Installing windows 7 on a hard drive that already has it

[theorio]

Hi, so I just built my first PC and tried using a hard drive that came with a factory built PC. However, Windows was unable to boot. I started reading on some websites and people have been saying that I need a new copy of windows 7. My question is, to install windows 7 on the same hard drive do i just put it in the DVD Drive or will i need to somehow delete windows 7 thats on the hard drive? Thank you.

 

[phil22]

You cannot move Windows from one PC to a different one by moving the hard drive it's installed on. In any event, with a factory-built PC the OS is not transferable. That copy of Windows is tied to that PC forever. When the PC is scrapped, so is the OS that's installed on it.

So you do need to buy a new copy of Windows 7 (if you can find one, Microsoft started collecting all unsold copies from vendors 5 weeks ago to make Windows 8 sell better). Buying it online may be the best option, but buy it only from a trusted supplier to avoid rip-offs with pirated stuff.

Boot from the Windows 7 DVD, select the partition where Windows 7 is currently installed, then select "Format" from the choices that appear. That will erase the old Windows installation and everything else that's on that partition.

When formatting is completed, install Windows on to that same partition you just formatted.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[theorio]

Wow, thanks a lot man. I have one last question and it might be kind of dumb but i'm new to this whole computer building thing. Getting new windows 7 will delete all my stuff, right?