How do I completely reset everything and install windows?

Geren

Well-Known Member
Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2011
Messages
236
Trophies
0
Website
Visit site
XP
233
Country
Spain
if you are going to dual boot, make sure to install first windows and then gnu/linux. this is because if you go with linux first, then windows will overwrite the grub loader, leaving the linux partition unaccesible. there are ways to restore grub, but it's kinda complicated in the end.
 

The Riolu

Emanation Pokémon
Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2012
Messages
167
Trophies
0
XP
65
Country
United States
That is not really true. In the event of an "uninstall" Windows would not have the opportunity to properly communicate the fact that it's being removed to Microsoft since the removal usually happens outside of Windows.

What usually happens is that when you activate a new Windows install with your previous serial the older activation should get invalidated.

Well, with my past experience, it usually did so for me.

Sorry for the misinformation, I thought that was the case.

if you are going to dual boot, make sure to install first windows and then gnu/linux. this is because if you go with linux first, then windows will overwrite the grub loader, leaving the linux partition unaccesible. there are ways to restore grub, but it's kinda complicated in the end.
This is true, but you can always add the Linux entry into the bootloader afterward through EasyBCD.
 

3bbb7

Well-Known Member
OP
Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2012
Messages
797
Trophies
0
XP
501
Country
United States
Yes. What you've listed as to uninstall Linux is correct. Just make sure you don't screw around with GRUB unless you REALLY know what you are doing.
Does restoring the MDR in easybcd remove GRUB completely?

basically what I want to do today is install Linux mint and remove it afterwards. I want to know and be sure 100% i know what to do in the future if I ever want to
 

Minox

Thanks for the fish
Former Staff
Joined
Aug 27, 2007
Messages
6,992
Trophies
2
XP
6,139
Country
Japan
Well, with my past experience, it usually did so for me.

Sorry for the misinformation, I thought that was the case.
In the end the result is the same. I just wanted to point out that deactivation is not something Windows usually relies on when it comes to licenses :)
 

The Riolu

Emanation Pokémon
Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2012
Messages
167
Trophies
0
XP
65
Country
United States
Does restoring the MDR in easybcd remove GRUB completely?

basically what I want to do today is install Linux mint and remove it afterwards. I want to know and be sure 100% i know what to do in the future if I ever want to

Yes it does remove GRUB completely.
 

The Riolu

Emanation Pokémon
Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2012
Messages
167
Trophies
0
XP
65
Country
United States
And installing Linux Mint installs GRUB right?
does Windows 8 show up on the grub selection menu as well as mint?

It does install GRUB, although you can always use LILO but I recommend GRUB.
I'm pretty sure Windows 8 does show up in the selection. (98% Sure)
 

3bbb7

Well-Known Member
OP
Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2012
Messages
797
Trophies
0
XP
501
Country
United States
You should be fine; you are overwriting the UEFI bootloader from Windows 8 but I'm positive that GRUB will detect it.
ok, thanks. im going to install it and then uninstall, just so I know how in the future
Also is OS uninstaller a good way to remove Windows from Linux? i found it and it looks good but Im not sure if it completely deletes everything
 

pyromaniac123

ส็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็(ಠ益ಠส็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็็
Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2011
Messages
2,006
Trophies
2
XP
1,770
Country
Download dban, burn it to disk and wipe your pc. Install windows 7.
 

3bbb7

Well-Known Member
OP
Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2012
Messages
797
Trophies
0
XP
501
Country
United States
I am wiping my harddrive and installing windows 7.
Ive never installed a new copy of Windows before. What drivers will I lose and is it easy to redownload them?
Do I have all the necessary drivers like video audio internet etc just when I reformat?
All I will use windows for is gaming, with linux dual boot. Dont need lots of drivers
 

Lacius

Well-Known Member
Member
Joined
May 11, 2008
Messages
18,099
Trophies
3
XP
18,338
Country
United States
Many drivers (if not all of them) will automatically be downloaded through Windows Update if they aren't already present, but it's recommended you get your drivers from your computer's manufacturer's website if possible (assuming the drivers aren't too out-of-date there). With most computer manufacturers, you can go to their website, type in your computer's ID, and have access to all the drivers.

I suggest you make a note of the important hardware you have (what graphics card you have, what wireless card you have, etc). If it comes down to it, you can also point your computer to the necessary drivers if your computer came with some kind of recovery disc or harddrive partition with them on it.
 

Rydian

Resident Furvert™
Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
27,880
Trophies
0
Age
36
Location
Cave Entrance, Watching Cyan Write Letters
Website
rydian.net
XP
9,111
Country
United States
You'll lose all of them, since a format erases everything.

The main concern is what Windows itself will support, which falls into a few categories.

1 - Really basic stuff that Windows needs to run (video, etc.). Windows generally has built-in drivers for these that will always work, but don't work best (for example you can't do any gaming on the basic video driver), it's meant just so you can use the computer long enough to download and install the drivers.

2 - Older hardware Windows has driver records for. Windows will install this stuff for you automatically like with #1, but these you don't need to worry about updating since they're relatively basic.

3 - Drivers Microsoft/Windows knows about, and can download through Windows Update and such for you. This works semi-well for some hardware, but needs an internet connection to work.

4 - Stuff Windows has no clue about. For this you need to download the drivers from the manufacturer's site.

You should have the drivers for all your hardware. Generally this is your motherboard's driver package, and any drivers for addon cards (video card, additional sound card, etc.) and anything else plugged in (webcam, etc.)

http://www.piriform.com/speccy
Running that program can give you some hardware models (for like your motherboard and crap) so you know which sites to go to.
 

3bbb7

Well-Known Member
OP
Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2012
Messages
797
Trophies
0
XP
501
Country
United States
Many drivers (if not all of them) will automatically be downloaded through Windows Update if they aren't already present, but it's recommended you get your drivers from your computer's manufacturer's website if possible (assuming the drivers aren't too out-of-date there). With most computer manufacturers, you can go to their website, type in your computer's ID, and have access to all the drivers.

I suggest you make a note of the important hardware you have (what graphics card you have, what wireless card you have, etc). If it comes down to it, you can also point your computer to the necessary drivers if your computer came with some kind of recovery disc or harddrive partition with them on it.
Basically what im doing is wiping every partition on my harddrive. All I want is windows 7 installed. I will then install linux mint as dual boot. Should I still do the second part of your post? I dont have recovery disk and will be wiping the recovery partition.. (if that is safe?)
 

Lacius

Well-Known Member
Member
Joined
May 11, 2008
Messages
18,099
Trophies
3
XP
18,338
Country
United States
Basically what im doing is wiping every partition on my harddrive. All I want is windows 7 installed. I will then install linux mint as dual boot. Should I still do the second part of your post? I dont have recovery disk and will be wiping the recovery partition.. (if that is safe?)
Yes, it's safe. Without a recovery disc that has the setup files for your computer's drivers, you'll just have to get the drivers through one of the other methods Rydian and I outlined.
 

3bbb7

Well-Known Member
OP
Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2012
Messages
797
Trophies
0
XP
501
Country
United States
Yes, it's safe. Without a recovery disc that has the setup files for your computer's drivers, you'll just have to get the drivers through one of the other methods Rydian and I outlined.
Thank you.
I will see what drivers they give me from windows update and download the ones I still need after.

I was told:
"Boot from the Windows 7 DVD
Click Install Now
Accept License Agreement
When the option is displayed to select an installation type, click (Custom Advanced)
Click Drive Options
Select the drive/s click Delete
Click New
Click Apply
Click OK
Click Format and click Next to proceed with the installation"

When going to drive options will it show all of these: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/13066159/Screenshot (15).png
or only Disk 1?
Do I delete all of those? Is it safe to delete them all, not just the Recovery? I read never delete ESP because you cant boot into windows but since I am installing windows 7, will it matter if I delete it or not as it will install a new one or whatever with the windows 7 installation?
 

Rydian

Resident Furvert™
Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
27,880
Trophies
0
Age
36
Location
Cave Entrance, Watching Cyan Write Letters
Website
rydian.net
XP
9,111
Country
United States
In drive options, it'll show all of those (as it lists all found partitions), though it won't have the labels (not like it matters in this case since you'll wipe 'em all).

It's safe to erase all of them, of course this will remove the automatic recovery options, but if you want a fresh, clean install that's part of the point.

After wiping, when you install Windows, as part of the installation process it'll rewrite the bootloader and do all the other technical junk needed for it to boot.

The only real concern is saving a copy of the driver installer for your internet method (wired/onboard/LAN, wireless, etc.) so after wiping you can get internet access in order to redownload what you need.
 

3bbb7

Well-Known Member
OP
Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2012
Messages
797
Trophies
0
XP
501
Country
United States
In drive options, it'll show all of those (as it lists all found partitions), though it won't have the labels (not like it matters in this case since you'll wipe 'em all).

It's safe to erase all of them, of course this will remove the automatic recovery options, but if you want a fresh, clean install that's part of the point.

After wiping, when you install Windows, as part of the installation process it'll rewrite the bootloader and do all the other technical junk needed for it to boot.

The only real concern is saving a copy of the driver installer for your internet method (wired/onboard/LAN, wireless, etc.) so after wiping you can get internet access in order to redownload what you need.
thank you! i will do that
 

Site & Scene News

Popular threads in this forum

General chit-chat
Help Users
    K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2: "Now I know why he took his own life"