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How to Reformat Windows 7

You may have a PC that has been infected with viruses or spyware, or you may have a blank hard drive you need to set up. In either case, you may need to reformat your hard drive. You can reformat a PC with Windows 7 by reinstalling Windows...

Method 1 of 2:

Formatting the Hard Drive Without Reinstalling Windows 7

Part One: Partitioning the Hard Drive

  1. images 1 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Images 1 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Backup all your files, drivers and settings so that you can restore them later.
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    Images 2 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Find all your installation discs or product keys for the programs you want to keep so that you can restore them after the installation is complete.
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    Images 3 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Partition your hard drive. This means dividing the hard drive into parts and making the parts available to the OS (Operating System).
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    Images 4 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Click on 'Start' and then Control Panel.
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    Images 5 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Click on 'Administrative Tools' in the System and Security window.
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    Images 6 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Double-click on 'Computer management.'
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    Images 7 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Click on 'Disk Management.'
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    Images 8 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Find the drive you want to partition. It may be labeled Disk 1 or say 'unallocated.'
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    Images 9 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Right click on the 'unallocated' space and check 'New Simple Volume.'
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    Images 10 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Click 'Next' and 'Next' again to confirm the size of the partition. You can choose the entire size of the hard drive or you could choose to create several partitions at this point, the total of which equals the size of the drive.
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    Images 11 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Assign a drive letter. You can choose any letters other than A or B.
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    Images 12 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Click 'Do not format this volume' and then 'Next.'
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    Images 13 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    See the summary that pops up of your chosen partition options and check that they are correct.
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    Images 14 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Click 'Finish.'

Part Two: Formatting the Hard Drive

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    Images 15 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Find the drive you want to format from Disk management.
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    Images 16 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Right click on the correct drive and click 'Format.'
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    Images 17 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Name the drive. For example, name it 'Music.'
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    Images 18 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Choose 'NTFS' for the file system.
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    Images 19 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Choose an 'allocation unit size.' You can pick 'Default' here.
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    Images 20 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Uncheck 'Perform a quick format,' so that you can choose a standard format and that all sectors are checked for errors.
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    Images 21 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Uncheck 'Enable file and folder compression.'
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    Images 22 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Click 'OK.'
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    Images 23 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Click 'OK' when you see 'Formatting this volume will erase all data on it.'
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    Images 24 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Watch the formatting take place. You will see the progress.
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    Images 25 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    See that the status has changed to 'Healthy.'
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    Images 26 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Repeat these steps if you want to format other drives.
Method 2 of 2:

Formatting the Hard Drive by Reinstalling Windows 7

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    Images 27 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Backup all your files and settings so that you can restore them later.
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    Images 28 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Find your Windows 7 product key: This should be printed on a sticker on your PC or on the documentation that was included with your PC. You will need this product key to reinstall Windows. If you do not have the installation discs, they can be obtained from Microsoft at microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/DisplayHelpPage. You download the Windows 7 ISO file to a DVD or USB flash drive.
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    Images 29 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Start your computer. Let Windows start and insert the Windows 7 USB flash drive or installation disc
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    Images 30 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Shut down your computer.
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    Images 31 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Restart your computer.
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    Images 32 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Press any key when you see the prompt.
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    Images 33 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Enter your language and other preferences in the 'Install Windows' window, and then click 'Next.'
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    Images 34 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Accept the license term and click 'Next.'
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    Images 35 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Click 'Custom' on the 'Which type of installation do you want?' window.
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    Images 36 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Click 'Drive Options Advanced' on the 'Where do you want to install Windows?' window.
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    Images 37 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Click any partition that you want to change, clicking the formatting option you want to perform.
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    Images 38 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Click 'Next' when you have finished formatting.
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    Images 39 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Follow the instructions to finish installing Windows 7. You will name your computer and set up a user account.
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    Images 40 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Click 'Activate Windows online now.' If you are prompted for an administrator password, type the password or provide confirmation.
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    Images 41 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Activate your Windows 7 by typing your Windows 7 product key when prompted, click 'Next,' and then follow the instructions or activate by clicking 'Start,' 'Computer,' 'Properties' and 'Activate Windows Now.'
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    Images 42 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Install your anti-virus software and enable the Windows Firewall. (Start, Control Panel, Windows Firewall.)
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    Images 43 of How to Reformat Windows 7
    Install all your programs, hardware and backed up files.
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