Windows 7 - How to format C drive with windows XP installed on ??

hello frens,

Having problem in formatting C drive as windows XP was installed on it. I installed windows 7 on D drive. Help me out as my system hard disk has very low space. thanks in advance

I am afraid there is only one cure for this one. Your HD is total 40 gigs. WIn 7 starts around 20 and grows from there. That doesnt leave much room for anything else let alone another OS.

Small HD's are relatively cheap.


Where are you backing up to?

thanks for a quick reply zigzag..This is my workstation so can not add a new HD. As windows 7 has gulped my complete D drive thats why i want to free up my C drive so that personal files could be saved in that,,

So you want to remove XP and consolidate the two partitions then?

want to keep partitions as they are..!!..to keep my personal files safe in drive C

You have a very small setup for Windows 7.

As you're on a workstation shouldn't you be speaking to your IT administrator?

yes i knw..i've already told him...he is bit sluggish and will take time to solve the issue...thought of giving it a try myself....

The installer was not booted or Windows 7 would see itself as C when booted into it. By incorrectly running it from XP on C you locked out the drive letter so Windows 7 could not claim it at all. It's a common mistake we see here.

You asked how to format C but then later say you have files which you cannot lose on C. Files should be backed up at all times in case of HD failure. Use an external HD, another network computer, DVD's, flash stick or 15gb free storage with each Windows Live ID on Skydrive.

I would back files up now and then use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to rightclick D>Convert to Primary, click OK. Then rightclick on D again to Modify>Set to Active, OK. Now click on the DIsk # to highlight it, from Disk tab, select Rebuild MBR, Apply all steps.

If Windows 7 fails to start at reboot, boot into Windows 7 DVD or System Repair Disk to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.

Once Windows 7 starts on its own and its partition holds the System Active flags, you can boot into PW CD again to rightclick C to Delete, OK. Now rightclick D to Resize, slide left grey border to the left to take up the deleted XP space, OK, Apply both steps. You may need to run Repairs again after resizing on the boot sector.

If you prefer to have Windows 7 on C then back up the files and boot the Windows 7 DVD to Custom Install, use Drive Options to delete all partitions and then click Next for installer to create and format your partition. Clean Install Windows 7