How to Reformat C drive on Windows 7

On Windows 7, you can reformat drive C without having to reinstall all the drives or other data partitions on the computer. The Windows 7 installation disc that came with your computer at the time of purchase will allow you to reinstall the C drive, erasing all settings, files, and programs on that data area. First, you need to back up and save your files or programs to a removable hard drive, then use the Windows 7 installation disc to reset the C drive.

Table of Contents

Steps

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Backup and archive data. Reformatting drive C will erase all files, programs, and information stored in C drive, so you need to back up all necessary data.

Save backup data to an external hard drive, disk or other folder on the local network (if available).

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Give the computer a name (if connected to the network). After formatting the C drive, the installer will ask you for the computer name to reconnect the computer to the network.

Go to the “Start” menu on your computer, right-click “Computer”, then select “Properties” from the menu. Your computer name will be shown under “Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings”.

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Insert the Windows 7 installation disc into the computer. In some cases, if the Windows 7 installation is saved on a USB stick, you can still plug it in and install it as usual.

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Turn off the computer. The computer needs to be restarted to run the Windows 7 installation disc.

Open the “Start” menu and click “Shut Down.”

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Reopen the computer. Once opened again, the computer will read the installation disc and begin the formatting process.

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Reset the C drive. After the computer recognizes the installation disc, press any key on the keyboard to continue. The Windows installer will appear on the screen.

Select your language in the “Install Windows” page, then click “Next”.
Read through the license terms of Windows 7. To continue, you must check the box next to “I accept the license terms”.
Select “Custom” when asked for the type of installation you want to do.
Select “Drive options (advanced)” when asked for the location where you want to install Windows. At this point, you can select drive C as the only drive you want to format.
Click the “C” drive when Windows asks which partition you want to “change” or reinstall. The computer will begin the process of formatting, in other words, erasing all existing data in the C drive. Windows will notify you once the process is complete.

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Reinstall Windows 7 on the C drive. After the C drive has been reformatted, you need to reinstall Windows 7 on that partition. Click “Next” after Windows notifies that the formatting is complete. The Windows installer will take care of the rest. You will be asked to enter the computer name (if the computer is connected to a network) and other information such as the account name.

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Restore saved files. After Windows completes the installation process, you can connect the external hard drive or disk to the computer to restore the data to your C drive.

Advice

You should connect your computer to the Internet before proceeding to restore the backup data on the C drive. When connected to the Internet, the computer will promptly notify you to update or download the driver (driver). new for the apps and programs you’re reinstalling.

Steps

Advice

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