Windows 7 Formating Xp partition, using Windows 7

[Lakenz]

Hey guys,
I'm a novice with partitioning and formating etc, anyway I originally had Xp as my only OS, now I have windows 7 and Xp on dual boot. I want to format Xp off my disk, and I understand that the boot files located in the active boot (xp) will be lost, and I understand thats not good. So anyway I don't want to delete any files on windows 7 because they are important I just want to completely rid my system of Xp. I have opened disk management in windows 7 and it shows for Xp (D: ) that it is (System, Active, Primary Partition) and for windows 7 (C: ) it has (Boot, Page file, Crash Dump, Log) , And I also understand that I'm an idiot for putting windows 7 on an empty backup drive. But im sure that doesn't matter since windows 7 is working fine. Please help me put the Active on Windows 7 with the boot files. Thanks

 

[SIW2]

Hi lakenz,

Sorry I didn't see this thread earlier.

It is very simple.

In Disk Management mark the 7 partition Active.

Run startup repair from 7 dvd 3 times.

Boot into 7 - delete XP partition.

Should take only a few minutes.

 

[tblount]

In Disk Management mark the 7 partition Active.

Run startup repair from 7 dvd 3 times.
.

Where is the option to mark a partion active in Disk Managmer?


Why run 3 times?

 

[SIW2]

Rt click the partition and select Mark partition as active.

Startup repair can't fix everything at once. It needs to create bootmgr, the Boot folder, and the bcd store with correct entries. You might get away with fewer runs - 3 to be sure.

I would do it a quicker way - but this is easier for the OP.

 

[tblount]

Rt click the partition and select Mark partition as active.

Startup repair can't fix everything at once. It needs to create bootmgr, the Boot folder, and the bcd store with correct entries. You might get away with fewer runs - 3 to be sure.

I would do it a quicker way - but this is easier for the OP.

Finally I figured out that the "Mark partion as active" option was always greyed out because I was trying it on my cd rom drive. Duhhh.

Just for educational purposes, are these the only two commands you would run to do this manually:


bootsect /nt60 C:Bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd

The /RebuildBcd option scans all disks for installations that are compatible with Windows Vista or Windows 7. Additionally, this option lets you select the installations that you want to add to the BCD store. Use this option when you must completely rebuild the BCD.

Still doesn't tell me WHERE the bcd store will be built.... how would I make it use c: ?

 

[Lakenz]

Thanks for that SIW2
but when I right click the Win7 partition it does not have the mark partition as active in the list but the windows Xp one does but it is greyed out. Thanks for the help anyway, but I am going to go with the clean install, and completely format the disk.

Thanks guys, for the help,
Lakenz

 

[SIW2]

If there is no option to mark active - it either already is, or it is a logical drive.

I am interested to see - please post a screenshot of Disk amangement.

 

[Lakenz]

.

ok

Link Removed due to 404 Error

 

[SIW2]

Thanks,

Xp partition is already Active - 7 is on a logical drive, which by definition, can't be marked active. Slightly unusual arrangement.

Here's what I would do:

1. Rt click 7 logical drive and shrink it - make it smaller than the XP partition.

2. Boot partition Wizard cd - delete XP partition to create Unallocated space. Copy 7 partition into the Unallocated space making it a Primary partition. Mark the newly copied partition Active.

3. Boot 7 dvd and run startup repair 3 times.

4. Boot into the new 7 partition - (make sure it the new one - look in Disk Management and see if it says Boot on it) Delete the old 7 partition.

5. Type msconfig in start search - under the Boot Tab - highlight and delete the old entry.

Free Download Partition Wizard

Partition Wizard Bootable CD allows user to boot computer directly to manage partition.

 

[Lakenz]

Thanks, but I am going to Format the whole thing now instead, I think it will be easier and safer, I have backed up my files onto another computer and now I am just going to clean Install it, thank you for your time, although i am not using this method, someone else could If they have the same issue.

again thanks,
Lakenz

 

[SIW2]

LOL .

It is perfectly safe. Just follow the instructions. PW will warn you not to delete the XP partition - just go ahead - that is why you will run startup repair.

If you do it wrong - just reinstall, which is what you were going to do anyway.

Where is your sense of adventure?

BTW I have done this kind of thing multiple times - always works perfectly.