Edit: Problem 1 solved. New question in post #5


Got a new PC Laptop a couple days ago.

I want to go back to an "out of the box" configuration - no partitions, no user data, no user added/changed settings.

How do you do that in Windows7?


Basically, I want to wipe the thing clean and start over.


Oh, btw, @ Microsoft, Bill Gates and Microsoft Windows.

 

Did it come with a recovery disc? if it didn't there is usually a recovery in one of the partitions. You can access it by hitting F8 and choose it from the menu.

 

You should be able to boot to the recovery partition and create a recovery disc. Depending on what type of laptop it is, it may have this feature in the OS itself. some Toshibas for example have a recovery program that lets you create a recovery disc from the start menu. But Im betting you'll have to hit F8, boot to the recovery partition, create a recovery disc, and then boot to it (F12).

 

Yes, I did a 'recovery', but it didn't remove the HD partition(s).

I found the feature I needed though under the Admin Tools.

 

Ok, so for a home based PC with 2 primary users, what is the best strategy as far as partitions and user accounts?

No gaming, just general document and/or internet use.

One user will want an alternative language input/use set up.

 

I don't really see why you would need more than one partition. Just make 2 separate user accounts and call it a day.

 

I don't think there's a need for multiple partitions. For the alternative user language profile, you should be able to go into regional and language> keyboards and languages and change the default language on the second profile.

 

Just make 2 accounts...No need for partitions...

 

So why on the very first boot up out-of-the-box did it Suggest/Recommend creating a second partition?

 

For data recovery purposes...They want a separate partition for backups...

 

How big is the drive?

 

Myself personally I back up to a separate drive...I am not a fan of holding the OS and backups on the same physical device...

 

There was a "recovery" drive already setup.



Not too big - 500GB.

 

They will recommend setting up a secondary partition to store user data and have the OS on its own partition...And if there isnt a recovery partition it will recommend that as well...I didn't realize you already have one...

 

what manufacturer is this, just for reference?

but yeah, simply adding another user within Windows is fine. You can control quotas for each user folder.

partitioning up your drive doesnt really help, it's not like the data is safer in one partition vs. the other in case of hardware failure, and you lose flexibility in managing your hard drive space. One gripe I have with companies that ship without physical recovery media and rely on the recovery partition.

 

Well, this is what it said or what I thought to do - put the user data on it's own partition. BUT I couldn't figure out how to get Windows7 to put MyDocuments anywhere but C:\.

So I had this space partitioned off for user documents, etc. and Windows wanted to put everything on the wrong drive anyhow. Hence the original questions.





Samsung.

http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/l...NP300E5A-A02UB

 

This may help ya

http://headstrongfarm.hubpages.com/h...g_My_Documents

 

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...-location.html

edit: ninjaed lol.

 

I have my OS and program files on my SSD drive and all my media on a separate 1TB drive.
Then just moved location the user folders to point at the data drive instead of the C drive.

 

Thats the point with a SSD though...I am maybe reaching here but I am assuming at 500GB the OP is talking about a SATA 2.5 drive...