If you need to do a fresh installation of Windows 7 from scratch, check out this article to find out how to do it quickly and easily. If your goal is to delete the hard drive partition of the computer on which Windows 7 is installed in order to install a new operating system or to have more space available, you can follow the instructions in this article. Windows does not allow you to format the system hard drive, that is the one on which the operating system in use is present, so you will have to restart the computer from DVD or using a USB key to be able to overcome this limitation. If you don't have the Windows installation DVD or USB drive available, you can create a system repair disc. Remember that formatting your computer's C drive will lose all the files and programs it contains, so make sure you have a backup copy of all the data you want to keep available before proceeding.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Use Windows 7 Setup Disk or USB Drive
Step 1. Insert the Windows 7 installation disc into your computer drive or plug the bootable USB drive into a free port on your device
If you have one of these two tools at your disposal (the Windows 7 DVD or a bootable USB drive) you will be able to format your computer's main hard drive. Remember that you don't have to use the Windows 7 DVD that was sold to you with your computer, you can borrow it from a friend, or you can create a system repair disc using any Windows 7-equipped computer.
- To format your computer's hard drive, you'll use a tool that won't allow you to view the drive letters associated with each volume, so make sure you know the overall capacity of the drive and the free space still available so you can accurately identify it. If you choose the wrong partition or hard drive, you run the serious risk of losing important data. To retrieve the information indicated for all the memory units present in the computer, click on the icon Computer displayed on the desktop or in the "Start" menu, select the disk C icon with the right mouse button, then select the option Property from the context menu that will appear.
- Remember that formatting the main system disk (the "C:" disk) will delete the Windows installation, rendering the computer unusable until you install a new operating system.
Step 2. Restart your PC
Click on the button Start, click on the arrow button next to "Shut Down", then click on the option Reboot the system.
Step 3. Press any key when prompted
During the reboot procedure, the computer will ask you if you want to boot from CD-DVD. Press any key to confirm.
If your computer boots normally from your hard drive ignoring the installation DVD or USB drive, read this article or guide to find out how to change your BIOS settings to use the optical drive or USB drive as the boot device operating system
Step 4. Select the language to use by clicking on the "Language to install" drop-down menu in the "Windows Setup" window, then click the Next button
Step 5. Click the Install button
A message will appear on the screen indicating that the installation procedure has started.
Step 6. Accept the terms and conditions of the licensed agreement for Microsoft products, then click the Next button
To be able to continue, you must select the check button "I accept the license terms".
Step 7. Click on the Custom option (expert users)
A list of installation options will be displayed.
Step 8. Click the Drive Options (Advanced) link
It is displayed in the lower right of the "Specify where to install Windows" screen.
Step 9. Select the drive "C:
"and click the Format button. Remember that the drive letter of the partitions and hard disks (for example" C: ") will not be visible. If there is only one volume, you will have no problem because it will surely be the memory drive that If not, you will need to select the partition that has the same specifications as the "C:" drive (total capacity, remaining free space, etc.). A confirmation message will be displayed.
Step 10. Click the OK button to format the hard drive or partition you have selected
When the mouse cursor returns to the shape of an arrow you will know with certainty that the formatting of the chosen drive is complete.
Step 11. Click the Next button to continue with the Windows 7 installation (optional)
Now that your computer's "C:" drive is empty, you will most likely need to install an operating system in order to use your computer. If you want to install Windows 7 again, click the button Come on and follow the instructions that will appear on the screen.
If not, remove the Windows 7 DVD from your computer drive or unplug the installation USB drive and shut down the system
Method 2 of 2: Use a System Repair Disk
Step 1. Insert the Windows 7 recovery disc into your computer's drive
If you don't have the Windows 7 installation DVD, you can solve the problem using a system recovery disc or USB drive. Even if you don't have this tool yet, you can create one quickly and easily using a computer running Windows 7 (you can also use the one you intend to format). Follow these instructions:
- Click on the button Start and select the item Control Panel.
- Click on the link System and maintenance.
- Click on the option Backup and restore.
- Click on the link Create a system repair disc.
- At this point, follow the instructions that will appear on the screen.
Step 2. Restart your computer
Click on the button Start, click on the arrow button next to "Shut Down", then click on the option Reboot the system.
Remember that formatting the main system disk (the "C:" disk) will delete the Windows installation and render the computer unusable until you install a new operating system. Make sure you understand this information carefully before continuing
Step 3. Press any key when prompted
During the reboot procedure the computer will ask you if you want to boot the system from CD-DVD. Press any key to confirm.
If your computer boots normally from your hard drive ignoring the installation DVD or USB drive, read this article or guide to find out how to change a computer's BIOS settings to use the optical drive or USB drive as operating system boot device
Step 4. Select the language to use and click the Next button
Step 5. Select the option Use recovery tools to attempt to fix Windows startup problems
It should be the first option displayed at the top of the dialog box that appears.
Step 6. Click the Next button
The list of available recovery options will be displayed.
Step 7. Click on Command Prompt
It is listed at the bottom of the "System Recovery Options" window.
Step 8. Enter the command to format your computer's main drive
Type the following text format c: / fs: NTFS and press the Enter key to start the formatting procedure. A confirmation message will be displayed.
If you don't want to format your computer disk using the NTFS file system, you can choose to use a different one, for example "FAT32" format
Step 9. Press the Y key on the keyboard and press Enter.
Your computer's "C:" drive will be formatted and its contents deleted. When the formatting process is complete, you will be prompted to name the new volume.
Step 10. Name your hard drive and press the Enter key
This is the name that will identify the memory unit in the future. At the end of this step the formatting procedure will be complete.
- For example, if you plan to install Windows 10 as a new operating system, you can give the "C:" drive the following Win10 name.
- If you are not going to name the drive, simply press Enter without typing any text.
Step 11. Install the new operating system (optional)
Now that your computer's "C:" drive is completely blank, remove the system recovery USB drive or disk, insert the installation DVD, or connect the bootable USB drive (which contains the operating system image that you want to install, for example Windows 10 or Linux) and reboot the system. If not, remove any discs from the optical drive or unplug the recovery USB drive and shut down your computer.
