Windows 7: Can I reinstall this way?

I partitioned my drive prior to installing Windows 7 so that my operating system would be on a different partition than my data. In retrospect, I made the operating system partition way too small, and I've had nothing but trouble with trying to keep the partition from filling up.

Would it be possible for to simply back up my data partition, wipe the drive and reinstall (again with two partitions) without everything screwing up? I don't want to go through all that work just to have all my games and programs tell me that they aren't properly installed since the original C partition is gone.

If you're backing up the data on another hard drive, you can wipe out the entire drive and create 2 partitions for your data and OS.

Right, I understand that, but I want to just basically copy off the data partition as is, and plop it back in place on top of the reinstalled Windows 7. I'm asking if that will work without issue, or if it will screw up the installations of my programs.

Yes to your question. -- You could also backup your data, format your data partition and expand the partition your Win 7 is on and reinstall your data. Check this out.
Partition or Volume - Extend

We have used free Partition Wizard to help with hundreds of complicated partitioning operations successfully, so it will work fine to shrink your data partition as needed and expand your Windows 7.

If you'll post back a screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map and listings we can give you the exact steps. Tell us what you want to do with each.

I didn't even think of that. Great idea! It's definitely the easiest and safest way to go about this, but I think I'm going to reinstall fresh just for sanitation's sake.




I've attached it. Most of all I just don't want to reinstall Windows 7, drop the data partition back onto the disk and then be told that my shortcuts and program installs are no longer functional.

You would have to reinstall your programs if you reinstall Windows 7.

It would be much easier to use free Partition Wizard bootable CD. Free Download Magic Partition Manager Software - Partition Wizard Online DoubleClick on downloaded ISO file to burn to CD.

Boot PW CD, select 1 for Screen Res, rightclick D>Resize, slide left grey border to the right by as much space as you want to extend C into. Click OK.

Next rightlick C>Resize, slide right grey border to the right to take up the space you made from D, OK. Apply all steps.

Done.

I'm doing it in the manner you suggested. Is there any way to simplify the reinstall process when I inevitably do reinstall Windows? I know my Steam games can be backed up and restored. It's a shame you can't just drop in a fresh copy of Windows without all of your programs breaking.

A success! Bootup took a strangely long amount of time at the tail end of the Windows logo (perhaps a consequence of the fragmentation of the drive thanks to moving everything around), but other than that it worked a treat. Thanks!

Edit: Strangely, my Asus Xonar audio driver also appears to have been screwed up in some manner by this process. Huh.

Run Auslogics Disk defragger on the drive.

PW checks file system during resizing but you can run it manually from there or Windows.

Update/Reinstall the sound driver. Never heard of driver being affected by resizing.