32 bit --> 64 bit

Mark -

From Reinstalling Windows 7 steps I gave you:

Boot the Windows 7 installer, choose Custom Install, then Drive Options (Advanced) to Delete all partitions not needed, following illustrated steps given here: Clean Install Windows 7

If you Delete all partitions to create New ones and Format, the installer will issue a 100mb System Reserved boot partition which conveniently places the Repair Console (normally only on the DVD or Repair CD) on the F8 Advanced Boot Options menu. Partition as you wish and Format before installing to first OS partition.

Is there any reason to save any partitions? If not, delete them all, create new ones as desired, ignore the 100mb System Reserved partition, then format each before installing to first partition after 100mb.

As I acknowledged--I managed to blow the delete/format part which I'll primarily attribute to elevated nervousness.

That said, the question remains--given that no data appears to be written to the hidden partition and that the computer now runs far better than previous (most likely a function of several changed elements: access to all 4GB of RAM, a clean system (not a clean install since there probably was no format) and 64 bit running vs 32) I'm not sure that I see much value in going back through the exercise to reinstall the OS again merely to have a hidden recovery OS plus a formatted active drive.

I'm thinking I'll use Acronis Disk Director to merge the hidden partition with the active and just have the boot DVD that I used in this instance for worst case recovery.

I do wish to thank everyone of you guys (including Shawn!) for their assistance. Even though I didn't end up with the precisely correct result, the result is great and one I wouldn't have gotten absent this help.

Btw, I did need to use Shawn's 'Thurrott's method to get the OS key accepted.

Mark

There was a format applied when you clicked Next whether you chose format or not.

The 100mb System Reserved partition is not a Recovery Partition but merely contains the boot files and enables the Windows Repair console (WinRE) to be placed on the F8 Advanced Boot Options. Once you deleted all partitions it should have issued the 100mb partition. If it somehow remains Unallocated due to something strange which was done, with the System Active flag on the Win7 partition instead, then you can recover its space.

I would use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to Resize Win7 partition into the 100mb space. Be prepared if Win7 won't start to confirm it's marked Active then Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

Now that I think about it and to prove your point, the previous hidden partition containing a Vista image was ~4GB (I just mounted the previous drive to snag a few files that escaped my backups) and the current is 101Mb. The MiniTool (which, by the way, has a nicer and friendlier interface than Acronis' Disk Director--thanks) says that 101Mb is the size and 101Mb is unused, unallocated and status is none. So I have to suspect that there's zip data on the thing.

1. Absent a really good reason not to just leave well enough (101Mb partition) alone, given we're only talking 101Mb and since I'll be moving on to add drive storage in some as yet undetermined way, I'd stay as is.

2. OTOH, if it's practical, not too hard and not too risky to manually put back the information that was supposed to have landed on the small partition during the install--I'd be game.

3. I've googled Windows Repair Console and haven't come up with a decent explanation as to what it is or does? If by not having the information to which you refer residing on that partition I could seriously jeopardize my ability to extricate myself from a problem down the road then that would add some importance to pursuing #2?


Mark

The repair console is on your DVD's second screen when booted, and on the Repair CD which you can make in Backup Center.

So writing the 100mb System Reserved partition now that you're installed without it isn't necessary just so you have Repair console on F8 unless you really want to learn how: Create the 100mb into a New Primary Partition, Format NTFS Primary, mark Active using PW CD, reboot run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.

Post back a screenshot of your maxmized Disk Mgmt drive map with listings, using SNipping tool in Start Menu, so we can look it over for you.

Thanks for the tip on the Repair Disk, I'm making one now.

I'd want the Win7 HD in DISK0 slot for least complications.

You can gather the 100mb into Win7 partition if you want by using free Partition Wizard bootable CD's Resize function, just slide the left hand grey slider bar all the way to the left, Apply.

I'm curious about 2 things--

How did I end up with disk0?

Disk0, as opposed to being on the same line as disk1 and separated by a bar indicative of a logical drive (partition), it is on a separate line (to me) indicating a separate physical drive and it's not. So why?

Why is it that there's no consequence in removing the 101Mb partition and I can simply 'slide the bar.' Whereas there are potential problems with disk0. I'm not looking to do anything with disk0 per your comments--again, just curious.

Mark

I'm puzzled by your disk layout.

Disk 0 (which is where one would expect Windows 7 to be installed) shows as 513MB, which is extremely small and suggests that the rest of the hard drive is hidden.

Disk 1 has a 100MB partition that has been deleted, I would have expected this to be the active partition with the master boot record for your operating system.

However, your C drive on Disk 1 is the active partition and I'm at a loss as to how you've finished up like this, especially as you say you've only got one drive.

Personally, if it was me, I'd do another clean install, but completely wipe the drive first to tidy things up.

Whichever way you look at it, Windows will expect to be installed on Drive 0 and not Drive 1.