Best way to go about wiping SSD's for new OS

[Mrnix]

I'm gonna be replacing my current copy of windows with a another one and I was told I'd need to wipe both my SSDs in order to start again with my new copy. It's Windows 7 Professional and my current version in use is an illegitimate version of Win 7 ultimate (which I purchased unknowing to be fake) off of ebay.
Best software to use to wipe the SSDs? How long will that take? 120gb and 240gb
Could I just wipe the SSD that contains the OS and just keep the secondary SSD drive as is?
I'm just looking for someone to point me in the right direction of how to go about it
Thanks a lot in advance and let me know if you need me to clear something up.

Edit: I only have a key for windows, not the disc so shall I need to install the OS on a CD?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Where can I download an up to date version of windows 7 professional to burn to a CD?

Until you actually own a genuine copy, no where....

You can't use the Recovery because you don't have a product key to type in once you start installing.

You can't buy from the Microsoft store because they only sell Windows 8 now

 

[Mrnix]

Where can I download an up to date version of windows 7 professional to burn to a CD?

Until you actually own a genuine copy, no where....

You can't use the Recovery because you don't have a product key to type in once you start installing.

You can't buy from the Microsoft store because they only sell Windows 8 now

Gonna have to wait a day for a USB drive to arrive since I old one has been misplaced.
When I enter my Windows key here -- http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery -- It says "We encountered a problem with the product key you provided. Code 715-123130
I entered the key correctly I'm 100% positive

 

[USAFRet]

Where can I download an up to date version of windows 7 professional to burn to a CD?

Until you actually own a genuine copy, no where....

You can't use the Recovery because you don't have a product key to type in once you start installing.

You can't buy from the Microsoft store because they only sell Windows 8 now

Gonna have to wait a day for a USB drive to arrive since I old one has been misplaced.
When I enter my Windows key here -- http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery -- It says "We encountered a problem with the product key you provided. Code 715-123130
I entered the key correctly I'm 100% positive

That's not the license key.
The actual license key is constructed this way:
xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

 

[Onus]

IMHO Jack seems to be correct, but you're making this a lot more complicated than it needs to be.
When you re-install Windows, do a custom installation, delete any existing partition on the destination drive, then create a new partition table, format, and go. As Jack points out, the TRIM command will zero-out the drive, so it is ready to be written again just as when it was new (less P/E cycles that have been used, i.e. wear). Disconnect all other drives while doing this, including memory card readers, or they may be assigned letters you'd rather be in a different order. A memory card reader, if any, should be the last drive you connect, after the OS is up and running and all drivers loaded.

 

[Mrnix]

Where can I download an up to date version of windows 7 professional to burn to a CD?

Until you actually own a genuine copy, no where....

You can't use the Recovery because you don't have a product key to type in once you start installing.

You can't buy from the Microsoft store because they only sell Windows 8 now

Gonna have to wait a day for a USB drive to arrive since I old one has been misplaced.
When I enter my Windows key here -- http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery -- It says "We encountered a problem with the product key you provided. Code 715-123130
I entered the key correctly I'm 100% positive

That's not the license key.
The actual license key is constructed this way:
xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

No 😀 The code I entered was just the error code that I got after trying to validate my key, I wouldn't drop my actual Win7 key in a random forum. According to this article (http://superuser.com/questions/78761/where-can-i-download-windows-7-legally-from-microsoft ) this validation tool doesn't support OEM versions of Windows like mine. See this screeshot, http://superuser.com/questions/78761/where-can-i-download-windows-7-legally-from-microsoft

I know my key is genuine because I went to change my windows key under Start/Computer/Properties and after doing so, told me it wasn't the correct version of Windows, I'd have to use the key via Windows setup, which just means start again basically. I tried changing some of the digits around so the code would be wrong, and it just flat out told me the key wasn't correct,so I assume I'd get that warning with the actual key if it was fake.

So the plan now is, after all your extensive and helpful input (thanks!), put a (nearly) up to date version of windows on my flash drive. switch off the PC and unplug it, unplug all other drives aside from the OS drive and switch the PC back on. Open Disk Manager, delete the partition/volume and create a new one. Now this is where I'm stuck. Do I now turn off the PC, and insert the flash drive containing the windows files? Just the flash drive or do I need to have the SSD I wan't windows stored on AND the flash drive in. Do I need to go into the bios and boot with the flash drive?
Thanks very much in advance guys, you've all been super helpful

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Easiest way:

1. Connect the SSD in another PC or boot of a 2nd copy of the OS in your machine and do the Disk Manager wipe..... or .... preferably use one of these


http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=blacx&N=-1&isNodeId=1

2. With only the SSD connected, install the OS as if it was fresh outta the box.

Or follow this:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

 

[USAFRet]

So the plan now is, after all your extensive and helpful input (thanks!), put a (nearly) up to date version of windows on my flash drive. switch off the PC and unplug it, unplug all other drives aside from the OS drive and switch the PC back on. Open Disk Manager, delete the partition/volume and create a new one. Now this is where I'm stuck. Do I now turn off the PC, and insert the flash drive containing the windows files? Just the flash drive or do I need to have the SSD I wan't windows stored on AND the flash drive in. Do I need to go into the bios and boot with the flash drive?
Thanks very much in advance guys, you've all been super helpful

1. What, specifically, do you mean by 'Windows files on the flash drive' ? How did you put those on the flash drive?
2. You need the SSD connected as well.

 

[Mrnix]

So the plan now is, after all your extensive and helpful input (thanks!), put a (nearly) up to date version of windows on my flash drive. switch off the PC and unplug it, unplug all other drives aside from the OS drive and switch the PC back on. Open Disk Manager, delete the partition/volume and create a new one. Now this is where I'm stuck. Do I now turn off the PC, and insert the flash drive containing the windows files? Just the flash drive or do I need to have the SSD I wan't windows stored on AND the flash drive in. Do I need to go into the bios and boot with the flash drive?
Thanks very much in advance guys, you've all been super helpful

1. What, specifically, do you mean by 'Windows files on the flash drive' ? How did you put those on the flash drive?
2. You need the SSD connected as well.

Sorry, that was unclear. By windows files I mean the copy of windows I'm going to burn on to my flash drive because I don't have the CD.

And I meant unplugging my extra SSD, the SSD that currently contains my OS will remain plugged

 

[USAFRet]

So the plan now is, after all your extensive and helpful input (thanks!), put a (nearly) up to date version of windows on my flash drive. switch off the PC and unplug it, unplug all other drives aside from the OS drive and switch the PC back on. Open Disk Manager, delete the partition/volume and create a new one. Now this is where I'm stuck. Do I now turn off the PC, and insert the flash drive containing the windows files? Just the flash drive or do I need to have the SSD I wan't windows stored on AND the flash drive in. Do I need to go into the bios and boot with the flash drive?
Thanks very much in advance guys, you've all been super helpful

1. What, specifically, do you mean by 'Windows files on the flash drive' ? How did you put those on the flash drive?
2. You need the SSD connected as well.

Sorry, that was unclear. By windows files I mean the copy of windows I'm going to burn on to my flash drive because I don't have the CD.

And I meant unplugging my extra SSD, the SSD that currently contains my OS will remain plugged

OK, yes. The windows install stuff, on a correctly built flash drive. Just had to verify. I've seen people try to just copy the existing 'windows folder' to a flash drive and try to install it that way.

Run the install
When it asks where, select Custom
Delete all the existing partitions
Format
Let Windows create what it needs

 

[Mrnix]

So the plan now is, after all your extensive and helpful input (thanks!), put a (nearly) up to date version of windows on my flash drive. switch off the PC and unplug it, unplug all other drives aside from the OS drive and switch the PC back on. Open Disk Manager, delete the partition/volume and create a new one. Now this is where I'm stuck. Do I now turn off the PC, and insert the flash drive containing the windows files? Just the flash drive or do I need to have the SSD I wan't windows stored on AND the flash drive in. Do I need to go into the bios and boot with the flash drive?
Thanks very much in advance guys, you've all been super helpful

1. What, specifically, do you mean by 'Windows files on the flash drive' ? How did you put those on the flash drive?
2. You need the SSD connected as well.

Sorry, that was unclear. By windows files I mean the copy of windows I'm going to burn on to my flash drive because I don't have the CD.

And I meant unplugging my extra SSD, the SSD that currently contains my OS will remain plugged

OK, yes. The windows install stuff, on a correctly built flash drive. Just had to verify. I've seen people try to just copy the existing 'windows folder' to a flash drive and try to install it that way.

Run the install
When it asks where, select Custom
Delete all the existing partitions
Format
Let Windows create what it needs

Oh cool, forgive me if I'm misunderstanding, but I can just bang Windows 7 on my flash drive, unplug all drives aside from the main SSD that has the current (soon to be old) OS and just boot again with the flash drive? Run it, delete all existing partitions when it prompts me where to save windows, format it and windows will just sort it out? I don't need to wipe it now? I don't care if it's done 100% optimally.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

This is really a very straightforward process

Method 1

1. If you have access to a working windows installation besides the one on the SSD you want to wipe, then just wipe the SSD using Disk Manager according to the link above

http://www.hardcoreware.net/secure-erase-ssd-in-windows/

2. Disconnect the data cable for SSD No. 1 and install Windows from the ISO on the USB stick to the SSD just as if it was brand new outta the box.

Method 2

Follow the seven forums tutorial on "Windows 7: SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation"

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/119713-diskpart-pc-startup.html?ltr=D
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

It's simpler than the tutorial shows when you only have 1 disk connected.

The diskpart step was a life save for me when I had to recover my son's SSD which just trying let windows normal install process do it wasn't working.

These will come in handy

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool
http://isodisk.com/

Make the ISO w/ ISOdisk, put it on USB w/ the MS tool

 

[USAFRet]

Oh cool, forgive me if I'm misunderstanding, but I can just bang Windows 7 on my flash drive, unplug all drives aside from the main SSD that has the current (soon to be old) OS and just boot again with the flash drive? Run it, delete all existing partitions when it prompts me where to save windows, format it and windows will just sort it out? I don't need to wipe it now? I don't care if it's done 100% optimally.

Right.

 

[Mrnix]

Oh cool, forgive me if I'm misunderstanding, but I can just bang Windows 7 on my flash drive, unplug all drives aside from the main SSD that has the current (soon to be old) OS and just boot again with the flash drive? Run it, delete all existing partitions when it prompts me where to save windows, format it and windows will just sort it out? I don't need to wipe it now? I don't care if it's done 100% optimally.

Right.

Sorry if I sound like I'm picking sides here, but why can't I just do this instead of all the other methods and steps suggested above? This way is super simple

 

[USAFRet]

Oh cool, forgive me if I'm misunderstanding, but I can just bang Windows 7 on my flash drive, unplug all drives aside from the main SSD that has the current (soon to be old) OS and just boot again with the flash drive? Run it, delete all existing partitions when it prompts me where to save windows, format it and windows will just sort it out? I don't need to wipe it now? I don't care if it's done 100% optimally.

Right.

Sorry if I sound like I'm picking sides here, but why can't I just do this instead of all the other methods and steps suggested above? This way is super simple

Boot from the install media
When it asks 'where', select Custom
Delete every partition
Format
Install the OS
Done

Simple.

 

[Mrnix]

Oh cool, forgive me if I'm misunderstanding, but I can just bang Windows 7 on my flash drive, unplug all drives aside from the main SSD that has the current (soon to be old) OS and just boot again with the flash drive? Run it, delete all existing partitions when it prompts me where to save windows, format it and windows will just sort it out? I don't need to wipe it now? I don't care if it's done 100% optimally.

Right.

Sorry if I sound like I'm picking sides here, but why can't I just do this instead of all the other methods and steps suggested above? This way is super simple

Boot from the install media
When it asks 'where', select Custom
Delete every partition
Format
Install the OS
Done

Simple.

This is the answer I wanted all along 😀
Thanks very much, will try it when I get back from work

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Sorry if I sound like I'm picking sides here, but why can't I just do this instead of all the other methods and steps suggested above? This way is super simple

It doesn't always work. Not sure why but I have twice done this w/o success:

1. When my son's SSD got messed up .... it wouldn't reinstall after creating partition and formatting.

2. A buddy of his from college bought a non genuine Windows.....a wipe from my PC didn't work, nor did a fresh simple reinstall.

In both cases, the diskpart did. The 1st one, I remembered doing the long overnight format and that it still didn't work. The next day we used the diskpart method and then it worked.

The simple method works just fine most of the time ... I am not sure what gets done different this way.

 

[Mrnix]

Sorry if I sound like I'm picking sides here, but why can't I just do this instead of all the other methods and steps suggested above? This way is super simple

It doesn't always work. Not sure why but I have twice done this w/o success:

1. When my son's SSD got messed up .... it wouldn't reinstall after creating partition and formatting.

2. A buddy of his from college bought a non genuine Windows.....a wipe from my PC didn't work, nor did a fresh simple reinstall.

In both cases, the diskpart did. The 1st one, I remembered doing the long overnight format and that it still didn't work. The next day we used the diskpart method and then it worked.

The simple method works just fine most of the time ... I am not sure what gets done different this way.

Sorry for the wait here guys, I have one more problem, however. I can't get my hands on an ISO file for my copy of windows. I read that a site called Digital River would distribute ISO files of windows to consumers but were recently taken down so the only other option is seems is to use Microsoft's key validation tool to download an ISO file, however it doesn't work with OEM copies of Windows so I'm outta luck. Anything I can do?

 

[USAFRet]

Sorry if I sound like I'm picking sides here, but why can't I just do this instead of all the other methods and steps suggested above? This way is super simple

It doesn't always work. Not sure why but I have twice done this w/o success:

1. When my son's SSD got messed up .... it wouldn't reinstall after creating partition and formatting.

2. A buddy of his from college bought a non genuine Windows.....a wipe from my PC didn't work, nor did a fresh simple reinstall.

In both cases, the diskpart did. The 1st one, I remembered doing the long overnight format and that it still didn't work. The next day we used the diskpart method and then it worked.

The simple method works just fine most of the time ... I am not sure what gets done different this way.

Sorry for the wait here guys, I have one more problem, however. I can't get my hands on an ISO file for my copy of windows. I read that a site called Digital River would distribute ISO files of windows to consumers but were recently taken down so the only other option is seems is to use Microsoft's key validation tool to download an ISO file, however it doesn't work with OEM copies of Windows so I'm outta luck. Anything I can do?

Correct...the Digital River downloads are gone.
For an OEM license, you only real option is to obtain the install files from the manufacturer.
Or buy a new OS.


So....going back to your original question:
You had an "illegitimate version of Win 7 ultimate" purchased from ebyay
Now you have "Windows 7 Professional ", but only the key.

Where did you purchase this that only provided you the license key? That has not been a viable solution for quite some time.

 

[Mrnix]

Sorry if I sound like I'm picking sides here, but why can't I just do this instead of all the other methods and steps suggested above? This way is super simple

It doesn't always work. Not sure why but I have twice done this w/o success:

1. When my son's SSD got messed up .... it wouldn't reinstall after creating partition and formatting.

2. A buddy of his from college bought a non genuine Windows.....a wipe from my PC didn't work, nor did a fresh simple reinstall.

In both cases, the diskpart did. The 1st one, I remembered doing the long overnight format and that it still didn't work. The next day we used the diskpart method and then it worked.

The simple method works just fine most of the time ... I am not sure what gets done different this way.

Sorry for the wait here guys, I have one more problem, however. I can't get my hands on an ISO file for my copy of windows. I read that a site called Digital River would distribute ISO files of windows to consumers but were recently taken down so the only other option is seems is to use Microsoft's key validation tool to download an ISO file, however it doesn't work with OEM copies of Windows so I'm outta luck. Anything I can do?

Correct...the Digital River downloads are gone.
For an OEM license, you only real option is to obtain the install files from the manufacturer.
Or buy a new OS.


So....going back to your original question:
You had an "illegitimate version of Win 7 ultimate" purchased from ebyay
Now you have "Windows 7 Professional ", but only the key.

Where did you purchase this that only provided you the license key? That has not been a viable solution for quite some time.

I don't think I'll be able to get the install files, a friend of mine knew I accidentally bought a false copy of Win 7 so he got me a key from work to see if I could use it to activate my current version. I've had it for a bit now and he no longer works at the same place so getting hold of the actual disc cases is gonna be..tricky

Can I not just download an older ISO from a 3rd party site and use that to boot? Or does it have to be completely up to date

 

[USAFRet]

I don't think I'll be able to get the install files, a friend of mine knew I accidentally bought a false copy of Win 7 so he got me a key from work to see if I could use it to activate my current version.

You need to buy your own OS.