Do I wipe or reformat this HDD?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
J

JJnaron

Honorable
Nov 22, 2013
25
0
10,530
So the problem is I just got my parts in the mail and I'm going to reuse this HDD.
I got a new mobo, cpu, gpu, the lot.
Except my old HDD and CD drive.
I got a new OEM copy of windows too.
I want to know, how do I "wipe" this HDD?
I want to remove everything on it, put it in the new pc and do an install of this OEM Win7
My old OS was oem win7 too.
So, I heard I can wipe or reformat a hdd.
Do I wipe or format? or wipe THEN format?
I'm lost.
I don't know much about HDDs so I'm here.
Can anyone help? just a link would be fine too.
Thanks!
 
Solution
USAFRet
You have to have the CPU/RAM/PSU, and some sort of display output connected.

The old drive? If it is not in the boot sequence, the (fully built) system will not boot from it.

Put it together.
Get into the BIOS
Have the DVD the one and only device in the boot sequence.
Power up, and "Press any key to boot from CD/DVD..." should appear.
Sort by date Sort by votes
J

JJnaron

Honorable
Nov 22, 2013
25
0
10,530


Will it really? It's THAT simple? huh. Is this 100% guaranteed? Sorry for asking dumb questions.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
USAFRet

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Mar 16, 2013
171,735
18,106
184,590


Yes, it really is that simple.
I believe the relevant word is "Custom", asking what partition to install to. Then it will show you all the partitions on that drive, and ask what to do with them. Select each in turn, and delete. The install will then use the entire drive.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
J

JJnaron

Honorable
Nov 22, 2013
25
0
10,530
Ok there's a problem. I looked up how to set my cd drive as the boot device, but I have to enter bios. For some reason, I can't enter bios on this pc. I hit the DEL key at the start up screen (which it tells me to) and a little white underscore just flashes in the top left until i reset the pc. I've had this problem randomly. I also tried with a PS/2 keyboard but still didn't work. Is there another way to do it?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
USAFRet

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Mar 16, 2013
171,735
18,106
184,590


If DEL is the relevant key...press it repeatedly as soon as you hit the power button.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
J

JJnaron

Honorable
Nov 22, 2013
25
0
10,530
Just tried that. Nothing. White underscore flashing. If I put in the new parts (mobo,cpu and gpu) will it prompt me? I'm sure my boot device isn't the cd drive, though.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
USAFRet

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Mar 16, 2013
171,735
18,106
184,590


So wait...you don't have all the parts put together? What are you trying to boot from?

Put everything together, boot and get into the BIOS, change the boot order to DVD first...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
J

JJnaron

Honorable
Nov 22, 2013
25
0
10,530
No, I don't have it put together. I'm trying to get it to boot from cd drive in bios, then put all the parts in, put the win7 cd in the drive, and install. But it won't work if I put all the parts in there and start up the pc, right? It'll just boot from this old hdd with all the drivers from old hardware on it. Unless it prompts me to boot from cd when it detects a new mobo? I'm sorry this is all so messy, I just don't know why I can't enter bios. BUT I think I might've set it to boot from usb before... when I updated my mobos bios a while back. I might not have set it back to boot from hdd/cd drive. Could this be it? My PC boots fine unless I try to get in bios.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
USAFRet

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Mar 16, 2013
171,735
18,106
184,590
You have to have the CPU/RAM/PSU, and some sort of display output connected.

The old drive? If it is not in the boot sequence, the (fully built) system will not boot from it.

Put it together.
Get into the BIOS
Have the DVD the one and only device in the boot sequence.
Power up, and "Press any key to boot from CD/DVD..." should appear.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom