Maybe your PC has been infected with a virus or spyware, and you find it very slow and difficult to use. Or maybe you have an empty hard drive that you need to tune. If that's the case, you may need to reformat your hard drive or reinstall Windows 7. Follow the steps below to reformat Windows 7.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Formatting Hard Drive Without Reinstalling Windows 7
Part One: Partitioning the Hard Drive
Step 1. Back up all your files, drivers and settings so you can restore them later
Step 2. Find all the installation discs or product keys for the programs you want to keep so that you can restore them once the installation is complete
Step 3. Partition your hard drive
This means dividing the hard drive into several parts and making those parts usable for the operating system or OS (Operating System).
Step 4. Click "Start" then Control Panel
Step 5. Click "Administrative Tools" in the System and Security window
Step 6. Double click on “Computer Management
”
Step 7. Click “Disk Management
”
Step 8. Locate the drive you want to partition
It can be named Disk 1 or named “unallocated.”
Step 9. Right-click on the “unallocated” space and tick “New Simple Volume
”
Step 10. Click "Next" and "Next" again to confirm the partition size
You can select the entire capacity of the hard drive or you can choose to create multiple partitions at this point, the total being equal to the size of the drive.
Step 11. Assign a drive letter
You can choose a letter other than A or B.
Step 12. Click “Don't format this volume” then “Next
”
Step 13. See the summary that brings up the partition options you have selected and check if everything is correct
Step 14. Click “Finish
”
Part Two: Formatting the Hard Drive
Step 1. Locate the drive you want to format from Disk Management
Step 2. Right-click on the right drive and click “Format
”
Step 3. Name the drive
For example, name it "Music."
Step 4. Select "NTFS" for the file system
Step 5. Select “allocation unit size
” You can select "Default" here.
Step 6. Uncheck “Perform a quick format,” so you can choose a standard format and have all sectors checked for errors
Step 7. Uncheck “Enable file and folder compression
”
Step 8. Click “OK
”
Step 9. Click “OK” when you see “Formatting this volume will erase all data on it
”
Step 10. Watch as the formatting process takes place
You will see the progress process.
Step 11. Watch when the status changes to “Healthy
”
Step 12. Repeat this step if you want to format another drive
Method 2 of 2: Formatting Hard Drive by Reinstalling Windows 7
Step 1. Back up all your files and settings so you can restore them later
Step 2. Find your Windows 7 product key:
this should be printed on the sticker on your PC or in the manual that came with your PC. You will need this product key to reinstall Windows. If you don't have an installation disc, you can get one from Microsoft at https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/DisplayHelpPage. Download the Windows 7 ISO file to a DVD or USB flash drive.
Step 3. Start your computer
Let Windows start and insert your Windows 7 USB flash drive or installation disc.
Step 4. Shut down your computer
Step 5. Restart your computer
Step 6. Press any key when prompted
Step 7. Enter your language and other preferences in the “Install Windows” window, then click “Next
”
Step 8. Accept the license terms and click “Next
”
Step 9. Click “Custom” in the “Which type of installation do you want?
”.
Step 10. Click “Drive Options Advanced” in the “Where do you want to install Windows?
”.
Step 11. Click each partition you want to convert, by clicking on the format option you want to do
Step 12. Click "Next" when you have finished the formatting
Step 13. Follow the prompts to complete the Windows 7 installation
You can give your computer a name and create user accounts.
Step 14. Click “Activate Windows online now
” If you are prompted for an administrator password, type the password or provide confirmation.
Step 15. Activate your Windows 7 by typing your Windows 7 product key when prompted, click "Next," then follow the instructions given or activate it by clicking "Start", "Computer," "Properties" and "Activate Windows now
”
Step 16. Install your anti-virus software and activate Windows Firewall
(Start, Control Panel, Windows Firewall.)
