Reformat and reinstall windows 7 on Dell

Markachy · 30 Jan 2010 at 14:58

Hi guys, looking for a quick bit of advice. Just got a Dell Studio 15, and want to format it and reinstall windows 7 from scratch with the provided disk.

How do I go about formatting it? It currently has 3 partitions, one is tiny, another about 20GB for Dell factory reset and then the main partition. Should I completely get rid of all the partitions or what? Should I simply reinstall Windows booting from the disk onto the main partition?

Thanks

Markachy · 30 Jan 2010 at 15:46

Yeah its definitely a copy of Windows 7. So I simply follow the install instructions, and DURING the install it will ask me if I want to format? Because I went as far as to when it starts to install but didn't go further as it didn't ask me to format

Markachy · 30 Jan 2010 at 15:52

Righto, its currently on "Expanding windows files" part, it pops up after that then?

Markachy · 30 Jan 2010 at 15:57

There are 3 partitions, one called "Recovery", a small unnamed one, and the OS one. Should I leave the recovery one?

Its still expanding windows files, still on 0%!!

Markachy · 30 Jan 2010 at 16:05

Apparently its some sort of boot partition that windows needs and creates when its installed

Markachy · 30 Jan 2010 at 16:06

PS on 55%! GOd its slow. I'm off to buy mass effect 2!

Markachy · 30 Jan 2010 at 16:14

And its now just restarted and on the "completing installation" stage, still no mention of formatting...