Windows 8 Clean Install - Which drives should I delete (Formatting Drives screen)

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
I

inneruniverse

Reputable
Jan 22, 2015
193
0
4,690
Hello! I recently purchased an Asus X550 and it has a ton of bloatware on it. I used Windows' website to create a copy of Windows 8.1 on a flash drive. I booted from the drive and have begun the installation process. I am now at the formatting drives screen.

I apparently have 6 drives. Which ones can I delete to make the most space possible? Which ones should I reformat?

I know some of these have to be redundant or unnecessary. For example I don't understand why my primary drive is split in half.

The drives are:

Drive 0 Partition 1: SYSTEM Total size: 100.0 MB Free Space: 70.0 MB Type: System

Drive 0 Partition 2: RECOVERY Total Size: 900.MB Free Space: 537 MB Type: Recovery

Drive 0 Partition 3: Total Size: 128.0 MB Free Space 128.0 MB Type: MSR (Reserved)

Drive 0 Partition 4: OS Total Size: 372.6 GB Free Space: 342.2 GB Type: Primary

Drive 0 Partition 5: Data Total Size: 537.8 GB Free Space 537.8 GB Type : Primary

Drive 0 Partition 6: Restore Total Size: 20.0 GB Free Space 8.0 GB Type: Recovery
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
RealBeast

RealBeast

Titan
Moderator
Sep 13, 2010
17,111
474
104,790
If you have a full installation disk, I would delete all of the partitions and then install to the single remaining unallocated space. You need to select custom install to do it, then delete the partitions, then install.

But if you have an OEM key and a retail install disk it will not work, you need the OEM install disk: en_windows_8.1_with_update_x64_dvd_4065090, which is only available for download from MSDN AFAIK, unless you bought a full install disk with your ASUS.

Download your X550 drivers first and have them handy if you can do a reinstall.

Also, if you need to get your key from the bios: use elevated command prompt and type this to get the Windows 8 key from the bios: powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey"

Be sure that you have a proper install disk before starting though or you will have a big problem.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

mbarnes86

Splendid
Sep 16, 2010
3,839
7
26,965
Hi

It would be a lot safer uninstalling the bloat ware
There are a few programs designed to do this for you

I would not remove any partition
Partition 4 seems to be the windows drive which if you re install the windows should be sent to

The drive may be GPT instead of mbr partitioned
Along with recovery partition
Leaving you with about 900 GB instead of 970 GB

It is common for several OEM manufacturers such as asus & Toshiba to create 2 visible user partitions
If you keep data on second partition you may be able to reformat windows c: without loosing your data
Re locate my documents folder to second partition

Regards
Mike Barnes
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I

inneruniverse

Reputable
Jan 22, 2015
193
0
4,690


Thank you for the reply! I'm a little confused though.

My windows 8.1 came pre-installed on the laptop. I retrieved the key using software and have the serial key that it retrieved. I do not have my own install disk of windows. I went to windows website and used their tool to create an installation of windows 8.1 on my flash drive.

This website: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

Are you saying I cannot delete all the partitions and then create a single one to install windows 8.1 on using this copy I downloaded and my OEM key?

If that is the case do I have any other options to get rid of all the bloatware without purchasing windows 8.1? I'd rather not purchase it since I currently have it "free" on the laptop since it came pre-installed.








Hello. Are you saying to delete partition 5 and reformat partition 4 so that the space allotted to partition 5 instead combines with partition 4?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

mbarnes86

Splendid
Sep 16, 2010
3,839
7
26,965
Hi

You could remove partitions 4 & 5 during the install then create a new partition in that empty space, then widows install will offer to format the new partition

I presume there is a windows label on the laptop and the key on that differs from the one extracted from the registry
( I usually use Nirsoft produkey to extract windows & office keys from the registry)

I still recommend not starting installing windows from scratch, unless you are dealing with many large video files and need one large partition

The this Google search for programs to remove bloat ware / crapware

https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=windows+crap+remover

It is possible to remove partition 5 and expand partition 4 into that space

I would use Gparted live Linux cd
There are various other bootable partition management programs with similar capabilities

http://gparted.org/features.php

Regards
Make barnes
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
RealBeast

RealBeast

Titan
Moderator
Sep 13, 2010
17,111
474
104,790
Yes, I am saying that the disk you have is insufficient to do a clean install, it will not accept your OEM key to activate. While you can get rid of some partitions, you cannot do a clean install because you do not have an installer disk that will work with an OEM key.

If you can find the OEM disk (en_windows_8.1_with_update_x64_dvd_4065090) you could, but short of that you cannot. You will have to be satisfied with just cleaning up the partitions and removing the bloatware as possible as Mike advises.

You deserve recognition, since most users actually delete everything and then try to fix it -- best to ask first as you did.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I

inneruniverse

Reputable
Jan 22, 2015
193
0
4,690


I see. Thanks. I always try to look before I leap. Saves everyone time.

What if instead I decided to delete all six partitions and then install windows 7 on my laptop instead? I have a windows 7 cd to boot from and install windows.

Would this be possible? A google search provided some yes and some no. One even from this site so I'm a little unsure here on how to go about this.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

mbarnes86

Splendid
Sep 16, 2010
3,839
7
26,965
Hi


first step to downgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 7
check if manufacturer provides full set of drivers for Win 7 (& down load them)
if not probably means you will have lots of problems.

Check the bios is not locked to Windows 8 and secure boot can be disabled or you will not be able to boot from Win 7 DVD (or USB)

Next the Win 7 DVD you have is it - oem system builder or manufaturers oem or full retail or upgrade ?
And equally important has the licence key been used, only retail versions can be moved to new systems

System builder OEM can be used on any brand of PC (but can only be used on one PC)
manufacturers oem can only be used on that manufacturers motherboards and often a restricted range of motherboards
Most of them come with a licence key sticker.
The Windows 7 DVD (or ISO) without a matching Windows 7 key is of no use to you.

regards
Mike Barnes
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
RealBeast

RealBeast

Titan
Moderator
Sep 13, 2010
17,111
474
104,790
First find the ASUS drivers for Windows 7. If you can find them, then you can install Windows 7 and using a custom install first delete all partitions.

However, you could lose some functionality like touchscreen if they don't have drivers for that for Windows 7.

Just make sure that you really want to do it before you start since there is no going back unless you find an OEM install disk. You should consider just using Start8 to give you a 7 style start button in 8. Once you get used to it, 8 is a good OS and you can always update to 10 for free when it is released this summer or fall.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom