How to wipe my hard drive?

NotoriousHJM · 3 Jul 2010 at 12:42

Ok, I just bought Windows 7 and I'm currently running VISTA, I don't want to upgrade but rather have a clean install, the thing is...I know nothing of wiping my HD.

I don't know how to burn Iso's or anything, are there any programs out there or anyone who can give me some help/point my in the right direction?

I've currently downloaded HDDErase and Using that currently. Thanks

stulid · 3 Jul 2010 at 12:43

microfibre cloth

pastymuncher · 3 Jul 2010 at 12:43

When installing your new OS you will have the option to format the drive. Do this and you will be starting with a clean drive.

NotoriousHJM · 3 Jul 2010 at 12:47

I'm wanting to go from 32bit to 64 bit though.
I've not even managed to wipe my HD yet.

pastymuncher · 3 Jul 2010 at 12:48

Just pop the Windows 7 disk in and after loading some files it will ask you where you want to install it to. At this point you can format your drive and have a clean fresh install.

NotoriousHJM · 3 Jul 2010 at 12:52

Ok, I got to the part where it wants me to choose a drive, but it doesn't prompt me to fresh install

NotoriousHJM · 3 Jul 2010 at 12:53

nevermind haha, I didn't read it xD

NotoriousHJM · 3 Jul 2010 at 12:55

Is there no way to go from 32bit to 64bit without wiping my HD?
If I insert the 64bit disk I simply get error messages

Gamer_T · 3 Jul 2010 at 13:04

You're probabaly best just doing a total full format.

Put the Windows 7 disk in your DVD drive, restart your computer, go into your bios (usually delete button) and look for something called boot priority and set it to CD/DVD Drive.

Save bios settings and exit, your computer will restart again and you should see a piece of text that says 'Press and key to boot from CD/DVD...' when you've done that, you'll come to the setup of a new operating system.

ETNiES · 3 Jul 2010 at 13:07

It will give you an option to Format which ever hard drive you want, there will be two options, Quick Format, and Format, just pick quick format on your c: drive.

Fatboyuk2 · 3 Jul 2010 at 13:11

kill disk best way

Fire Wizard · 3 Jul 2010 at 13:19

If you're looking to wipe your hard drive for security reasons, using the Secure Erase command via the HDDErase utility is your best bet. However, if there isn't any data which you consider important on the disk, and just wish too do a clean installation, a quick format is fine which the Windows 7 setup program will give you the option to do before you go ahead and install Windows 7.

NotoriousHJM said:
Is there no way to go from 32bit to 64bit without wiping my HD? If I insert the 64bit disk I simply get error messages

What sort of error messages are you receiving?

Hessian · 4 Jul 2010 at 16:26

stulid said:
microfibre cloth

Made me chuckle

milkinc13 · 4 Jul 2010 at 21:23

want to wipe it compleatly I use DBAN, does the job and best of all it's free

Destination · 4 Jul 2010 at 21:30

NotoriousHJM said:
Is there no way to go from 32bit to 64bit without wiping my HD?
If I insert the 64bit disk I simply get error messages

You are booting directly from the dick in BIOS, yes?
You're not loading windows on the old PC and sticking in a 64-bit disk and hoping to achieve a fresh install from there?
That might be the source of your error messages.

What error messages?

Yjani · 5 Jul 2010 at 16:32

Fatboyuk2 said:
kill disk best way

This ^^

reygjabla · 5 Jul 2010 at 23:42

NotoriousHJM said:
Is there no way to go from 32bit to 64bit without wiping my HD?
If I insert the 64bit disk I simply get error messages

Check first if your hardware is capable of 64 bit OS. Check your computer properties or better still Download Belarc Advisor.

OCChew · 5 Jul 2010 at 23:59

pastymuncher said:
Just pop the Windows 7 disk in and after loading some files it will ask you where you want to install it to. At this point you can format your drive and have a clean fresh install.

If I am installing on SSD does the reformat equate "aligning" or does it align automatically?

:confused:

reygjabla · 6 Jul 2010 at 09:52

If you're installing W7, it will automatically align the SSD.

zpos · 6 Jul 2010 at 13:42

Hessian said:
Made me chuckle

Me too. I had to scroll up and re-read the OP's post before the penny dropped