Windows 7: Help with partitions

Hi

I am having a nightmare trying to delete an old partition (Win 7 (64) ). I have 3 HDD's in my system and this is the config:

Disk 0 - 3 partitions:
System D: 175GB - System Healthy (System, Active, Primary Partition); -
G: - 145.95GB - Healthy (Primary Partition); -
Win732 C: 144.80GB - - Healthy, Boot, Page File, Logical Drive)

Disk 1 - 2 Partitions:
Extra space E: 465.75GB - Healthy (Primary Partition);
Samples etc.. H: 465.76GB - Healthy (Primary Partition)

Disk 2 - 2 Partitions:
FLS & VST - F: 290.75GB - Healthy (Primary Partition);
Extra Extra Space - I: 175.01GB - Healthy (Primary Partition).



I also have 2 external drives (1TB and 1.5TB) which run over USB 2.

What I'm trying to achieve is to delete and reformat partition D, which was a Windows 7 (64 bit) install. Then make the C drive a system drive. I would then like to install Windows 8 (Beta) to the D Drive and dual boo

I did run diskpart earlier made the D drive inactive and rebooted and had all sorts of problems. So I need to make the C drive the main system drive I think.

Your Disk 0 configuration is little bit complicated.

You have Windows 7 x64 on D: drive and Windows 7 x86 on C: drive which is a logical drive. You want to delete Win 7 x64 and install Win 8.

You will have further complications and nightmares with what you are trying to achieve.

If I were you, I would disconnect the drives 1 and 2 completely first. Clean out the Disk 0 after taking a backup of important data on the external USB HDDs.

Then Remove all the partitions and do fresh install of Windows 7 (x86 or x64) on Disk 0 on C: (new partition) and then install Windows 8 on D: (again a new partition) drive.

Later on, once both the operating systems are functioning correctly, connect back Disk 1 and 2 back.

This way you will have less headaches and make no mistakes.

Please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk management drive map with listings showing all columns so we can confirm the following steps based on what you presented so far.

Because C is Logical it cannot be marked Active to receive the System boot files from D so that it will boot on it's own.

You'll need to boot free Partition Wizard bootable CD, rightclick C to Modify>Convert to Primary, OK.

Then again rightclick C to Modify>Set to Active, OK.

Now click on the HD to highlight it, from Disk tab select Rebuild MBR, OK, Apply all steps.

This may preclude the need to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times to write the System boot files to C. If not boot the Windows 7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots. System Repair Disc - Create

You can now boot Win8 installer to install to D: select Custom Install, use Drive options to format D first, Win8 installer should configure a Dual Boot with Windows 7.

Another method is to boot the Win8 installer, format and install to D, then afterwards install EasyBCD to add Windows 7 to a Dual Boot Menu. Earlier versions of Easy are still free: EasyBCD 2.0.2 - NeoSmart Technologies

If you want a cleaner Dual Boot then install Windows 7 to another HD with all other HD's unplugged. After install plug back in other HD's, set preferred OS first HD to boot in BIOS setup, use one-time BIOS Boot Menu key to trigger other OS HD if needed. This keeps the OS HD's independent to come and go as you please whereas a Windows Dual Boot Menu requires surgery to remove one of the OS"s.

If you chose that last option you'll still need to recover the System boot files into C while deleting D to make Windows 7 32 bit boot on its own.

HI, here's the screenshot and many thanks for your help.... :-)

The steps above will achieve what you want, with some additional options offered.

Thanks very much for your help!! :-)