I just replaced my HD with WD 1T, reloaded & updated Vista, installed Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade on Dell Inspiron 530. Everything is working fine. But I don't recall seeing an option to partion the drive; everything is installed on C:
I created a D: partion of 100M in Disk Management. My question is can I move the proper OS and System Restore files into this partion at this point? Or is it too late? Is it worth doing?
Why did you install Vista first? I hope you didn't run an inferior Upgrade install from Vista when you can much more easily get the preferred clean install by just booting Win7: Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
I would do it over following the illustrated steps in the tutorial unless you're already attached to the install. If so, format the 100mb System Reserved partition you created Primary, remove the drive letter, mark it Active, then boot the Win7 DVD Repair console to Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times to write the System boot files to it and have the Repair console placed on the F8 advanced boot tools menu.
If you go for the Clean install, take look at this tutorial to make your partitioning.
SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
Gregrocker,
I have a legit MS Windows 7 Upgrade Home Premium with key code.
I installed Vista first on my new HD because I thought I had to. And nothing in my W7 product lit or MS on-line suppoort say anything about the upgrade disc being bootable as a clean install (wish they had more documentation). After reading more on the subject it appears my assumptions were wrong. Even Dell Support helped me with the process, and never suggested I could do a clean install instead. Once I had a clean updated Vista OS with SP1 I ran the W7 Upgrade my choices were to run it as an 'Upgrade' or 'Custom' install. I never saw an option for a 'Clean' install. Being a novice at this, and not knowing what features I might lose with 'Custom', I went the 'Upgrade' route.
At this point, after two days of running W7 updates, drvier updates for computer & peripherals, loading copied user files ..., and copying a full image (Acronis) to an external drive, I'd rather not start over.
Thanks for the instructions on keeping the partion. Keep in mind I'm a newbee. I've labeled my partion "System Reserved", changed it to 'Primary', and given it 'Active' status. I can see all this stuff in Control Panel>Computer Management>Disk Management; a .png file should be attached. I've printed the tutorial for running 'Start-Up Repair' 3 times, but there are serious warnnings and I want to be cautious. Is there anything else I should know?
You'll see one other problem I have with drives. I installed a WD 1Tb MyBook Essential for backing up user files and the HD image. This is an external drive connected by USB port. For some reason it is also marked as a 'primary drive', appears so in Hard Disk Drives in Windows Explorer, as well as a bootable drive in paralell with the internal drive when I boot up, hit F12, and look at the boot sequence. If I start the computer with the the USB cable connected to the external drive Windows won't start, probably because it sees two drives as first priority, so it stalls. If I start the computer with the USB cable disconnected then start-up goes fine. I then plug the USB cable back in, and drive is recognized/added again as a primary drive. How do I get the My Book to be seen as an external drive?
I'm really in new territory here - out of my comfort zone. Respect your advice.
If you had looked at this tutorial:
SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
& Than installed using this tutorial:
Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
the partitions would have look like this
Why do have a partition of 10gb ?
named System Reserved ?
Marked ACTIVE ?
For the external drive, reset the BIOS boot order to
1)DVD drive
2)OS HD drive
Last)USB external drive
Hello Paul.
In the situation your partitions are in the C: needs to be Active
If you marked D: active after the Windows 7 install it will not boot, do not restart the PC before you mark D: Inactive and mark the C: Active again
Have a look at Option Two #2 of this tutorial linked below for that process.
There's also a lot of useful information in the tutorial.
A Primary partition for the "MY Book" is the correct partition type.
"Custom" is the clean install choice. It links you to "Drive Options" which are used to Delete partitions, Create New partitions, and Format them before install. When you delete all partitions to create and format new ones, the installer will automatically issue the 100mb System Reserved partition.
Are you sure you want to make a "System Reserved" partition just to gain the Repair console on F8 Advanced Boot Options ? For one thing you've created not a 100mb partition but a 100GB partition which is ten times bigger than needed. If you're determined to do this then I'd delete it and create another closer to 200mb which is optimal if you're creating one. Mark it Active then boot Win7 DVD to run Startup Repair 3 separate times with reboots to write the System boot files to it.
We rarely help create System Reserved that isn't the first partition, so the installer might be stubborn and want to keep the System boot files on the first partition, even though you've told it to write them to SysReserved by marking it Active.
I'm sticking with my original advice to clean reinstall Win7 by booting the installer, choosing Custom install, deleting all partitions, creating a new one for install which will cause the installer to create the SysReserved for you. Here are other tips for getting a perfect reinstall - use the ones which apply: Reinstalling Windows 7
If you want to avoid having to do so many Updates, find a Win7 installer for your version with SP1.
If you really want to add a System Reserved, it would desirable to place it at the front of the HDD ahead of the Windows 7 C: partition, have a look at Step One and Step Two of this tutorial linked below for some ideas on the process.
@gregrocker:
I'm going to go with your advice and do a clean reinstall and create correct partions that way. I sounds user friendly, you've given me a link to tutorial for doing a reinstall, so I shouldn't mess it up. I've got all my user files backed up, and have all my original drivers that came installed when the product was new. I think things should go smoother the second time.
I'm out of town for the next week so won't be able to get back to this until then. Until then, many thanks and praying may help.
I'll get back to you and let you know how it turns out.
Hello again, have a look through the information below for some useful ideas to start over and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.
Note
It may be a help to over-write the HDD Master Boot Record (MBR) before you start any other procedure using the diskpart clean command, rather than the clean all; it takes just seconds to complete so you will have "unallocated" space to either use the Windows installer to create and format the partition(s) or use diskpart for that, however you choose.
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