I'm trying to install Windows 7 on a FRIEND's PC, but when I get to the part where it asks me where I want to intall it, it lists three partitions. One is approximately 1/3 of the entire HD capacity and says it can't be used because it was reserved by the manufacturer (OEM). The second one is only 47GB and is available, and the last one is not formated and won't allow me to use it. I know when I used to install XP it would give me the option to delete partitions and start over from scratch. Is there a WAY to do that with Windows 7?If you really want to DUMP it you can create a boot disk or bootable CD with delpart and it will wipe ALL partitions no matter what type. There is no protection using delpart, no blocks! I created a Bootable CD with Delpart on it for this very purpose about 6 years ago. Created a bootable floppy and added delpart to it and then used Easy CD Creator 5 to copy the image of the Floppy Disk to CD, so the CD boots and acts like a Read-Only Floppy with Delpart fully functional.

Also, another method you can try is create an Ubuntu CD and perform a partial install, where you go thru the process of deleting existing partitions, and then bail out at that point in which partitions have been dumped. Then try to install Windows 7 and the drive should appear partitionless!

Make sure you are installing via CD or DVD Rom and not off of the restore partition for Windows 7. If you blow away your restore partition its gone and you'd be HURTING!I ended up having to install WinXP first, which allowed me to remove the partitions since I was able to boot from the CD. For some reason my Win7 disc wasn't booting from the disc. After finishing that install, I was able to install Win7 over it.