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How do I fully format my laptop hard drive windows 8.1 without bootable disk

Tags:
  • Laptops
  • Windows 8
  • Hard Drives
  • Format
Last response: in Windows 8
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January 13, 2014 12:44:21 PM

I bought a laptop with windows 8 already on it and upgraded it to 8.1. There's nothing I like about 8 or 8.1 :fou:  and have bought Windows 7 Home Premium to install. You can't go into Disk Management and right-click to format the main drive, as there is no format option. :no:  I don't have the original W8 disk since it was already on the laptop. So how do I send this 8.1 on my hd into oblivion so I can install Windows 7? :??: 

More about : fully format laptop hard drive windows bootable disk

Best solution

a b D Laptop
January 13, 2014 12:56:55 PM

If you have a physical disc for Windows 7, you can boot from that and format the hard drive. You will need to select a Clean install and when you reach the point where you tell it to install Windows to, click "Advanced Options..." at the bottom of the window to get the Format option.

Casey
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January 14, 2014 12:24:27 PM

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I was afraid of putting the W7 disk in w/o knowing exactly what I could expect.
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March 17, 2014 4:12:51 AM

HOw does Microsoft do it?? I have exactly the same problem as Tim amd was tearing my hair out. One question, will it affect my warranty?

Unfortunately win 8.1 will not let me format any of the partitions because they are of the GPT style.

My win 8.1 won't run because an eufi file is missing. Could someone help me get to the hard drive so that I can erase win 8.1 and install win 7? Lenovo can't repair itself and I can,t access the Lenovo 25GB partition, which I presume has the OS on it.



regards
John Hawthornthwaite
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June 15, 2014 4:35:34 PM

dude, u can try one trick.. download puppy linux ( almost 100 mb ).. install it in ur system.. now format ur system with this OS.. now u can clean install ur windows 8.1.... n moreover, it doesnt leave any hidden partition.. cheers.. :) 
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August 2, 2014 5:40:17 PM

hagershorn said:
HOw does Microsoft do it?? I have exactly the same problem as Tim amd was tearing my hair out. One question, will it affect my warranty?

Unfortunately win 8.1 will not let me format any of the partitions because they are of the GPT style.

My win 8.1 won't run because an eufi file is missing. Could someone help me get to the hard drive so that I can erase win 8.1 and install win 7? Lenovo can't repair itself and I can,t access the Lenovo 25GB partition, which I presume has the OS on it.



regards
John Hawthornthwaite


Did this work for you?

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August 12, 2014 7:06:28 PM

if you are able to read the windows cd/dvd, you just need to press shift+F10, then type diskpart, once it let´s you type again, go ahead and type "list disk"
it shoul show you the drives you have, yours will be "0" (default)
type: "select disk 0 "
here type "list partition" now you should see all partitions created on your HDD
now type SELECT DISK 0 again
finally type CLEAN, it wil take 1 or 2 minutes, now your disk is raw,
go ahead the usual way formatting , i mean installing your OS.
Hope it helps
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