Drive format question.

tjohn · 12-20-09, 04:51 PM

Hey, I have a laptop (1 hard drive) with dual boot Vista/Win7. Originally I had Vista, then I did a shrink volume and split my hard drive in half and installed Win7 on the shrunk volume. Now I want to dump Vista and just use Win7. How do I get rid of the Vista volume? From Win7 windows explorer, choose the Vista drive letter and format?

Thanks, TJ

Bman212121 · 12-20-09, 05:02 PM

No!

I'm not 100% sure about Vista / Win7 with the new boot manager, but if you did that you might delete the boot files causing neither one to work.

I think if you're loaded into windows 7 what you can do is delete the Vista partition, then extend your windows 7 partition. Once that is complete you'll need to reboot the system and boot from your Windows 7 disc. Then you'll run a boot repair to reload the boot manager. (Not sure what it's called) Then you should be able to boot back into windows 7.

The main thing is that you'll need to have the Windows 7 dvd handy to get rid of the Vista partition. If you do then you should be okay, just make sure to backup data before attempting to extend the partition.

tjohn · 12-20-09, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bman212121

No!

I'm not 100% sure about Vista / Win7 with the new boot manager, but if you did that you might delete the boot files causing neither one to work.

I think if you're loaded into windows 7 what you can do is delete the Vista partition, then extend your windows 7 partition. Once that is complete you'll need to reboot the system and boot from your Windows 7 disc. Then you'll run a boot repair to reload the boot manager. (Not sure what it's called) Then you should be able to boot back into windows 7.

The main thing is that you'll need to have the Windows 7 dvd handy to get rid of the Vista partition. If you do then you should be okay, just make sure to backup data before attempting to extend the partition.

I don't see a delete partition option from Win7. I tried disk management and explorer.

tjohn · 12-20-09, 05:31 PM

I might try just popping in the Win7 disk and seeing what comes up... maybe an option to delete partitions??

FlakMagnet · 12-21-09, 05:32 AM

Before doing any of that, I highly recommend you image your drive! If you have something like Acronis True Image, backup onto an external drive then tinker to your heart's content.

Otherwise, you could end up having to reinstall Window 7.

12-21-09, 06:33 AM

Windows 7 already has an imaging tool. Go into the maintenance folder then check out backup and restore.

**K007** · 12-21-09, 06:59 AM

i gave up after awhile.

if ure MBR is installed on the vista partition u cant just format the vista partition. if u go to computer management, and disk management, find where ure system partition is, if its on the same drive as vista...gl.

tjohn · 12-21-09, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K007

i gave up after awhile.

if ure MBR is installed on the vista partition u cant just format the vista partition. if u go to computer management, and disk management, find where ure system partition is, if its on the same drive as vista...gl.

Looks like it Vista / system partion

Boston · 12-21-09, 07:24 PM

Restoring the MBR and boot manager of Windows7 should be no problem. I only did it in XP though, where you booted with the setup disc for the recovery mode.
I have a 100MB partition for the boot manager I guess, so I'd make sure Windows7 has some space for this on the disc.

tjohn · 12-21-09, 07:35 PM

Well I can always just re install win7. Nothing much on the machine but emails. I'll give the win7 disk a go.

**K007** · 12-22-09, 02:14 AM

its different to xp, vista and w7 is a bit different.

i looked around and u kno after awhile i just gave up, its way too easy to **** it up and i really dont have the time to mess around with it.

I wonder what the other people who had Vista / W7 dual did...

my one attempt i formated the drive from w7 installation, then reboot and it said no boot record...so i had to boot to disc and hit repair and lucky it reparied the mbr, but again it installed the mbr the vista partition...

hmm i guess one thing is format it, then disable the ex-vista hdd, then repair, then replug it...i guess it will have to repair to the w7 partition the mbr..

Boston · 12-22-09, 06:04 AM

I just successfully moved my system-partition to the beginning (after the 100MB) since I wanted to get rid of the D: partition (see my attached screenshot earlier). I only had to delete d: and move the left 'border' of c: to the beginning.

I used the free Business version of Partitionwizard (didn't try Home). It works very well and you just have to register in order to use it. The mail with the key arrived within minutes.

http://www.partitionwizard.com/

If it sounds like advertisement - well I almost gave up looking for a free application that works.

12-20-09, 04:51 PM	#1
tjohn Paleo Pennsylvania Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 721	Drive format question. Hey, I have a laptop (1 hard drive) with dual boot Vista/Win7. Originally I had Vista, then I did a shrink volume and split my hard drive in half and installed Win7 on the shrunk volume. Now I want to dump Vista and just use Win7. How do I get rid of the Vista volume? From Win7 windows explorer, choose the Vista drive letter and format? Thanks, TJ __________________ Main Rig == ASRock Z68 Pro Gen3 \| I7 2600K @ 4.6 \| G.Skill Ripjaws 16 GB \| CMV8 Cooler \| Crucial C300 RealSSD 128GB \| EVGA 570GTX \| CM HAFX \| Win7 x64 HTPC == Gigabyte GA-MA785GMT \| AMD X2 240 Regor \| A-DATA 2X4 PC3 10600 \| WD 1TB \| LG Blue-Ray \| Corsair 400W PSU \| Lian Li PC-C37B \| Win7 x64 Home Server == Gigabyte GA-MA785GM \| AMD Sempron 2.7GHz 45W \| G.SKILL 2X1 DDR2 667 \| WD GRN 1 TB x3 \| Seasonic 380W 80+ Bronze \| Antec 300 case \| Windows Home Server Toshiba U405-S2830 Laptop \| 13.3" - 1200x800 \| C2D T8100 2.1 Penryn \| 4 GB DDR2 677 \| Wireless N \| Intel X3100 Vid \| 250GB HDD \| Win7 x64 HP dm3 Laptop \| 13.3" - 1366x768 \| AMD Athlon Neo X2 \| ATI Radeon HD 3200 \| 4GB DDR2 \| 320GB HDD \| Wireless N \| Bluetooth \| Windows 8 Developer Preview

12-20-09, 05:02 PM	#2
Bman212121 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,726	Re: Drive format question. No! I'm not 100% sure about Vista / Win7 with the new boot manager, but if you did that you might delete the boot files causing neither one to work. I think if you're loaded into windows 7 what you can do is delete the Vista partition, then extend your windows 7 partition. Once that is complete you'll need to reboot the system and boot from your Windows 7 disc. Then you'll run a boot repair to reload the boot manager. (Not sure what it's called) Then you should be able to boot back into windows 7. The main thing is that you'll need to have the Windows 7 dvd handy to get rid of the Vista partition. If you do then you should be okay, just make sure to backup data before attempting to extend the partition.

12-20-09, 05:31 PM	#4
tjohn Paleo Pennsylvania Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 721	Re: Drive format question. I might try just popping in the Win7 disk and seeing what comes up... maybe an option to delete partitions?? __________________ Main Rig == ASRock Z68 Pro Gen3 \| I7 2600K @ 4.6 \| G.Skill Ripjaws 16 GB \| CMV8 Cooler \| Crucial C300 RealSSD 128GB \| EVGA 570GTX \| CM HAFX \| Win7 x64 HTPC == Gigabyte GA-MA785GMT \| AMD X2 240 Regor \| A-DATA 2X4 PC3 10600 \| WD 1TB \| LG Blue-Ray \| Corsair 400W PSU \| Lian Li PC-C37B \| Win7 x64 Home Server == Gigabyte GA-MA785GM \| AMD Sempron 2.7GHz 45W \| G.SKILL 2X1 DDR2 667 \| WD GRN 1 TB x3 \| Seasonic 380W 80+ Bronze \| Antec 300 case \| Windows Home Server Toshiba U405-S2830 Laptop \| 13.3" - 1200x800 \| C2D T8100 2.1 Penryn \| 4 GB DDR2 677 \| Wireless N \| Intel X3100 Vid \| 250GB HDD \| Win7 x64 HP dm3 Laptop \| 13.3" - 1366x768 \| AMD Athlon Neo X2 \| ATI Radeon HD 3200 \| 4GB DDR2 \| 320GB HDD \| Wireless N \| Bluetooth \| Windows 8 Developer Preview

12-21-09, 05:32 AM	#5
FlakMagnet Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Farnborough, UK Posts: 335	Re: Drive format question. Before doing any of that, I highly recommend you image your drive! If you have something like Acronis True Image, backup onto an external drive then tinker to your heart's content. Otherwise, you could end up having to reinstall Window 7. __________________ ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 \| i7 920 @ 3.6GHz POV GTX480 \| 6GB Patriot DDR3 @1443 X-Fi Fatal1ty Pro \| 120GB OCZ Vertex SSD 2xSamsung 7200 750GB RAID 0\| Akasa Eclipse 62

12-21-09, 06:33 AM	#6
betterdan Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Drive format question. Windows 7 already has an imaging tool. Go into the maintenance folder then check out backup and restore.

12-21-09, 06:59 AM	#7
K007 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Australia, Sydney Posts: 9,405	Re: Drive format question. i gave up after awhile. if ure MBR is installed on the vista partition u cant just format the vista partition. if u go to computer management, and disk management, find where ure system partition is, if its on the same drive as vista...gl.

12-21-09, 07:24 PM	#9
Boston Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 13	Re: Drive format question. Restoring the MBR and boot manager of Windows7 should be no problem. I only did it in XP though, where you booted with the setup disc for the recovery mode. I have a 100MB partition for the boot manager I guess, so I'd make sure Windows7 has some space for this on the disc. Attached Thumbnails

12-21-09, 07:35 PM	#10
tjohn Paleo Pennsylvania Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 721	Re: Drive format question. Well I can always just re install win7. Nothing much on the machine but emails. I'll give the win7 disk a go. __________________ Main Rig == ASRock Z68 Pro Gen3 \| I7 2600K @ 4.6 \| G.Skill Ripjaws 16 GB \| CMV8 Cooler \| Crucial C300 RealSSD 128GB \| EVGA 570GTX \| CM HAFX \| Win7 x64 HTPC == Gigabyte GA-MA785GMT \| AMD X2 240 Regor \| A-DATA 2X4 PC3 10600 \| WD 1TB \| LG Blue-Ray \| Corsair 400W PSU \| Lian Li PC-C37B \| Win7 x64 Home Server == Gigabyte GA-MA785GM \| AMD Sempron 2.7GHz 45W \| G.SKILL 2X1 DDR2 667 \| WD GRN 1 TB x3 \| Seasonic 380W 80+ Bronze \| Antec 300 case \| Windows Home Server Toshiba U405-S2830 Laptop \| 13.3" - 1200x800 \| C2D T8100 2.1 Penryn \| 4 GB DDR2 677 \| Wireless N \| Intel X3100 Vid \| 250GB HDD \| Win7 x64 HP dm3 Laptop \| 13.3" - 1366x768 \| AMD Athlon Neo X2 \| ATI Radeon HD 3200 \| 4GB DDR2 \| 320GB HDD \| Wireless N \| Bluetooth \| Windows 8 Developer Preview

12-22-09, 02:14 AM	#11
K007 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Australia, Sydney Posts: 9,405	Re: Drive format question. its different to xp, vista and w7 is a bit different. i looked around and u kno after awhile i just gave up, its way too easy to **** it up and i really dont have the time to mess around with it. I wonder what the other people who had Vista / W7 dual did... my one attempt i formated the drive from w7 installation, then reboot and it said no boot record...so i had to boot to disc and hit repair and lucky it reparied the mbr, but again it installed the mbr the vista partition... hmm i guess one thing is format it, then disable the ex-vista hdd, then repair, then replug it...i guess it will have to repair to the w7 partition the mbr..

12-22-09, 06:04 AM	#12
Boston Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 13	Re: Drive format question. I just successfully moved my system-partition to the beginning (after the 100MB) since I wanted to get rid of the D: partition (see my attached screenshot earlier). I only had to delete d: and move the left 'border' of c: to the beginning. I used the free Business version of Partitionwizard (didn't try Home). It works very well and you just have to register in order to use it. The mail with the key arrived within minutes. http://www.partitionwizard.com/ If it sounds like advertisement - well I almost gave up looking for a free application that works. Attached Thumbnails