Reinstall Windows 7?

jamieboo · 4 Dec 2009 at 13:03

Hello all
Basically my install of Windows 7 had a couple of hiccups along the way, the upshot of which is that my C-drive is divided and has an empty, unallocated 100mb partition next to the main volume.
This is not the 'System Reserved' partition - it is unallocated. I do not have a System Reserved partition. This all resulted from several failed installation attempts.
So what I now want to do is get rid of that partition, and everything else. I want to make the drive as it was when I first got it - all unallocated - then I want to reinstall Windows 7 - hopefully this time it'll create the proper 'System Reserved' 100mb partition.
So how do I get rid of the partitioning? - How do I ready the drive for the reinstallation?
Thanks

bledd · 4 Dec 2009 at 13:07

You can do it from the Windows 7 disc

On this screen, click advanced

or to make 100% sure there are no partitions (setup seems to hide hidden ones sometimes)

Download partedmagic from here http://partedmagic.com/ 4.6 zip file

Extract the iso file from the zip, and burn that to cd using imgburn

Now reboot with this cd in the drive, let it boot into parted magic, then once in there run gparted and remove all the partitions

-Note, ALL data on the drive will be lost

jamieboo · 4 Dec 2009 at 13:12

Thanks bledd
But when I get to that screen wont it list my choices as
1.100mb unallocated
2. 599gb allocated (or active, or whatever it calls the opposite of unallocated)

How do I unify these into a single unallocated volume so that it looks exactly like your pristine pic?
Thanks

bledd · 4 Dec 2009 at 13:13

If you click drive options, it'll let you delete partitions etc

Excuse the pics, I'm stealing them

Also, check my edit on the first post

jamieboo · 4 Dec 2009 at 13:19

Thanks bledd

I'll download partedmagic as a backup, but from what you're saying that setup page from the installation process might do it.
So... by clicking on a partition and deleting it - and thereby making it unallocated - will that make it automatically recombine with the other unallocated bit?
I don't want to be left with two unallocated portions - I want the unallocated portions to be emtionally reunited.
Will that happen?

bledd · 4 Dec 2009 at 13:22

it depends

how many partitions do you have?

if there are currently..

a - unallocated
b - windows
c - data
d - temp

if you deleted b and d
a would mix with b and d would stay unallocated becuase c (data) is 'in the way'

if you remove all partitions, it'll show up as one unallocated drive, you can either create a partition or just tell windows to do it

jamieboo · 4 Dec 2009 at 13:24

Just two partitions at present on the drive:
1. Annoying unallocated 100mb.
2.Windows
So if I delete the Windows one, therefore unallocating it, it'll recombine with the unallocated 100mb?

bledd · 4 Dec 2009 at 13:29

Yup

Personally, I recommend doing that, then creating a new 50gb partition for Windows

Install with just this setup.

Once you're in Windows, go to Disk Management (Right click Computer, Manage, Disk Management)

Scroll down to your DVD drive, right click, change drive letter and path, change to Z: or something

Create a second partition called 'Data' D:\

Close disk management, go to My Computer then create

\Downloads
\Music
\Photos
\Videos
\Documents

Now go into your user profile, right click My Picture, Properties, Location, and type in D:\Photos, click ok. repeat for all other folders

This way if you need to reinstall in the future, all your files will be safe on D:

You could create the Data partition during setup, but I'm in the habit of only ever installing Windows with one drive/partition setup, saves any possible future headaches regarding booting

jamieboo · 4 Dec 2009 at 13:33

Excellent -thanks a lot bledd.
Ta for the other suggestion, but I probably won't set the drive up like that. I've got two other 640gb drives for keeping stuff separate.
Thanks

bledd · 4 Dec 2009 at 13:50

Best to install windows with just one drive plugged in, it can put the boot information on the wrong drive otherwise..

I like changing the \Documents folder location etc, that way I actually use the inbuilt menus without worrying about losing data (I have scheduled backups on each folder)

SiriusB · 4 Dec 2009 at 14:07

I have a question for you bledd. [sorry OP for thread hijacking!

]

Have you any idea how you can add your own links to the Start Menu? I have a few custom Libraries in Windows 7 and it would be nice to have those on the Start Menu, never figured out how!

bledd · 4 Dec 2009 at 14:10

I'll have a look for you

I know it was a real pita in XP

Have to reference dll's and exe's in regeditor

http://www.astahost.com/info.php/Adding-Videos-Folder-Start-Menu_t12295.html

it seems you can't

http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/26716-add-custom-folder-library-start-menu.html
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?p=3371888

There must be a way of doing it (like the XP way) but you'll need a dll or exe with the resource point known beforehand for the text you wish to be displayed

There are too many newbie Vista / 7 'guides' on the net which tell you how to do obvious things (like how to hide Libraries from menus etc) and not enough 'hacking' guides for them

SiriusB · 4 Dec 2009 at 19:43

Yeah, half my searches bring up stuff that is utterly unrelated. It's not the end of the world - just annoys me when I want to do something simple, and MS make it difficult