Windows 7: Removing Windows 7 From Data Drive

I am in the middle of fixing a machine that wouldn't boot. The bad windows 7 install is on an SSD (C:\). In order to fix it I had to do a new install on the Data Drive (D:\) and fix the install on the SSD (C:\) from that install. I am now having issues removing the install on the Data Drive (D:\). I am completely unfamiliar with BCD and was hoping someone here could give me some insight on how to remove the install from the Data Drive (D:\)



Thanks in advance

Please post back a screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map and listings, using Snipping Tool in Start Menu. We need to see it before we can give you the exact steps with certainty.

thanks for reply. Here is that SS you asked for.

Hello al capowned, welcome to Seven Forums!



There should be no reason you could not just delete the install on the "Disk 1 D:" if you choose to do so in Windows disk management, just right click the D: and click delete as long as there is no data you need to save on that partition; and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

Thanks for the reply.

The disk on D: has data that needs to be retained.

I thought you said you installed Windows 7 to that Hard Disk Drive (HDD) did you install Windows 7 over-top of that data or did you put the data there after the install.

If you installed Windows 7 to that HDD with the data already present the odds are very good that a lot of that data has been over-written by the Installation of Windows.

I have a new install on D: used to get the old install on C: to boot. Now I want to remove the windows install on D: using the install on C: I have verified that all data is on the drive.

Yes I read all that already.



What I would like to know is how you managed to install Windows to a single partition on a HDD that contained data and did not over-write the data that was previously there with the Windows installation process.


I'm not really sure trying to remove the Windows components on that HDD would be more destructive to the data that is there; the best bet may be to remove the boot entry from the Windows boot manager and leave well-enough alone.

In the "Disk 0 C:" Windows start menu type msconfig into the search box, under the "Boot" tab see if there is 2 Windows 7 entries.

If the unwanted Windows 7 Boot Menu listing is not showing in msconfig>Boot, then install EasyBCD 2.0 to remove it on the Edit Boot menu tab: http://neosmart.net/blog/2010/welcome-to-easybcd-2/

Then post back a screenshot of the contents of D: drive; we can tell you how to delete the remaining OS folders.

If you wish to relocate and link your Windows 7 User data folders to D so that you have enough space for OS and Programs on C, use this method: User Folders - Change Default Location

There were originally 2 installs. I set c:\ to the default and deleted the other. But I can't delete the windows folder it keeps telling me that I need to provide Administrator credentials but never asks me for credentials. Just keeps giving me a Dialog Box with "Try again" "Cancel".