Formatting Hard drive without deleting windows 7?

[amuffin]

Is there a way of formatting a drive without deleting windows? I am trying to install windows 7 with a legitimate key on a hard drive, however I do not have a CD. Is there any way of installing windows 7 without a cd?

 

[koolkat574]

You could put windows on a flash drive and boot it from usb?

 

[GenericUser]

It depends. I'm assuming that the drive you want to format has windows on it. In that case you will lose all data, unless the drive is partitioned and you format a partition that doesn't have windows on it, or you are formatting a separate drive that doesn't have windows on it.

For a diskless install of windows, if you have a big enough flash drive you can use this tool:

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

 

[amuffin]

It is fine if I lose all data, I just switched to a new mobo and obvioiusly windows won't work with it. Just trying to figure out a way to do it.

 

[amuffin]

It depends. I'm assuming that the drive you want to format has windows on it. In that case you will lose all data, unless the drive is partitioned and you format a partition that doesn't have windows on it, or you are formatting a separate drive that doesn't have windows on it.

For a diskless install of windows, if you have a big enough flash drive you can use this tool:

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

Will it work with an external drive that has files on it? Sorry not really good at this stuff, if you guys could guide me through the process that would be great help.

 

[amuffin]

It won't go above 59%....