Windows 7: Problem reverting from Dual Boot to Single Boot

Nosmas · 10 Jul 2011

My situation is almost identical to that of the OP in Convert Dual Boot to Single Boot, 2 HD's.
I have 2 HDDs both of which are partitioned so that the OS and data files are on separate partitions. Windows 7 Home Premium is on a 500GB SATA (i.e. serial) HDD (C: drive) and XP is on a 80GB IDE (i.e. parallel) HDD (D: drive). The BCD file originally looked as follows: -

Code:

 
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
 
C:\Windows\system32>bcdedit
 
Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
device partition=D:
description Windows Boot Manager
locale en-US
inherit {globalsettings}
default {current}
resumeobject {86be99a0-2331-11df-9307-ebb202f71558}
displayorder {ntldr}
{current}
toolsdisplayorder {memdiag}
timeout 30
 
Windows Legacy OS Loader
------------------------
identifier {ntldr}
device partition=D:
path \ntldr
description Earlier Version of Windows
 
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {current}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description Windows 7
locale en-US
inherit {bootloadersettings}
recoverysequence {86be99a2-2331-11df-9307-ebb202f71558}
recoveryenabled Yes
osdevice partition=C:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {86be99a0-2331-11df-9307-ebb202f71558}
nx OptIn
 
C:\Windows\system32>

As I no longer require XP and wish to either wipe the D: drive or even physically remove it from the system I used BCDedit to remove the Legacy OS Loader. As expected I no longer get the option to choose which OS to boot into and therefore boot straight into Windows 7.

However when I use the Windows 7 DVD to do a Startup Repair the System Recovery Options window shows Windows 7 in Location D: and although I have run the repair a number of times I have been unable to make the C: drive the ‘System’ partition. In Computer Management, C: shows as Healthy (Boot, Page File, Active, Crash Dump, Primary Partition) and D: shows as Healthy (System, Active, Primary Partition).

I then used DISKPART to make D: inactive, and actually saw D: change to show as Healthy (Active, Primary Partition) when I entered the command. However when I next ran the Startup Repair it showed no OS, and the radio button for ‘Restore your computer using a system image you created earlier’ was already selected. I then selected the alternative radio button ‘Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows. Select an operating system to repair. If your operating system isn’t listed, click Load Drivers and then install drivers for your hard disks.’ I couldn’t find any drivers so clicked on ‘Next’ then selected ‘Startup Repair’ only to find that D: had been made Active again (in Computer Management), and when the Startup Repair was run again it showed Windows 7 Location as D:.

Can someone please tell me if I am doing something wrong, or is there some other procedure that I should run in order to make C: the ‘System’ partition?

Bare Foot Kid · 10 Jul 2011

Hello Nosmas, welcome to Seven Forums!

Before we make any specific recommendations will you please post a snip/screen-shot of the entire disk management drive map with a full description as to which drive/partition is which, so we can see what you have going on as there may be a fairly simple way to resolve the situation.

In the Windows start menu right click computer and click manage, in the left pane of the "Computer Management" window that opens click disk management and post a maximized snip of that.

How to Upload and Post a Screenshot and File in Seven Forums

theog · 10 Jul 2011

Can you post your specs.
Filling out System Specs
Dont Know What Hardware You Have..??
VistaForums SysInfo Tool - Vista Forums

Nosmas · 10 Jul 2011

Hi BFK - many thanks for your very prompt reply. I have attached the screenshot as requested and I think the descriptions are self explanatory when read in conjunction with my original post. Looking forward to hearng further from you.

Problem reverting from Dual Boot to Single Boot-nosmas-screenshot.png

theog · 10 Jul 2011

Physically disconnect the old HD.
Make the Win dows 7 HD, disk0 & first HD boot in BIOS.

Problem reverting from Dual Boot to Single Boot-move-boot-001.png

Startup Repair
Note: You may need to do startup repair 3 to 4 times.
Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

Problem reverting from Dual Boot to Single Boot-move-boot-002.png

Bare Foot Kid · 10 Jul 2011

Disconnect Disk 0 XP and set Disk 1 as the second boot device after the CD/DVD drive in the BIOS and run the 3 separate startup repairs outlined in this tutorial at the link below.

Windows always wants to make the first partition on Disk 0 as the "System" partition.

Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

theog · 10 Jul 2011

If you have problems with Startup Repair,
Use the Rebuild BCD in this tutorial:
How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows

Problem reverting from Dual Boot to Single Boot-startup-repair-4.png

Problem reverting from Dual Boot to Single Boot-startup-repair-5.png

gregrocker · 10 Jul 2011

You must mark Windows 7 partition Active first before running Startup Repair up to 3 separate times from DVD or Repair CD to write the System boot files to Windows 7 partition: Partition - Mark as Active

You can mark 7 Active from XP or Windows 7 but would power down to unplug XP HD before running the Repairs, swap the DISK0 cable to Windows 7 HD and make sure it's set to boot first in BIOS setup.

After Windows 7 starts on its own you can plug XP HD back into Disk1, then if you need to boot it use the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first boot screen. When you're ready to delete it you can use Command Line Diskpart "Delete Partition override" command: DiskPart Command-Line Options

Nosmas · 11 Jul 2011

Many thanks to BFK, theog, and gregrocker for all your ideas. Apologies for the delay in responding but had some distractions.

Did as suggested in BFK's post (#6) and after three runs of the Startup Repair am now booting into Windows 7 and Disk 0 shows Healthy (System, Boot, Page File, Active, Crash Dump, Primary Partition).

However I now have another problem - cannot see any of my emails in Windows Live Mail nor can I access any new mail, although I can see and read it on my ISP's web server. When I set up WLM I did alter the location of the Store but at the moment cannot remember exactly where, but almost sure it was a sub-folder of Data Files folder on M: drive!!! I am wondering if changing to Single Boot has affected WLM in some way, as I notice that BCD file shows one entry in the Windows Boot Loader as: -

"description Windows 7 Home Premium (recovered)"

Why "recovered"? Any thoughts please?

Bare Foot Kid · 11 Jul 2011

Good to see you got it sorted and thanks for the update.

Perhaps you should click this link to start a thread about your mail over there.

Windows 7: Problem reverting from Dual Boot to Single Boot

Problem reverting from Dual Boot to Single Boot problems?