Help installing windows 7?

[AstroBenny]

Hi,

Is there a way to completely remove the operating system and erase everything from my HDD in my computer and then re-install the OS? (Win 7)

I want to because I have kinda made a mess of my system (Driver conflicts, from installing different ones multiple times by accident, not sure what drivers I need and have because after overclocking I used Windows restore to take the computer back to a previous point but it has deleted some drivers and other stuff (JUST A BIG MESS)

I only have 1 HDD in my pc (WD Black 1TB) but I have an external hard drive I could use to temporarily store Win 7?

I know there is an option within Windows to reinstall it but that seems just as big an issue because it seems to keep some drivers/utilities but not others.

I want to get to the point where I have just finished building my pc and are wanting to install windows from scratch.

Is this possssible?

Cheers,

Ben

[Speedbird]

-snip-

Yes, you only need your Windows 7 DVD. If you don't have one, you can download an ISO and burn it to a DVD from http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/50034-Everything-MSDN-has-to-offer-for-Windows-7. Boot your computer from the DVD, delete all partitions on the hard drive, create a new one and install.

[Godlygamer23]

When you run the installer, do a Custom install. From there you can edit partitions(including adding, removing etc). Remove all the partitions you wish to delete and re-add them to the appropriate drives, and select the intended boot drive and install away.

[AstroBenny]

When you run the installer, do a Custom install. From there you can edit partitions(including adding, removing etc). Remove all the partitions you wish to delete and re-add them to the appropriate drives, and select the intended boot drive and install away.

What so I put my Windows 7 disk in and run custom install? Won't it require a key which I already used to install windows?

And this will allow me to completely reset everything as if I had just installed windows for the first time?

[ApolloX75]

What so I put my Windows 7 disk in and run custom install? Won't it require a key which I already used to install windows?

And this will allow me to completely reset everything as if I had just installed windows for the first time?

Use the same key. It works fine.

Also a good practise if you only have one hard drive is to make two partitions. One smaller (say 1/3rd your hard drive space) as the primary (C drive) for your OS and a second partition that is the rest of your space for applications and file storage. That way if you ever have to do it again you have a safety net.

[AstroBenny]

Use the same key. It works fine.

Also a good practise if you only have one hard drive is to make two partitions. One smaller (say 1/3rd your hard drive space) as the primary (C drive) for your OS and a second partition that is the rest of your space for applications and file storage. That way if you ever have to do it again you have a safety net.

Will this remove everything including all drivers that were before?

Sorry for being n00bish, but if I just want to use 1 partition, reformat hdd, what are the steps?

Choose custom installation, then what?

[Godlygamer23]

Will this remove everything including all drivers that were before?

Sorry for being n00bish, but if I just want to use 1 partition, reformat hdd, what are the steps?

Choose custom installation, then what?

The partition wizard should pop up. Just follow the steps I highlighted in my post above. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to PM me.

[ApolloX75]

Will this remove everything including all drivers that were before?

Sorry for being n00bish, but if I just want to use 1 partition, reformat hdd, what are the steps?

Choose custom installation, then what?

Deleting your previous partitions will cause you to lose everything, yes.

[AstroBenny]

The partition wizard should pop up. Just follow the steps I highlighted in my post above. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to PM me.

Am I supposed to put the cd in when in windows or am I supposed to boot to the cd?

[Guest]

just try to wipe or replace your hard drive then try again

[techguru]

first..I would probably get an updated iso

if you have an original windows 7 disc...its gonna be doing a "F" ton of updates once its done

 

I usually keep my windows 7 iso updated to within the last couple months

 

that driver prompt is just for sata drivers...probably don't need to worry about

[ddswh1pk0s]

You can format all partitions when completely reinstalling Windows, should be no problem

[Enderman]

for a clean install, delete any partitions and format the entire drive

its just the old windows filesystem that you dont need anymore since youre reinstalling

[zlolslavez]

completely remove all partitions by doing this

 

press shift+f10 during the installation (that screen is fine)

type: diskpart
type: list disk (you should see only Disk0)
type: sel disk 0
type: clean

[Arty]

Clean Install

"clean"

"clean" install

[AstroBenny]

for a clean install, delete any partitions and format the entire drive

its just the old windows filesystem that you dont need anymore since youre reinstalling

But aren't the system files important to it regardless of whether I'm reinstalling?

Also I have the system reserved and a 1tb hard drive. Should I format or delete them?

[Enderman]

But aren't the system files important to it regardless of whether I'm reinstalling?

Also I have the system reserved and a 1tb hard drive. Should I format or delete them?

well first, for the installation make sure ONLY the SSD is plugged in

then delete all partitions and format the SSD

then you can install windows

 

when youre done you can finally plug your old drives back in to the PC

[Godlygamer23]

Am I supposed to put the cd in when in windows or am I supposed to boot to the cd?

Boot from the disc.

[AstroBenny]

well first, for the installation make sure ONLY the SSD is plugged in

then delete all partitions and format the SSD

then you can install windows

 

when youre done you can finally plug your old drives back in to the PC

I only have 1 hard drive and no SSD's.

As I said before though, won't deleting system files regardless of whether I'm reinstalling be bad?

[Enderman]

I only have 1 hard drive and no SSD's.

As I said before though, won't deleting system files regardless of whether I'm reinstalling be bad?

no because those are old system files that you dont want interfering with the new isntallation

[AstroBenny]

no because those are old system files that you dont want interfering with the new isntallation

To boot to windows cd In boot priority should I have "P1: TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-224DB (3167MB)") first with "UEFI: (Fat) TSSTCORP CDDVDW SH-224DB (3167MB)" second with my hdd last or should I switch the first two around to boot to cd? And what's the difference between those two?

[Enderman]

To boot to windows cd In boot priority should I have "P1: TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-224DB (3167MB)") first with "UEFI: (Fat) TSSTCORP CDDVDW SH-224DB (3167MB)" second with my hdd last or should I switch the first two around to boot to cd? And what's the difference between those two?

it shouldnt matter

if the first doesnt work it will automatically go to the second

[vembutech]

Hi,

 

Check this below article ;

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows/installing-reinstalling-windows#1TC=windows-7