Billie Henderson asks:
I have 2 computers I’d like to wipe the hard drive on. I have moved everything to an external drive and would like to make them ‘new’. Every answer has to reinstall Windows using the disk, but one of the computers doesn’t even have a CD drawer! So how do I reinstall Windows?
24 Answers -
Bruce Epper
October 17, 2012For the computer that doesn’t have an optical drive, you will need to create a bootable USB drive to do the installation. You can use the Windows 7 USB/DVD tool to create a bootable USB device for the install.
Its the only method I like… Yes… I have separately kept a pendrive for this and this is the best method above using DVD or CDs. File copying is very fast the only time it takes is just for the installation…
October 17, 2012Manuel Guillermo López Buenfil
October 17, 2012You can use an USB flash drive instead of a CD.
To do that, you will need to create a USB drive with the contents that would usually go on the CD.
To do that, you can follow the following guide (doesn’t need any extra software):
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/usb-installation-disk-windows-7-extra-software/
A fast Google search turned up another (easier) guide which uses a program to create a bootable USB drive:
http://arstechnica.com/business/2009/12/the-usb-flash-drive/
You will also need to set your BIOS to start from that USB drive. That can be set in Boot options (or Boot Order, or something like that), and then choosing your USB drive to take priority. Don’t forget to set it back to normal after you finish.
Adrian Rea
October 17, 2012Depending on the make, many have a partition containing the install files which an install disc can launch. Which computers are they? make/model
I agree with agree with the first 2 answers but if this recovery partition is available it is the most hassle free. The easiest way to check is by going to my computer and check if there is more than one hard disk listed. It is usually named recovery or something similar. If this partition is available you can type “how to re-install windows on (make/model) using recovery partition?” on google and a guide should be one of the first few links listed. This process usually involves holding a button like F10 or F12 during boot but varies for different PC’s. Have a good night everyone
October 17, 2012Deekshith Allamaneni
October 17, 2012Use CloneZilla(clonezilla.org) to clone your hard disk. You can install it as it is again.
Not sure how that would help, since the whole point is to “clean” the hard drive. Simply cloning the existing one would achieve absolutely nothing.
October 17, 2012Agreed
October 17, 2012keeping a bootable usb for windows is the best way I see in this case.. He needs to collect or buy a copy for this… It seems it is the only way here…
October 17, 2012Jonas Nordgren
October 17, 2012i personally just did this my self, i used the win7 usb tool to create a usb, booted from it. after i installed it though i had no drivers so make sure you have at the very least the drivers you need for connecting to a network, ethernet or wifi. you well also probably need to reactivate windows so dont forget your product keys
good luck
ha14
October 17, 2012perhaps to remove the hard drive from the pc that do not have CD drawer and put it in the one that has CD drawer and to install Windows there, then switch back to its original place. You can activate windows later.
Lets hope its not a laptop
then a USB drive would be needed 
October 17, 2012You can’t simply do that. They are different systems. If you take out the said hard drive and put it back to the one without CD, I doubt if it will even boot. Good luck trying.
October 18, 2012Dimal Chandrasiri
October 17, 2012use a USB to boot.. a 8GB usb would be enough and the internet has lots of guides to do that, but the case is, your pc must support USB booting. or else you must have to find a DVD drive to do this! there is no any other solution.
Ahmed Khalil
October 17, 2012USB flash is the best solution, but if your PC is connected to a network so you can install it through the network
Chew Jian Yue
October 17, 2012Easy. You can create a bootable USB disk. Using the windows tool here : http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool . Read this : http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-create-bootable-windows-7-vista-or-xp-usb-flashpen-drive-with-a-single-click-must-try/
Harry Barnes
October 17, 2012create a bootable usb stick with windows on it, the o into the bios and select usb stick as the first boot option. then just turn on the computer with the usb stick in it and you should have the option to reinstall windows
Justin Pot
October 17, 2012Bootalbe USB disk is a great option, as is a USB CD drive if you can’t get that working. Remember, though: you still need a product key to install Windows legally.
Harshit Jain
October 17, 2012Making a bootable usb drive is the way to go. I would give a VERY USEFUL suggestion to you. After you have installed the windows and loaded it with your favourite programs then please make an image of the partition in which your windows is installed. It will help you to save lots of time in future when you wish to have a fast pc againg
Source: Personal Experience
Nathan Labbe
October 17, 2012I have had success using external disc drives with computers that have to internal drives
Irshaad Abdool
October 17, 2012create a bootable usbdrive with the windows iso file on it. then boot from the usbdrive and install the os
Jim Chambers
October 18, 2012Once you create bootable Windows 7/8 USB drive copy some essential drivers such as Chipset Driver to the Updates folder. You might also add your favourite anti-virus installer + updated definitions
Saurabh Banwaskar
October 18, 2012Use Bootable USB Drive(Flash Drive)
josemon maliakal
October 18, 2012you can use a usb installation …
Boni Oloff
October 18, 2012You can install windows via USB Flash Drive,
Alex Figueiredo
October 18, 2012theres 2 options, use a usb bootable device like a pendrive or buy a usb cd drive (witch isnt expensive at all and can be a life saver)
dhanunjayarao chunduri
October 20, 2012you can use the usb device for that system you can use the windows7 usb/dvd tool.
Siddhant Chaurasia
October 22, 2012i dont think there is any other way
Nikhil Gupta
October 25, 2012pls download from utorrent and make usb of that windows ….
James West
October 30, 2012most pre-built computers have a recovery partition on them. Look in the computers user manual and look into how to reinstall OS
Aniket Singh
November 3, 2012u can install win 7 without using disk…..u can use pendrive…..but u have to make it bootable…u cxan gat best info form this blog..
http://techexplanation.blogspot.in/2012/03/how-to-make-bootable-usb-drive-for.html#.UJTGJ2_Mh4w