Fresh install of Windows 7

hoogie · 11 Nov 2009 at 14:46

Hi all,

I received my copy of Windows 7 Ultimate yesterday, I have been having some issues with my install of Vista so I decided I would do a clean install, I followed the process I usually do when doing clean installs however I am not convinced that it did one.

The steps I took are:

1) Rebooted with windows disk in machine
2) Chose custom install
3) Formated my existing partition
4) Deleted partition
5) Created new partition
6) Installed to new partition

The reason I don't believe it did a clean install is because the format/partition action was almost immediate, and then the Windows 7 install took less than 30 minutes.

Is it possible that Windows 7 simply performed an update of my existing Vista install?

If this is the case how do I go about doing a totally clean install?

Thanks for any help.

ATI · 11 Nov 2009 at 14:57

hi

good question, just received my laptop and had vista, i already have 7 pro so what i did:

- custom install
- format partition
- now its installing the O.S.

did i need to delete partition and then do all the above, due to NTFS versions or anything like that.

Thanks

Dewotter · 11 Nov 2009 at 15:14

From what I can determine, the Windows Vista/7 setup only do quick formats of the drive. I may be proven wrong but I find it hard to believe that a full format could ever be at quick.

As for OP, you have done it right and I have done this multiple times with no problems.

davethe11 · 11 Nov 2009 at 15:26

as far as I know, the only difference between a quick format and a full format is that a full format scans the disk for errors too (scandisk).

thedoc46 · 11 Nov 2009 at 16:03

If you deleted the partition and formatted the disk, then definately you done a clean install. Even Vista I beleive only ran a quick format. So you are all good.

hoogie · 11 Nov 2009 at 16:05

I'm just very suprised by how fast the Windows install was and like I say as I had had issues with my previous Vista install I want to be sure that it was completely removed and and Windows 7 was installed from scratch...

It has left me wondering if my current install is ok or if I should find/use a DOS app to do a full format of the drive and the install Windows when I know it won't detect any kind of previous Windows install.