I have just bought new laptop and desktop computers from Dell. As seems to be the practice these days, they do not provide an actual DVD, just a back up of the Windows program on the second hard drive.
I have been unable to restore the system provided (after a crash) and when I try to use my existing Windows 7 DVD, I get a message telling me that there is insufficient disk space available, so I need to clean the disk by re-formatting it and starting again.
How do I do this? The built in formatting facility will not let me format driveC?
if your still under warranty you might consider taking it back to where you bought it....
another solution might be to boot a ubuntu live disk, and wipe the whole partition from there, and create an empty ntfs volume.... then just boot the windows disk to install Windows
Try this:
Step 1: Make sure you have your Windows XP disk. I personally delete everything I don’t need, and uninstall all programs that I don’t use. I then make a list of all the programs I still have installed and download all the installers I will need. Also download Spybot Search and Destroy and Ad-Aware but do not install them. I then backup all my important data and all the installers onto a portable hard drive – if you don’t have one you can build one (see HERE how to build your own external hard drive cheaply) or you can use DVD’s or CD’s. Make sure you have everything backed up and then disconnect the portable hard drive.
Step 2: Insert your windows disk into the Master CD drive (if you have more than one) and turn the computer off. Make sure you are disconnected from any networks. You will need to have your cd drive selected as your first boot device. If it not already selected, you will need to go into your bios and set the boot priority to cd/hdd, then with your Windows cd in your cd drive, save and exit bios.
Step 3: Turn on your computer. A screen will come up saying “Press any key to boot from disk”. Press any key (where’s the “Any” key gone?!). Now wait about 10seconds for the setup utility to be loaded. When asked if you want to set up or repair, hit Enter to set up Windows. Read the license agreement and hit F8 if you agree. If the setup program detects an existing installation of Windows and asks if you want to repair it, hit Esc to skip the repair. The setup program will ask you where to install Windows. Highlight the existing "C: Partition1" partition and hit D to delete it. Hit L to confirm. Next, hit Enter to install Windows on the "Unpartitioned Space". Format the space as NTFS - You will get an option to choose full or quik format. My experience is that quick format is for disk that have previously formatted. If the disk has not been formatted, then you will have to use the standard format option. Usually you will get a popup message "This disk can not be quick formatted" or something along that line. Then continue the installation. Please note: During the installation process, your computer will reboot. You will then see a message to press any key to boot from cd. Do not press any key a second time, otherwise the installation will start from scatch again. Complete the next several screens on the setup process and make sure you do not leave the administrator password blank. After following these steps, setup should be complete.
Step 4: Firstly you should install your antivirus software, Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware. Also enable the windows firewall by going to Start>Control Panel>Network and Internet Connections>Network Connections (icon on the bottom-right)>Right-click the Local Area Connection>Properties>Advanced tab>Check the box next to "Protect my computer and network...">OK. After this has been done, install all updates from the Microsoft website (including windows XP service Pack 2). Then install all drivers from your motherboard utilities CD. Now it is time to install your programs.
Sorry to be so long responding. Many age-related health problems. I have tried to format the main hard disk. Windows will not let me do this. Neither will it let me instal an alternative lesser level of Windows 7, I did manage to remove all the programs on the main drive, but, to my amazement, Windows still booted up. AND I found Windows 7 twice on the Boot option screen (Together with UBUNTU.
What I think I need; is a program that will let me format both hard drives and then re-instal window7. Any suggestions welcome. Thanks to all so far. I will read all the help and see where I land up.
Frank
(Perseverance pays.)
I HOPE!
Incidentally, Doing a system restore gave me a surprise response.
"NOT ENOUGH SPACE ON ANY DRIVE TO RESTORE.
I have two 1.5 terrabyte drives with only Windows7 installed.
I've never tried a full restore point before, but I'd expect that it *must* be on the C drive since much of the restoration process has to happen after a boot, and it can only guarantee that the C partition is available. Are you sure you have the diskspace available on the C partition in order to restore it (I'd expect it needs 2x times the space, and probably about 500MB extra)?
Machines with restore partitions on it should have a boot option available that allows you to choose an install with the restore partition. Last one I did was my aunt's, and it had the option on the startup splash screen. If you don't see it during boot, you may want to enter the bios (try F2 during boot, sometimes its delete or any other key :/), and switch the bootup options to disable the quiet boot.
With another aunt's HP notebooks, when I opened them up and found now installation media for windows (wasn't surprised), I called HP and they mailed me the disks.
I've never tried a full restore point before, but I'd expect that it *must* be on the C drive since much of the restoration process has to happen after a boot, and it can only guarantee that the C partition is available. Are you sure you have the diskspace available on the C partition in order to restore it (I'd expect it needs 2x times the space, and probably about 500MB extra)?
Machines with restore partitions on it should have a boot option available that allows you to choose an install with the restore partition. Last one I did was my aunt's, and it had the option on the startup splash screen. If you don't see it during boot, you may want to enter the bios (try F2 during boot, sometimes its delete or any other key :/), and switch the bootup options to disable the quiet boot.
With another aunt's HP notebooks, when I opened them up and found now installation media for windows (wasn't surprised), I called HP and they mailed me the disks.
I have spent days trying to resolve this. I have made one decision; in future, NO instalation disk - NO SALE.Does anybody know of a free Format/Paretition program.?
I have spent days trying to resolve this. I have made one decision; in future, NO instalation disk - NO SALE.Does anybody know of a free Format/Paretition program.?
Before you post, read our: 
How can I format my Windows hard drive?
