Help on formating Vista partition

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  1. Posts : 304
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #1

    Help on formating Vista partition


    When i upgraded from vista to 7, I installed 7 on a different partition to Vista. This made my computer a dual boot. When i realized that I didn't need Vista any more i removed it from the dual boot. But the vista partition still remains and i would like to format it so vista is completely gone of my computer. But is it safe (because it's labelled as system) and how do I do it?

    Windows 7 is on Drive D and Vista on Drive C. I want to format drive C.


    The last time I messed with my partitions i was complete idiot and accidently formated my whole Hard Drive.

    Thanks Simon
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Help on formating Vista partition-hardrive.png  
    Last edited by si8mon; 10 Apr 2010 at 21:43.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,170
    XP Pro SP3 X86 / Win7 Pro X86
       #2

    si8mon said:
    When i upgraded from vista to 7, I installed 7 on a different partition to Vista. This made my computer a dual boot. When i realized that I didn't need Vista any more i removed it from the dual boot. But the vista partition still remains and i would like to format it so vista is completely gone of my computer. But is it safe (because it's labelled as system) and how do I do it?

    Windows 7 is on Drive D and Vista on Drive C. I want to format drive C.


    The last time I messed with my partitions i was complete idiot and accidently formated my whole Hard Drive.

    Thanks Simon
    Hi Simon.... I'm sure the others will come up with a bunch of third party ways to do this and I'm even fairly sure they will work... But if you look at the way the partitions are sitting on your disk, the result will probably be less than optimal.

    Frankly, in your case I would recommend you do a clean install... in the part of the Win7 install where you select the partition to use, select the extra options and delete all partitions on your disk and make new ones... then install win7 from scratch.

    If you are using multiple partitions make a small one, about 50gb, first and use it to install the os. The rest of the disk can be one or more partitions to your liking.
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  3. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #3

    Currently your C contains the MBR. If you clean it up, you will not be able to boot Win7 any more.
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  4. Posts : 304
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    CommonTater said:

    Hi Simon.... I'm sure the others will come up with a bunch of third party ways to do this and I'm even fairly sure they will work... But if you look at the way the partitions are sitting on your disk, the result will probably be less than optimal.

    Frankly, in your case I would recommend you do a clean install... in the part of the Win7 install where you select the partition to use, select the extra options and delete all partitions on your disk and make new ones... then install win7 from scratch.

    If you are using multiple partitions make a small one, about 50gb, first and use it to install the os. The rest of the disk can be one or more partitions to your liking.
    Thanks for the quick reply. The problem for me isn't big enough for doing a clean install.

    whs said:
    Currently your C contains the MBR. If you clean it up, you will not be able to boot Win7 any more.
    Thanks Whs. Is there any way I can move the MBR to the D drive.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,506
    W7 Ult. x64 | OS X
       #5

    I believe there is, but you're much better off doing a clean install.

       Warning
    The following method was found online and has not been tested. It is a port of a method to remove Vista from a Vista/XP installation.


    1. Backup, backup, backup
    2. Reboot and Boot to your 7 DVD-ROM
    3. Start the Recovery Console
    4. Run fixmbr (bootrec /fixmbr)
    5. Run Fixboot (bootrec /fixboot)
    6. Exit the Recovery Console
    7. Reboot
    8. To remove the extra entry, edit the boot.ini file to remove the “Microsoft Windows Longhorn” entry.
    9. Format Your Vista Partition
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 304
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Yeah the only way to solve my problem is by doing a clean install. I will probably just let vista stay on my system then go through the hassle of a clean install.
      My Computer


  7. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #7

    si8mon said:
    Yeah the only way to solve my problem is by doing a clean install. I will probably just let vista stay on my system then go through the hassle of a clean install.
    Siw2 or Gregrocker know how to fix your MBR. Maybe you want to ask for their help via a PM. Unfortunately I am not 100% firm in the matter and would hate to give you bad advice.
      My Computer

  8.    #8

    Hi Si8mon-

    Not sure why this is in Hardware as we handle these issues every day in Install forum. I got your PM tho.

    What I would do is delete Vista and then recover both the System Active MBR and the preferred lower HD space back into Win7. To accomplish this you must first convert the WIn7 partition to Primary. Use the best disk manager for Win7 free Partition Wizard CD and your Win7 DVD or Repair CD.

    Back up your files and a Win7 backup image as Resizing operations can fail, although we haven't had one fail yet using PW CD doing 100+ of these extractions.

    Boot PW CD, let files load, select 1 for screen res, rightclick Vista to Delete, OK.

    Now rightclick Win7 partition to Modify>Convert to Primary, OK, and then Modify>Set to Active, OK.

    Now rightclick Win7 partition to Resize, drag left grey border all the way to the left over deleted Vista space , OK. Apply all steps.

    Win7 will not boot until you boot Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to write the MBR to Win7.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 304
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    gregrocker said:
    Hi Si8mon-

    Not sure why this is in Hardware as we handle these issues every day in Install forum. I got your PM tho.

    What I would do is delete Vista and then recover both the System Active MBR and the preferred lower HD space back into Win7. To accomplish this you must first convert the WIn7 partition to Primary. Use the best disk manager for Win7 free Partition Wizard CD and your Win7 DVD or Repair CD.

    Back up your files and a Win7 backup image as Resizing operations can fail, although we haven't had one fail yet using PW CD doing 100+ of these extractions.

    Boot PW CD, let files load, select 1 for screen res, rightclick Vista to Delete, OK.

    Now rightclick Win7 partition to Modify>Convert to Primary, OK, and then Modify>Set to Active, OK.

    Now rightclick Win7 partition to Resize, drag left grey border all the way to the left over deleted Vista space , OK. Apply all steps.

    Win7 will not boot until you boot Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to write the MBR to Win7.
    So do i download the partition wizard iso and burn it to a disk. Then i boot from the disk and follow your instructions.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 13,354
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       #10

    Yes, that's correct Simon. Be sure to burn the ISO using a program like the Windows Disc Image Burner, or Iso Recorder. It cannot be copied to the disc and burned with explorer.
      My Computer


 
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