Cannot remove previous Win 7 install.

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  1. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #11

    That is certainly related. I never had dynamics because I avoid them like the plague. So I have no good insight of all the things that can happen. But dynamics are iffy and when you study the subject a bit, you will quickly find out.
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  2.    #12

    Remove the drive letter from D as System Reserved should not have one so nothing can write to it. Drive Letter - Add, Change, or Remove in Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums

    I would also swap Disk0 and 1 cables so C is in Disk0 slot, since it's very easy for a repair to derail the System boot files to a preceding partition marked Active.

    Either way, remove the Active flag from Z: Partition - Mark as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums . It doesn't hold the System flag but no non-System partition should be marked Active.

    You can try to convert the Dynamic Disk to Basic non-destructively using Partiton Wizard bootable CD free version 4.2 which was the last time it offered this feature for free: pw422.zip ISO - Windows Live

    Burn the CD to disk using Windows Image Burner or ImgBurn, boot it and attempt to Convert Disk to Basic. However I don't think it will budge until you delete all but four of the partitions, since as explained you may only have four Primaries on a Basic disk, or three Primaries and an extended Logical with as many Logical sub-partitions as you want.

    PW CD can do this for you too if necessary: delete all but four partitions, convert to Basic, then convert one to Logical and add as many other Logicals as you want.
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  3. CB
    Posts : 2,076
    Windows 11 Prerelease
       #13

    Hi Nedjiski.

    Here is a little help if you have no external means to do the job.

    If you strongly decided to install to a new drive a new Windows installation over all previous windows. You have to disconnect the drive that has windows installation in it. You may reconnect it when new windows is completely installed. But you should notice that windows system has a list of its important system files, though it reside on other drives still you might find windows denies the removal, and it is a total annoyance.

    There is other simple way to go. You may start installing fresh windows with all drives connected. But, make sure you have the new drive set as first priority in the BIOS. When installation begin, on the page that you are prompted to choose which drive to install, go first to the old windows installation partition, and delete it. (I assume are able to identify the drive, and certainly don't have important data in it). If you don't delete the partition then the installation setup will find its system boot files and have it preserved. Once you done delete it, then go to the new drive and choose it to install (be sure you also delete the partition first if it contains the previous failed installation). It seems as a nasty way to go. But If you can do it exactly as directed. A good outcome is there.

    If you try this, just do it cautiously.

    I agree that you should consider avoiding dynamic drive, reduce you primary partitions.

    Hope it can troubleshoot your problem.
      My Computers


  4. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #14

    You may start installing fresh windows with all drives connected. But, make sure you have the new drive set as first priority in the BIOS
    Kevin I think that does not work. The disk to where you install has to be attached to port0 on the mobo - then the Win installer will for certain put the bootmgr on that disk.
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  5. CB
    Posts : 2,076
    Windows 11 Prerelease
       #15

    whs said:
    You may start installing fresh windows with all drives connected. But, make sure you have the new drive set as first priority in the BIOS
    Kevin I think that does not work. The disk to where you install has to be attached to port0 on the mobo - then the Win installer will for certain put the bootmgr on that disk.
    Thanks Sir.
    I take it as correction of my advice to Nedjinski.
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  6. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #16

    You are welcome. At one time I had the same thought as you stated. But I quickly found out that this does not work.

    It is not a real tragedy if the bootmgr lands on another disk/partition because it can be easily moved. But it is, of course, better to do it right in the first place.
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  7. Posts : 30
    Windows 7 64 bit Professional
    Thread Starter
       #17

    Hi All -

    Thank you so much for your thoughts, information, and guides.

    I was able to move files & folders to another drive temporarily so that I could work on the drive in question that was dynamic only. I have since formatted this drive and repartitioned it as per the image here.
    So it looks much better and the only active partitions are on the SSD - the C: drive.

    It was mentioned that ideally the C: drive (SSD) should be in the Disk 0 position on the motherboard. Is this something you would still recommend doing? or should I leave well enough alone?

    Also, I had mentioned that the drive in question - the one that had all dynamic partitions on it, was not showing up in the BIOS post list of drives, but was showing up on a second BIOS post page by itself and was highlighted (by the Gigabyte BIOS) in bright green text. It seems that the Gigabyte BIOS is calling this drive a SCSI device as opposed to an IDE device so it is listed as such. This apparently has no effect on functionality and is just a naming situation in the BIOS but it is curious none the less and I thought that by reformating and setting up the drive as a Basic disk that it might show up normally in the BIOS.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Cannot remove previous Win 7 install.-untitled-1.jpg  
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  8. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #18

    It does not really matter on which port the SSD is attached. Port0 is only recommended when you install the OS on the SSD without disconnecting the HDDs. Reason is because the Win7 installer always grabs the disk in the lowest port to install the bootmgr. And that is not a desirable configuration.

    If you have Sata3 ports, I would attach the SSD to one of those. But for that you need a Sata3 cable which costs only a few bucks.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 30
    Windows 7 64 bit Professional
    Thread Starter
       #19

    that should work - this motherboard - Gigabyte ga-ep-45-ud3r - has 6 SATA 3.0 (8 total actually including the 2 from the onboard Gigabyte chip) - so that I will try.
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