed a tactical reset!" - Apollolol

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Yes. I recommend doing that over what Sousuke said. No, it doesn't matter. If you need help with doing it, I'm usually on the forum and my phone gets notifications about private messages being sent to me.

 

The hard drive is still usable. As long as the hardware in the drive functions, it can be formatted an infinite number of times and reused/re-purposed.

Ok ,i edited my other post to say when I was trying to format (keep the os) it was giving me error 0xc000000f, is that a windows or hdd error?

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 [x] Giant Defy 5 [x] CamelBak Classic 2L [x] Nishiki Socorro [x] Giro Bravo Blue Jewel/Black [x] Midland Xtra-Talk w/ Headset (For Group Rides) [x] Casio G-Shock G100-1BV [x] Zefal Saddle Bag [x] Giant Control Mini MTB+ Frame Pump [x] Schwinn Expanding Cage [x] 2* Giant 700c*25c Tubes - Presta Valve [x] 2* Tire Levers [x] Stanley Allen Key Set [x] Mini-Lock For Saddle Bag [x]
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Ok ,i edited my other post to say when I was trying to format (keep the os) it was giving me error 0xc000000f, is that a windows or hdd error?

Formatting removes everything from the hard drive. You can't do that when the system is running from that drive.

"It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brain falls out." - Carl Sagan.

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you" - Edward I. Koch

"I didn't die! I performed a tactical reset!" - Apollolol

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Formatting removes everything from the hard drive. You can't do that when the system is running from that drive.

So that is a windows error, sorry I know a decent amount about hardware, other then hdd (Lucky me) and windows software.

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 [x] Giant Defy 5 [x] CamelBak Classic 2L [x] Nishiki Socorro [x] Giro Bravo Blue Jewel/Black [x] Midland Xtra-Talk w/ Headset (For Group Rides) [x] Casio G-Shock G100-1BV [x] Zefal Saddle Bag [x] Giant Control Mini MTB+ Frame Pump [x] Schwinn Expanding Cage [x] 2* Giant 700c*25c Tubes - Presta Valve [x] 2* Tire Levers [x] Stanley Allen Key Set [x] Mini-Lock For Saddle Bag [x]
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So that is a windows error, sorry I know a decent amount about hardware, other then hdd (Lucky me) and windows software.

That's fine. As long as you're willing to learn, I am willing to teach.

"It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brain falls out." - Carl Sagan.

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you" - Edward I. Koch

"I didn't die! I performed a tactical reset!" - Apollolol

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That's fine. As long as you're willing to learn, I am willing to teach.

Thank you, you've been a really big help, I appreciate the time!

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[x] Intel Core i7 3770 [x] PNY xlr8 16gb(2x8) 1600mhz [x] Asus Strix 970 [x] Corsair h90, 3x corsair sp140, 1x Corsair af120 [x] ASRock Z77 Extreme4 [x] NZXT S340 [x] EVGA superNOVA NEX 650w [x] Asus xonar DG,Beyerdynamic dt770 Pro (80ohms), PreSonus M7, PreSonus AudioBox [x] WASD keyboard 104 key(Mx Brown) [x] Corsair M65 RGB [x] WD Blue 1TB 7200 HDD, WD passport 1tb [x] Asus VN247H-P, BenQ 2420Z [x]

 

Cycling Gear

 [x] Giant Defy 5 [x] CamelBak Classic 2L [x] Nishiki Socorro [x] Giro Bravo Blue Jewel/Black [x] Midland Xtra-Talk w/ Headset (For Group Rides) [x] Casio G-Shock G100-1BV [x] Zefal Saddle Bag [x] Giant Control Mini MTB+ Frame Pump [x] Schwinn Expanding Cage [x] 2* Giant 700c*25c Tubes - Presta Valve [x] 2* Tire Levers [x] Stanley Allen Key Set [x] Mini-Lock For Saddle Bag [x]
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Thank you, you've been a really big help, I appreciate the time!

Don't be afraid to message me with additional help. I'm usually available and respond to messages usually as soon as I acknowledge them.

"It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brain falls out." - Carl Sagan.

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you" - Edward I. Koch

"I didn't die! I performed a tactical reset!" - Apollolol

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Don't be afraid to message me with additional help. I'm usually available and respond to messages usually as soon as I acknowledge them.

If I need to the help, I will, although it sounds pretty straight forward, I just haven't ever installed an OS (other than linux). Thanks again!

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[x] Intel Core i7 3770 [x] PNY xlr8 16gb(2x8) 1600mhz [x] Asus Strix 970 [x] Corsair h90, 3x corsair sp140, 1x Corsair af120 [x] ASRock Z77 Extreme4 [x] NZXT S340 [x] EVGA superNOVA NEX 650w [x] Asus xonar DG,Beyerdynamic dt770 Pro (80ohms), PreSonus M7, PreSonus AudioBox [x] WASD keyboard 104 key(Mx Brown) [x] Corsair M65 RGB [x] WD Blue 1TB 7200 HDD, WD passport 1tb [x] Asus VN247H-P, BenQ 2420Z [x]

 

Cycling Gear

 [x] Giant Defy 5 [x] CamelBak Classic 2L [x] Nishiki Socorro [x] Giro Bravo Blue Jewel/Black [x] Midland Xtra-Talk w/ Headset (For Group Rides) [x] Casio G-Shock G100-1BV [x] Zefal Saddle Bag [x] Giant Control Mini MTB+ Frame Pump [x] Schwinn Expanding Cage [x] 2* Giant 700c*25c Tubes - Presta Valve [x] 2* Tire Levers [x] Stanley Allen Key Set [x] Mini-Lock For Saddle Bag [x]
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If I need to the help, I will, although it sounds pretty straight forward, I just haven't ever installed an OS (other than linux). Thanks again!

Sure thing.

"It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brain falls out." - Carl Sagan.

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you" - Edward I. Koch

"I didn't die! I performed a tactical reset!" - Apollolol

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