Reistall of Windows 7 Pro

stevenrw · Mar 05, 2013, 22:24:24

I need some advice guys. I've just updated my motherboard RAM and processor so now I have to reinstall Windows 7 Pro (64Bit).
The system drive is currently partitioned in to 2, with the "C" drive obviously having all the programs/OS etc, and the other partition is full of data, which I really don't want to lose.
My question is just this. If I boot from the Windows disc will it offer me the option to reformat the old "C" partition and just install itself on that? Does Windows automatically redesignate the partition drive letters, designating "C" the system OS partition?
Luckily the two partitions are different sizes so the existing OS partition will be easy to identify, and there is plenty of space.
I've not installed W7 on an existing partitioned drive before so I suppose I'm looking for advance info and pifalls to avoid to give me confidence.
I'm sure you guys will be able to sort this in no time at all, so thanks in advance

Steve · Mar 05, 2013, 22:35:54

It should give the option to overwrite the previous windows installation however it would be careless not to back up any data on the other partition first.

stevenrw · Mar 05, 2013, 22:47:43

Thanks for the prompt response Steve.I do have the data on the other partition backed up, but I just dont want the bother of bringing it all back if I don't need to.
So is what you say a feature of "Custom" install?
To be clear, this is not quite a reinstall. The problem is that the pc was preloaded with W7 Ultimate when I had it built for me, and the shop that did the install didn't give me a disc. I'd always been a tad uncomfortable with the situation but thought I could always return to the shop if needs be.
But they are have closed their doors.
So I have bitten the bullet and bought bought a new version of Windows 7 Pro which I will install where the W7 Ultimate was..

Steve · Mar 06, 2013, 06:45:04

https://windowssecrets.com/top-story/win7s-no-reformat-nondestructive-reinstall/

karvala · Mar 06, 2013, 18:58:56

Quote from: stevenrw on Mar 05, 2013, 22:24:24
I need some advice guys. I've just updated my motherboard RAM and processor so now I have to reinstall Windows 7 Pro (64Bit).

No, you really don't. It's a common myth that core hardware upgrade always renders Windows unbootable or leaves it "clogged and slow" because of previous device drivers still present. In a small minority of cases that is true, but for the vast majority of cases you can install your new hardware, boot into Windows fine (some features, potentially even including network adapters, may not be working at that point but don't worry about that), install the new device drivers, and away you go; all you might need to do then is to reactivate it if the hardware changes were considered significant enough. Of course if you *want* to install a new version of Windows, or overwrite your previous version, then that's fair enough, but I don't think you should feel that you *have* to, at least not without giving it a go first. I have done core upgrades like that many times, and never once have I been unable to boot my previous Windows installation afterwards.

pctech · Mar 06, 2013, 19:25:08

karvala is 100% correct.

Windows startup may take a bit longer the first time as it has to build a new Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) and you may need to reactivate but that should be it.

Simon · Mar 06, 2013, 21:32:07

"Let me put it this way, Mr. Amor. The 9000 series is the most reliable computer ever made. No 9000 computer has ever made a mistake or distorted information. We are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error."

pctech · Mar 06, 2013, 21:56:36

yes I chuckled when I first read it was referred to as that

stevenrw · Mar 10, 2013, 10:12:07

Hello its me again, sorry to be such a pain.
Sad to report that it all went horribly wrong on me. I did manage to install W7 Pro over the existing Ultimate version after a couple of failed attempts, but I think I may have some registry damage because I can't load printer drivers, my dvd burner wont work and my new downloaded copy of MS Office won't run.
So I've removed all data in preparation for a deep full format and reinstall from scratch.
But I've never done a reformat other than via the Windows commands.
So two questions for you good folk.
1. Does the registry actually reside on the drive? So a reinstall actually rebuilds the registry from scratch?
2. How do I actually do a deep reformat without the operating system? I obviously cant do it from Windows because that would mean the program is deleting itself while it is running (if you see what I mean) and I can't quite get my head around that.
For reference it is a WD Caviar Black 1Tb drive. It has the system partition ("C") and a data partition which Ive reformatted via Windows (Full format, not quick format)

I think I really do need to go back to a pristine empty drive and new registry to be sure that all the upgrade stuff will give me the fast smooth running machine that I was hoping to have when I embarked upon this madness.

Glenn · Mar 10, 2013, 10:27:46

Take a look at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/installing-and-reinstalling-windows-7 & the Formatting your hard disk section

Gary · Mar 10, 2013, 10:44:48

Quote from: stevenrw on Mar 10, 2013, 10:12:07
Hello its me again, sorry to be such a pain.
Sad to report that it all went horribly wrong on me. I did manage to install W7 Pro over the existing Ultimate version after a couple of failed attempts, but I think I may have some registry damage because I can't load printer drivers, my dvd burner wont work and my new downloaded copy of MS Office won't run.
So I've removed all data in preparation for a deep full format and reinstall from scratch.
But I've never done a reformat other than via the Windows commands.
So two questions for you good folk.
1. Does the registry actually reside on the drive? So a reinstall actually rebuilds the registry from scratch?
2. How do I actually do a deep reformat without the operating system? I obviously cant do it from Windows because that would mean the program is deleting itself while it is running (if you see what I mean) and I can't quite get my head around that.
For reference it is a WD Caviar Black 1Tb drive. It has the system partition ("C") and a data partition which Ive reformatted via Windows (Full format, not quick format)

I think I really do need to go back to a pristine empty drive and new registry to be sure that all the upgrade stuff will give me the fast smooth running machine that I was hoping to have when I embarked upon this madness.

Download Dariks Boot and Nuke http://www.dban.org/ run it (takes ages) then install. TBH though I thought the Windows Disc formatted the drive on installation to give a single pass wipe.

stevenrw · Mar 10, 2013, 11:33:39

I did try the custom option but it told me "Windows cannot be installed on this disc- The selected disc has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems Windows can only be installed to GPT discs" - whatever that means

Technical Ben · Mar 10, 2013, 14:52:34

Gary, should not need to "boot and nuke"

a simple "quick format" should be enough (Takes about 30 seconds).

However I have no experience with EFI systems. That's the new type of Bios? (Well, actually it's in addition to BIOS, but whatever

)

pctech · Mar 10, 2013, 15:10:39

To reinstall you will need to remove the partition and recreate it within setup or setup a separate new partition, install onto that then move your data across.

EFI allows the OS to have more direct control over the hardware by replacing the BIOS http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/unified-extensible-firmware-interface/efi-homepage-general-technology.html if you are interested.

Am still getting to grips with the differences between MBR and GPT based disk structures.