[Jamesislearning]

How do I format my hdd so that I can install an upgraded version of OEM windows 7?

As most of you will know, windows 7 retail version is no longer available anywhere.
I have 32 GB of ram in my PC, and don't want to update to windows 8.
Windows home premium only supports up to 16 GB of ram, so I need to update to professional.

However only OEM versions of windows are currently available to purchase, and I've been told I will need to 'format my hdd' for a fresh install of an OS.

How would I go about this without losing everything, and correctly installing win 7 pro?

I basically just want to update my OS from home premium to professional with an OEM disk.

Thanks in advance

[Jamesislearning]

I've already purchased an OEM version
so it'd feel like I f****d up if I did that.

[Aura]

Launch the Windows 7 installation, when it ask you to select where you want to install your Windows, select your main partition (that should have the old Windows on it), select "Advanced Options" and click on the little red/pink eraser icon "Format". Wait for the operation to complete then proceed with the installation. Easiest way to do that.

[Wirt]

What you could do is get another HDD, install Windows 7 Pro on that new HDD, then copy over the files you want to the new one.

Alternatively if you have a good amount of space, you could partition your HDD and install a clean copy on the partitioned portion of the HDD, then get all the files you want from your Windows 7 Premium part of the HDD and put it on the Pro portion.

Launch the Windows 7 installation, when it ask you to select where you want to install your Windows, select your main partition (that should have the old Windows on it), select "Advanced Options" and click on the little red/pink eraser icon "Format". Wait for the operation to complete then proceed with the installation. Easiest way to do that.

He doesn't want to delete any of his files.

[Jamesislearning]

I did think that's how I could do it, but after emailing the person that I bought the OEM off, he said this

"It will just mess things up. You need to back up your files, format your HDD first, then install this item."

which makes me think i'll need to format prior to me putting the disk in my machine

[Wirt]

I did think that's how I could do it, but after emailing the person that I bought the OEM off, he said this

"It will just mess things up. You need to back up your files, format your HDD first, then install this item."

which makes me think i'll need to format prior to me putting the disk in my machine

Just curious.. who is this person? Is he a like Geeksquad person, or a local sales rep.. or just your friend?

[Aura]

I did think that's how I could do it, but after emailing the person that I bought the OEM off, he said this

"It will just mess things up. You need to back up your files, format your HDD first, then install this item."

which makes me think i'll need to format prior to me putting the disk in my machine

I don,t think this person really knows what he's talking about.
What you can do is to back up all your files on an external HDD and then transfer them on the new Windows installation. OR, create a new partition on your HDD and put ALL your files in it (not programs, files). Then proceed to install Windows, format the partition containing the Windows installation and then once it's done, retransfer all the files on the Windows partition, delete the other partition and expend your new main partition.

[Jamesislearning]

He doesn't want to delete any of his files.

could I not just put the files into an external hard drive, and put the back on the PC post installation?

I have an 150gb SSD which is where my OS is currently installed

And a regular 1tb hdd which has no OS installed on it, but large files such as movies.

---

Just curious.. who is this person? Is he a like Geeksquad person, or a local sales rep.. or just your friend?

aclass-software-products aclass-software-products (ebay software seller)

[Wirt]

could I not just put the files into an external hard drive, and put the back on the PC post installation?

I have an 150gb SSD which is where my OS is currently installed

And a regular 1tb hdd which has no OS installed on it, but large files such as movies.

---

aclass-software-products aclass-software-products (ebay software seller)

If you have an external hard-drive that was be another option, but if you don't have one I don't recommend going out and wasting your money on it just for this.

[Aura]

could I not just put the files into an external hard drive, and put the back on the PC post installation?

I have an 150gb SSD which is where my OS is currently installed

And a regular 1tb hdd which has no OS installed on it, but large files such as movies.

---

aclass-software-products aclass-software-products (ebay software seller)

Don't listen to that guy then.
Also, yes a regular 1TB HDD is enough to backup all your files if needed. Like I said in my precedent post, back up all your files you want to keep on it then proceed with the installation Format option.

[purplefag]

You dont need to format the hard drive at all, you can just a copy of windows pro over your current installation. Only format if you really need to. When you pop your disk in select the partition where your current windows install resides, and you will get a message saying that there is already an installation there, with system files etc. Just select that you are ok with overwriting them, and proceed with the install. Once finished you should have a fresh copy of Win 7 pro, along with all of your stuff in a separate folder on the same hard drive called windows.old or something like that.

You will need to re-install your old programs again, but you wont lose any data from the hard drive.

Hope this helps :)

PF

[Jamesislearning]

If you have an external hard-drive that was be another option, but if you don't have one I don't recommend going out and wasting your money on it just for this.

I have an external HDD that is available for me to use.

So i'll be able to format the HDD upon putting the disk into the PC?
i'm just worried, as the guy that sold me it said OEM versions are for installing onto PC's without OS on them.

So I don't know if that feature would come with the disk?

(i'm really not great with PC's if i'm honest)

[Aura]

You dont need to format the hard drive at all, you can just a copy of windows pro over your current installation. Only format if you really need to. When you pop your disk in select the partition where your current windows install resides, and you will get a message saying that there is already an installation there, with system files etc. Just select that you are ok with overwriting them, and proceed with the install. Once finished you should have a fresh copy of Win 7 pro, along with all of your stuff in a separate folder on the same hard drive called windows.old or something like that.

You will need to re-install your old programs again, but you wont lose any data from the hard drive.

Hope this helps :)

PF

Formatting the partition before will not leave a Windows.old folder behind, which would take up useless space on the HDD, so might as well format it. Also, this operation takes what, 5 minutes, not even ?

I have an external HDD that is available for me to use.

So i'll be able to format the HDD upon putting the disk into the PC?
i'm just worried, as the guy that sold me it said OEM versions are for installing onto PC's without OS on them.

So I don't know if that feature would come with the disk?

(i'm really not great with PC's if i'm honest)

This feature comes with every Windows 7 installation so yes you'll be able to do it.
Do you want me to link you my tutorial on how to install Windows 7 ? I have a good part of this tutorial dedicated to formatting the partition during the installation.

[Jamesislearning]

Formatting the partition before will not leave a Windows.old folder behind, which would take up useless space on the HDD, so might as well format it. Also, this operation takes what, 5 minutes, not even ?

This feature comes with every Windows 7 installation so yes you'll be able to do it.
Do you want me to link you my tutorial on how to install Windows 7 ? I have a good part of this tutorial dedicated to formatting the partition during the installation.

That would be incredibly helpful :D

[Aura]

That would be incredibly helpful :D

Here's the tutorial :

https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=3988261

Go to the second part which is the Windows installation. Also, feel free to ask in this thread for help/questions if you ever have a problem during the installation.