Windows 7: Partition and Hard Drive Help

Hi Guys,

I need to fix my Hard Drives/Partitioning as it is all muddled up over different hard drives:





I am planning to install Windows 7 to my Backup Disk, copy the contents from my Data Partition to the Backup Disk. Format the Disk with Data, Windows 7 and 97GB Unallocated. Then install Windows 7 to that disk again. Then format the Backup Disk after re-transferring all of the contents.

I cannot unplug a Hard Drive and I do not have a Windows Install Disk/USB (until 7 days), just an ISO.

Basically I just want to reinstall Windows 7 and Data to Disk 0 and have Disk 1 empty.

I am currently using Disk 2 (EASEUS) and Disk 1 (DiskMGMT).

I installed Windows 7 to the Backup Drive 20 minutes ago.

Why do you want to install Windows 7 to the Backup drive and then reinstall it to the original drive?

Why don't you just move the data from the Windows 7 HD to Backup (that's what it's for, right?) then boot installer to Custom install, delete all partitions and clean reinstall to the Windows 7 HD?

Then you can create whatever partitions you want on each HD for storage.

I can't delete Partitions unless I burn it to a Disk and boot from there:


Or shall I boot the installer from the Backup Disk?

You could have reinstalled over C by running the installer from it's desktop.

I would not proceed without having bootable media for rescue if necessary. Is there some reason you cannot wait to obtain a DVD or flash stick?

In addition if your plan for the target HD is to delete all partitions and reinstall now, Windows 7 will assume another drive letter than C since its installer is being run from an OS and not booted.

The best partitioning scheme is one which has been thought-out based on your needs for storage and backup, is never done impulsively even if that means leaving one big partition until you are sure.

Start with planning your backups to be on another HD. When the OS HD becomes cramped you have the option to move User folders to another HD, too.

Well I will get some Disks and post back.

Good decision.

Sorry about the delay: here:



Is it normal for the System Partition to be Primary?

System partitions are always Primary. They have to be. With Win 7 you could possibly install to a secondary drive but the System Reserve Partition would still be on Disk0 and still be a primary partition.

Not sure what you are trying to accomplish?

As it is now, your screen shot of DM, looks just fine. Sys Reserve on main disk, Win 7 as second partition on main disk and then a second disk as one big drive.
What about that setup don't you like?

I agree with edwar, there's nothing wrong with your current drive setup.

You have the master boot record and Windows exactly where Windows would expect them to be.

Your data backup is on another drive, which is good practice as it means restoring or reinstalling Windows becomes a lot easier.

A hard drive can have up to four primary partitions with the fourth being an extended primary partition that can accommodate up to 128 logical partitions.

Generally speaking, the system reserved and operating system partitions will be primary partitions, whereas data can be stored on a primary or logical partition.

Disk partitioning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

OK Thanks for the advice guys. I have just installed Linux to the drive Windows 7 is on.

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to seavixen32 again."