Please help, I have to sell this PC with 1hr!

[01MB01]

Guys, urgently need a response, I've rebooted, and I'm wanting to install windows now (from a USB), so it's at the partitioning section. I have a drive c and a drive d. I want to install windows on c. For c I have:

Drive 1 Partition 1: Recovery 300MB type: recovery
Drive 1 partition 2: 99MB Type: system
Drive 1 partition 3: 128MB tpe: MSR (Reserved)
Drive 1 Partition 4 465.2GB Type: primary

What is my next step? Format or delete? and which one? I tried installing to partition 4 but it says that it cannot install to this disk because the selected disk is of the GPT partition style. What now? -I just want the c drive clearing and a reinstallation of Winows, like when I first used it.

The c drive is an EVO 840 500GB SSD. My mother board is a Asus Z97i-plus.

 

[giantbucket]

do you want to keep the recovery partition, or blow away everything just like when the SSD was brand new?

try to make windows delete existing partitions during the installation. it might complain, and it might force you to do so using a command-line based tool (i can't recall the name)

option 2 is to use GParted to blow away every partition on that drive, and then go back to installing windows.


oh, just to be safe - UNPLUG EVERY OTHER HARD DRIVE!!!!! you really don't want to risk making a mistake and formating your movies or games or documents drive. unplug it!

 

[01MB01]

do you want to keep the recovery partition, or blow away everything just like when the SSD was brand new?

try to make windows delete existing partitions during the installation. it might complain, and it might force you to do so using a command-line based tool (i can't recall the name)

option 2 is to use GParted to blow away every partition on that drive, and then go back to installing windows.


oh, just to be safe - UNPLUG EVERY OTHER HARD DRIVE!!!!! you really don't want to risk making a mistake and formating your movies or games or documents drive. unplug it!

I preferably want to reset it to the state it was in when I first installed it. What do you advise?

 

[BrandonYoung]

If you want to wipe the c: fully, while installing windows choose advanced install to allow you to modify the partition table, simply delete all partitions on drive 1 (and only drive 1), so the full drive1 says "Unallocated Space" or something of that nature. Next create a new partition, use the full space available, and choose that new partition, and hit 'next' windows will format it and continue to the install.

Best of luck.

 

[giantbucket]

i'm not sure what that means 😛

typically an SSD that you buy has no partitions, so the recovery partition and the other stuff was most likely created by Windows or it's the result of cloning a drive that an OEM like HP or Dell or Lenovo had in their machine.

if you want to basically start with a clean sheet of paper, as if you just bought the SSD a few minutes ago, i'd either force windows to delete all partitions or if it complains then use GParted (download it and make a bootable CD / USB first) to blow away all partitions.

not sure if Win8/8.1 needs a GPT-type disk or if an MBR-type is also fine. the MBR-type is more old-school and i would think Win8/8.1 can install onto it easily. so, if you have the option, you can try to change the disk type from GPT to MBR or vice versa until Windows is happy.

 

[01MB01]

If you want to wipe the c: fully, while installing windows choose advanced install to allow you to modify the partition table, simply delete all partitions on drive 1 (and only drive 1), so the full drive1 says "Unallocated Space" or something of that nature. Next create a new partition, use the full space available, and choose that new partition, and hit 'next' windows will format it and continue to the install.

Best of luck.

I was a bit scared to delete the partitions, but went through the process aain to get to this screen, but then this time it allowed me to write to partition 4 where I have 465GB. Now my question is; will this duplicate partition 1-3 for that drive? or just use what is already there?

 

[BrandonYoung]

I would delete all existing partitions on drive 1 (or whichever drive is the 500GB SSD). This is pretty standard when you want a clean install. There are many many guides that can assist you with the process if my explanation is not satisfactory.

Here is one with screen shots that goes through the removal of existing partitions:
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/the-complete-guide-to-a-windows-8-clean-installation/

Just make sure you are deleting the partitions on the drive that you wish to install windows on.

Best of luck!