I have two boot drives in Windows 7 and need to change it to one.


  1. Posts : 4
    windows 7 32 bit
       #1

    I have two boot drives in Windows 7 and need to change it to one.


    I have two boot drives in Windows 7 and need to change it to one.
    C is my main boot drive. D drive is bootable but it holds the information to boot C drive menu. How do I change that D drive to function as indicated below. I want to keep C drive as the boot drive and delete most of D drive and use it for storage.

    According to easy BCD:
    Default: Windows 7
    Timeout: 30 seconds
    Boot Drive: D:\

    Name: Windows 7
    BCD ID: {current}
    Drive: C:\
    Bootloader Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe

    Entry #2
    Name: Windows 7 Home Premium
    BCD ID: {85f100df-6a2d-11e2-9ac7-800647930a56}
    Drive: D:\
    Bootloader Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe


    I don't want to have to reinstall C drive now.

    My understanding is that the Default drive is D and it holds the menu information for the C drive. If I delete or format the D drive then will windows repair be able to find the boot drive C and restructure the menu for C so that I can access C drive. I have seen a recoverable menu created before but I am not sure it will work in this case.

    Currently my menu information contain two menus, Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows 7.

    I found this information:
    You can use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) to troubleshoot and repair the following items in Windows Vista or Windows 7:
    A master boot record (MBR)
    A boot sector
    A Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store

    Is the MBR located on drive c or d?
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  2. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #2

    Can you post a screen shot of Disk management?

    Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums
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  3. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 professional x86
       #3

    Merging partitions is not possible with built-in tools , or delete the volume after backing up
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  4. Posts : 4
    windows 7 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    I have two boot drives in Windows 7 and need to change it to one.-capture.jpg

    I disconnected the D partition and did a repair 3 times with no results. C drive did not even show up.

    MSconfig showed c: as the default and d: was listed.

    Do you know anything about EasyBCD and changing the bootloader or the MBR? I am not certain how to use them.

    C and D ARE two partitions on different drives.
    Last edited by jhmac777; 07 Feb 2013 at 12:42. Reason: more info
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  5. Posts : 4
    windows 7 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #5


    I dont understand what you mean.

    "built-in tools , or delete the volume after backing up"
    Last edited by jhmac777; 07 Feb 2013 at 11:54. Reason: clarification
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  6.    #6

    Mark all other partitions besides C Inactive: Partition - Mark as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums.

    Then mark C Active before repairs will work: Partition - Mark as Active

    Now power down to unplug all other HD's except C, swap the DISK0 data cable to C, making sure it remains set first HD to boot in BIOS setup, after DVD drive.

    Now boot into Win7 installer System Recovery Options or System Repair Disk to run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times until C starts and holds the System Active flags.

    You can then plug back in the other HD's, delete the old installation after retrieving any files needed. To boot the old install you'd need to mark it Active again and use the one-time BIOS Boot menu key.

    I would not want the OS on the far right side of the HD, farthest away from where the disk reader parks. If you want we can help you move it but since you cut off the used Size of the preceding partitions I cannot yet give you simple steps using Partition Wizard CD Move/Resize Partition - Video Help. Or you can follow these same steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.
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  7. Posts : 4
    windows 7 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Problem solved!!! Halleluia!!! All I did was remove the active status from Drive I and now I have a menu with only C Drive
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  8.    #8

    If you still have the System Active flags on D then it is not correct to have the boot files on another HD's data partition booting Win7.

    I would mark C Active, then unplug both other HD's leaving only the Win7 HD. Swap the Disk0 data cable to Disk1 so the OS drive is in first position, make sure it is set first HD to boot in BIOS setup, then run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times.

    You did not mention marking C Active first which means the System boot files will not be written there by Startup Repairs.

    You may be happy that your itinerant issue is resolved but you have quite a mess there with boot files on another HD. You also have your OS partition at the very end of the HD, furthest away from where the disk reader parks so it gets the slowest possible reads.

    We could help you fix this by moving the data off of H and I to delete them, then resize C to the left side of the drive using Partition Wizard Resize Partition - Video Help. At the same time you could Mark C Active using Partition Wizard CD, then run the Statup Repairs.
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