First partition is 100MB and is described as the OEM partition,
This contains the boot files for Windows and will be created automatically for Windows regardless of the media (OEM vs Retail, etc.). In a clean install, this can/should be deleted (although it will be created again as part of the install).
second partition is 9.77GB and is described as Recovery partition,active primary partition,
This partition contains the factory image used to restore your computer to factory condition. If you wish to do a clean install from disc (which I also prefer), then it can be deleted.
third partition is 58.59GB, OS (C:) (Boot, Page File, Crash Dump, Primary Partition),
Obviously, this is your C: drive which holds your OS and programs (and probably your personal folders).
fourth partition is 397.3GB (D:).
This is often called a data partition ... it allows you to store data on one drive, so that if you ever need to reinstall the OS, then you can reinstall the OS to the C: partition and have all your data there waiting for you on the data partition, untouched.
If you are doing a clean install and have nothing important installed on your D: drive, then you can simply delete all partitions and let Windows partition automatically (will create a 100MB System Reserved (same as the OEM partition) and the rest - 465GB - as the C: partition. You can delete all partitions during the Windows 7 install ... when you boot to the Windows 7 DVD and it asks where you want to install to, select Disk Options and Delete the appropriate partitions (you do not need to create partitions, unless you want specific sizes, as they will be created automatically).
No. If you have a blank 500GB (465GB usable) disk and do a default clean install, WIndows will create the following partitions:
- 100 MB System/OEM Reserved - 464.9GB Local Disk (C:)
Do you want to keep the existing D: drive? Do you want to keep "a" D: drive (not necessarily the size and contents of the existing D: drive)? What do you want to try and do, and I'll tell you how to do it.
Well itv would be nice to keep the d; drive but that is just lazyness as I have backed up that drive but whatever it does make sense to have a D: drive for the data.
There is little point in keeping any OEM recovery partition because the internal restore to factory settings will no longer work after manual installation and to be honest factory settings are likely awful in comparison to a clean install anyway. If you have a data partition already and want to keep it then don't format it or make any changes to it.
Note you may have a small diagnostics partition, its useful to keep but not mandatory as you can always create a bootable diagnostics USB or DVD if needed. There is a section on the reinstall guide which explains how to do this.
theflash1932
9 Legend
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16.3K Posts
1
February 12th, 2013 09:00
First partition is 100MB and is described as the OEM partition,
This contains the boot files for Windows and will be created automatically for Windows regardless of the media (OEM vs Retail, etc.). In a clean install, this can/should be deleted (although it will be created again as part of the install).
second partition is 9.77GB and is described as Recovery partition,active primary partition,
This partition contains the factory image used to restore your computer to factory condition. If you wish to do a clean install from disc (which I also prefer), then it can be deleted.
third partition is 58.59GB, OS (C:) (Boot, Page File, Crash Dump, Primary Partition),
Obviously, this is your C: drive which holds your OS and programs (and probably your personal folders).
fourth partition is 397.3GB (D:).
This is often called a data partition ... it allows you to store data on one drive, so that if you ever need to reinstall the OS, then you can reinstall the OS to the C: partition and have all your data there waiting for you on the data partition, untouched.
If you are doing a clean install and have nothing important installed on your D: drive, then you can simply delete all partitions and let Windows partition automatically (will create a 100MB System Reserved (same as the OEM partition) and the rest - 465GB - as the C: partition. You can delete all partitions during the Windows 7 install ... when you boot to the Windows 7 DVD and it asks where you want to install to, select Disk Options and Delete the appropriate partitions (you do not need to create partitions, unless you want specific sizes, as they will be created automatically).
Pete111
8 Posts
0
February 12th, 2013 10:00
One last question will windows 7 create the d: drive?
theflash1932
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16.3K Posts
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February 12th, 2013 10:00
No. If you have a blank 500GB (465GB usable) disk and do a default clean install, WIndows will create the following partitions:
- 100 MB System/OEM Reserved
- 464.9GB Local Disk (C:)
Do you want to keep the existing D: drive? Do you want to keep "a" D: drive (not necessarily the size and contents of the existing D: drive)? What do you want to try and do, and I'll tell you how to do it.
Pete111
8 Posts
0
February 13th, 2013 09:00
Well itv would be nice to keep the d; drive but that is just lazyness as I have backed up that drive but whatever it does make sense to have a D: drive for the data.
theflash1932
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16.3K Posts
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February 13th, 2013 09:00
Well, you can keep D: ... it will look something like this when you boot to your Windows disc to do the install:
- 100MB OEM Reserved
- 9.8GB RECOVERY
- 58.6GB OS C:
- 397GB DATA D:
So, you will just delete all of them EXCEPT for D:, which will then look like this:
- 68.5GB Unallocated Space
- 397GB DATA D:
Then, you just choose the Unallocated Space and hit Install. When Windows is installed, you will end up with this:
- 100MB OEM Reserved*
- 68.4GB OS C:
- 397GB DATA D:
* may say System reserved, depending on the installation media you use ... Dell media will read 'OEM', Retail Microsoft media will read 'System'
Pete111
8 Posts
0
February 13th, 2013 12:00
Many thanks. Will let you know how I get on.
Philip_Yip
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16.1K Posts
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February 17th, 2013 21:00
You can set up the partitions any way you want during the install... See A Clean Install of Windows 7 for more details on installing Windows 7:
http://philipyip.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/windows-reinstallation-guide-02-02-2013.pdf
There is little point in keeping any OEM recovery partition because the internal restore to factory settings will no longer work after manual installation and to be honest factory settings are likely awful in comparison to a clean install anyway. If you have a data partition already and want to keep it then don't format it or make any changes to it.
Note you may have a small diagnostics partition, its useful to keep but not mandatory as you can always create a bootable diagnostics USB or DVD if needed. There is a section on the reinstall guide which explains how to do this.