Windows 7: Cannot delete old system partition.

Hi,

I have a problem with deleting an old system partition.
I have WinXP installed on C: and Windows 7 installed on D:. As you can see in the attached image, C: is marked as a system partition but in fact I'd like to delete it and leave only D: with Windows 7 on it. However I can't delete it because it says it's a system partition soooo... how do I do this? Is setting the C: as inactive in command prompt (and D: as active) enough? Or can I just merge these 2 partition into one? I tried EaseUS but it says that boot or system partitions cannot be modified/merged.

Help much appreciated!

I believe you will have to mark the C partition as inactive, before you can delete it, Then create a new volume and use it as data drive.

Windows 7 will not boot if you delete XP, until you have marked D Active to run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times and it starts up with the System Active flags on D. However you must first convert D to Primary using Partition Wizard CD before it will accept the Active flag:
How to set partition as Primary or Logical.
How to Set Active/Inactive partition -Partition Wizard Video Help.

However since you've incorrectly installed Windows 7 from C instead of from booted installer, I suggest you do it over so that it sees itself as C as it always does when correctly installed from boot. Clean Install Windows 7

You've also got a Dynamic data disk which is only meant for partitions that span multiple HD's, so afterwards I'd convert it to Basic using the last version of free Partition Wizard bootable CD that offers this option for free: pw422.zip ISO - Windows Live.

Download the ISO, rightclick to Open with Windows Image Burner, burn to CD, boot CD, click on Dynamic HD, from Disk tab select Convert to Basic, click OK and Apply.

You can then Resize D into deleted C space if you've decided to keep D and already moved the System boot files there and deleted C. Partition Wizard Move/Resize Partition Video Help. This PW CD can also be used to delete XP and mark D Primary and Active.

Most likely, the Windows 7 boot files are in the XP partition -- so if you delete that, you will lose the ability to boot into Windows 7.

However, one way to fix that is to download and install EasyBCD from NeoSmart Technologies. That has a menu option that will allow you to "move" the Windows 7 boot loader files into the Wint partition.

The boot files are on the XP partition as signified by the System flag on C in the screenshot.

He is booted into Windows 7 as signified by the Boot flag on D.

The choice is to reinstall to put Windows 7 on C since it was installed incorrectly from C locking out that drive letter, or to move the System boot files to D as given earlier.

Okay, so I tried what braddersz recommended first and I guess I messed everything up :x
I marked C: as inactive and D: as active and now I get the message "Reboot or select proper boot device" and I am wondering what did I do wrong. I didn't delete the C: partition but it disappeared for a while in 'Computer' view and after rebooting it was there again, now I get the mentioned message.

edit: I repaired it with the Startup Repair, moved boot files onto D: and finally I was able to delete the C: partition... and now there is a problem with booting again. I'm doing the Startup Repair again, several times and I still can't boot into Win 7.

Also, in Command Prompt D: is listed twice. And in the Diagnosis and repair details it's written : The partition table does ot have a valid System Partition. Ugh :< + I cannot mark D: as active.

Why did you come here for help and then just blithely ignore detailed steps I took the time to write out for you?

Before D will accept the Active flag if must be converted from Logical to Primary using the Partition Wizard boot disk provided. Then mark it Active and run 3 separate Startup Repairs to correctly write the System Boot files to D so it will boot.

I also gave you steps to convert the Dynamic disk to Basic using PW CD, and resize D into the deleted space from C. Do you plan to ignore that advice too?

I must appoligies, I did not read your current post properly when responding. I assumed Partition C did not contain an OS, I thought it was DATA.

Well, I am sorry but I did not ignore your answer. I saw the first answer to my problem and decided to give it a try and I saw your post after I messed up everything. But thanks to your advice I managed to repair everything using PW and according to the steps given and now everything works fine. Thank you very much, problem solved.

It's okay