How can I wipe a hard drive completely clean

46 the goat

46 the goat

46 the goat

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Hello everyone, I am a noobe and have just completed my first build. I made an error when installing windows 7 on to my new HDD ( I clicked the enter key too many times and skipped some stuff ) I loaded windows for the second time and it seems to run OK, but I'm a bit worried that there might be some of the first load left on the drive, so before I load up my other programs I wondered if it's possible to completely clear the drive as it was when it was new and start from scratch. Any advice on how to do that would be much appreciated
Thanks.
46 fan.
 
When you boot into the windows disk, completely remove/delete all partitions on the drive, make a new one filling the disk (or more if you desire), then install on that.
 
It is only really worth completely erasing your HDD with the likes of Dban hard drive erase tool IF you are selling on your HDD.

Re-installing will most likely leave you an old windows folder though, which will contain all the folders from your previous install. At least that is what Windows 7 has done with me a couple of times now.
 
sastusbulbas said:
It is only really worth completely erasing your HDD with the likes of Dban hard drive erase tool IF you are selling on your HDD.

Re-installing will most likely leave you an old windows folder though, which will contain all the folders from your previous install. At least that is what Windows 7 has done with me a couple of times now.
Click to expand...

That's why you need to use the option to remove the partition information, then create a new one before installing. That gets rid of everything. Even formatting doesn't quite get the job done - stuff remains and you'll likely end up with a dual-boot list even though only one installation is on the drive. Just reinstalling is even worse as you'll get two whole windows folders.
 
Stick in the windows cd
Make sure the bios is booting from the cd as first piority
let the disk load
When it says please select the 'drive/partion' to load windows onto
select 'advance' and 'format drive'

All data will be erased and Windows will now installed on the clean drive.

Dban seems excessive just to reinstall windows. I only use it to clean my drives before selling.

I have used the option I have described numerous times without fail.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies. As I said before I'm a noobe and there is lots I don't understand. I re-loaded windows 7 and a message said that if I wanted a new partition I would have to load the windows installation disc? which I have't got.
Went on and loaded windows and at the end removed old windows file, then checked how much of the HDD had been used, there were several Gb more than previosly.
Can I download DBAN and if so how do I do it and how do I use it? I really want to get this HDD empty so that I can start afresh properly.
Thanks for your help.
46fan.
 
You haven't got a windows CD?? How are you reinstalling windows then?? If it's from a recovery partition on the same drive, be very careful with something like DBAN cos if you nuke the whole drive including the recovery partition (I'm not sure if that software will give you the option of cleaning just a partition or if it will only do the entire drive), you'll end up with nothing.
 
Yes as Liampope said do not mess around with DBAN unless you want to wipe everything. It will leave you with a totally blank HDD so be warned. I would only really use this as a last resort or when giving away one of my old drives so take care when using this.
 
Thanks for the replies.
LIAMPOPE. I am using a windows 7 disc that was purchased a few days ago from ******. I was told that during the installtion I would get to a part that asks about making new partitions- when I do get to that stage and try to make a new partition, a message appears saying something like " to make a partition you must insert the installation disc" with no other options available.
Am I doing something wrong?
I just feel that I would like to return the HDD to a completly clean state and then start afresh with the operating system before I go on and load all my programs.
Thanks for your help
46 fan
 
Hmmm so you do have a proper windows 7 disk then? You've gone into your system's bios and chosen 'boot from CD', and you're booting from the windows CD, right? It's been a while since I installed 7 and have only done it once, so my memory of the process is more XP based, but I remember 7 being very similar. Once booted from the CD you should have the option somewhere to delete all the partitions from the HDD. All of them. You should then be able to create a new one and install windows. If I have time later I'll boot from my CD and remind myself exactly what options you should choose, but you ought to be able to find them. The key point is that you are booting off the CD after telling your PC to do so in BIOS, removing all partition information from the HDD, making a new one, then installing. Hope that helps.

EDIT: Sorry I keep saying CD, but I should imagine windows 7 is actually a DVD if I checked, but you know what I mean :)
 
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The windows disk should work, but for a more intuitive approach it doesn't get better than gparted burnt to a cd. You definitely only want to reformat it, DBAN will write random data all over the drive, which does destroy partition tables, but is a touch overkill when deleting the partition will suffice.

As an aside, zeroing a disk is useful when backing up a partition, and not only when selling the drive. Few things compress as well as 000000000 does, and several partition backup tools read the contents of the drive directly, and have no idea what's a file and what isn't.
 
Might not be relevant if the OP is determined to reinstall again, but i did pretty much what the OP did and installed 7 a second time on the same HD. I didnt have multiple boot issues, the only difference i noticed was that a windows.old directory was created.

I'd have been happy to keep it like that, but i finally caved and bought a ssd which needed a fresh install anyway a few weeks later.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies.
I am running DBAN at the moment and all looks OK so far. When I come to load windows 7 again should I make a seperate partion for the operating system or not, are there any advantages or drawbacks to having one. If I do decide to partion the disc how is it done during loading windows. Do I need 1 partion or more?
Sorry to bother people with what I'm sure are stupid questions, but I am a complete beginner.
Thanks
46 fan
 
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