how to remove old xp from a xp,7 dual boot pc?

vkash · 08 Jul 2011

Friends i have triple boot of windows xp sp2 ,windows xp sp3 and windows 7. I want to remove old windows xps from my computer they are just space eaters but there is a problem that is I install windows xp sp3 first then xp sp2 and then 7. so boot data files are in C. Should i delete/format xp sp3 and xp sp2 drives and then make some start up repairs will it enough and my pc will of single OS(windows 7).
Another bad way of doing this is to format all windows drives and then reinstall window 7. But many of my softwares are updated and doing so will require to update them once again(through internet) which i don't want to do.

gregrocker · 09 Jul 2011

Please post back a screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map as seen from Win7. Maximize the window so that all listings columns and full map is shown, use Snipping Tool in Start Menu. We will give you the exact steps.

To remove preceding partitions XP's use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to delete both XP partitions, mark Win7 Active, click on its HD to highlight it, from PW CD Disk tab select Rebuild MBR, Apply all steps. This may preclude the need to use Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD to Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times to rewrite the System Files to Win7.

vkash · 09 Jul 2011

gregrocker said:

Please post back a screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map as seen from Win7. Maximize the window so that all listings columns and full map is shown, use Snipping Tool in Start Menu. We will give you the exact steps.

To remove preceding partitions XP's use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to delete both XP partitions, mark Win7 Active, click on its HD to highlight it, from PW CD Disk tab select Rebuild MBR, Apply all steps. This may preclude the need to use Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD to Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times to rewrite the System Files to Win7.

will this tutorial's first option will fully fix my issue(not second one).
uploaded a snip of disk management.

gregrocker · 09 Jul 2011

The problem is that Win7 is on an Extended Logical partition which cannot host boot files, so you'd either need to create a Primary boot partition to write the boot files onto after deleting C, or delete the other two Logical subpartitions D and F in order to convert E to a Primary partition which can be marked Active and Rebuild MBR or run Startup Repair x3 to write the boot files onto.

This can all be done with free Partition Wizard bootable CD. Partition Wizard Use the Bootable CD

However I would strongly consider a clean reinstall since you apparently installed Win7 from the XP desktop, something which should never be done. Always boot the installer so that Win7 will see itself as C when you are booted into it, something which cannot be done if you're installing from XP while it is holding C.

I'd move the data off the HD, boot the Win7 installer, use Custom Drive Options to delete all partitions and Clean Install Windows 7.

If you can live with Win7 on E and want to create the boot partition out of a part of deleted C's Unallocated space, or convert the Logical to Primary while resizing Win7 and D to your liking, we can give you the steps. Think it over and tell us what you want to do.

vkash · 09 Jul 2011

gregrocker said:

The problem is that Win7 is on an Extended Logical partition which cannot host boot files, so you'd either need to create a Primary boot partition to write the boot files onto after deleting C, or delete the other two Logical subpartitions D and F in order to convert E to a Primary partition which can be marked Active and Rebuild MBR or run Startup Repair x3 to write the boot files onto.

I will never delete these drives all of my data is in D

gregrocker said:

This can all be done with free Partition Wizard bootable CD. Partition Wizard Use the Bootable CD

clean reinstall this is what i am thinking to do(without deleting D).I will delete all partition containing OS and install windows 7. Not a good way of solving but this is only way that is remaining.
first i will try triple start up repair. Unfortunately i have no extra hard disk or large USB to make backup so their s little risk.

gregrocker said:

If you can live with Win7 on E and want to create the boot partition out of a part of deleted C's Unallocated space, or convert the Logical to Primary while resizing Win7 and D to your liking, we can give you the steps. Think it over and tell us what you want to do.

[/quote]
Let me see what is that. give me those steps.

seavixen32 · 09 Jul 2011

Gregrocker has given really good advice.

I realise you don't want to lose your data on your D partition so why don't you invest in an external drive and move your data onto it, and then carry out a clean install as suggested?

Without wanting to be over-critical, your present disk management layout is a mess and as you are wanting to ditch Windows XP, now's the chance to bite the bullet and clean things up.

With a clean install, you can wipe the drive and create fresh partitions as you require. You can have up to four basic partitions on your hard drive, and then create logical partitions within one of the basic partitions (ideally, the last one on your hard drive).

You also mention that re-downloading software is going to be a problem, which is another good reason for investing in external storage space as you can then save any downloads to it for future use. However, a full system image backup would solve even that problem.

An external hard drive has the added advantage of being the perfect vehicle for system image and data backups and they (external drives) are reasonably cheap these days.

vkash · 09 Jul 2011

seavixen32 said:

Gregrocker has given really good advice.

I realise you don't want to lose your data on your D partition so why don't you invest in an external drive and move your data onto it, and then carry out a clean install as suggested?

Without wanting to be over-critical, your present disk management layout is a mess and as you are wanting to ditch Windows XP, now's the chance to bite the bullet and clean things up.

With a clean install, you can wipe the drive and create fresh partitions as you require. You can have up to four basic partitions on your hard drive, and then create logical partitions within one of the basic partitions (ideally, the last one on your hard drive).

You also mention that re-downloading software is going to be a problem, which is another good reason for investing in external storage space as you can then save any downloads to it for future use. However, a full system image backup would solve even that problem.

An external hard drive has the added advantage of being the perfect vehicle for system image and data backups and they (external drives) are reasonably cheap these days.

what is cost of 160GB and 80 GB hard disk price in INDIA?
what is difference in external hard disk and hard disk that is inside CPU?

seavixen32 · 09 Jul 2011

Check this link for details on Western Digital hard drives (internal and external): Western Digital Hard Drives, Network Drives, Media Players

Whatever currency they use for their pricing you'll just need to find the India/UK/US exchange rate and do the conversion using simple maths.

Google is your friend.

vkash · 09 Jul 2011

Why H is marked as primary partition. see the snip below.
I have installed(now that is removed) xubuntu 11.04 on this partition using wubi. Is this responsible for it to be primary rather than logical partition.

theog · 09 Jul 2011

gregrocker said:

However I would strongly consider a clean reinstall since you apparently installed Win7 from the XP desktop, something which should never be done. Always boot the installer so that Win7 will see itself as C when you are booted into it, something which cannot be done if you're installing from XP while it is holding C.

I'd move the data off the HD, boot the Win7 installer, use Custom Drive Options to delete all partitions and Clean Install Windows 7.

Greg has given you the best way to go.
If you had installed to HD's & not partitions, we could have given you a very easy way to go.