Safe removal of Vista partition on a Dual Boot.

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  1.    #21

    Use Win7 Professional x64 English Official ISO Download

    Write to stick or burn to DVD using tool provided in Step 2 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

    F12 Diagnostics should have tested all of your hardware. Did it offer that option? Either way it's up to you if you want to keep that partition since other bootable hardware tests exist, especially if its only offering a HD test. In that case it would be better to delete all partitions to get it cleanest.

    As to your backup, its always good to browse in to see that your files are all there. The tutorial Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 provides a checklist of everything that needs to be remembered since it compiles the experiences of thousands of installs including ones where data was accidentally left behind. So double check against the steps.

    Keep asking back questions as we will help see that you get it perfect.

    Most important is to put your network adapter driver in the backup so if it isn't provided during install you can install it to get online, enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3),
    then run all rounds of Important and Optional WIndows Update, with reboots, until there are no more when you Check for Updates. You can do these as you set up your desktop and isntall other programs, but since you had problems with your last install I would allow time between each group of Updates and then each program install to see which, if any, is affecting performance.

    If you want to try to repair your existing OS you can try a Repair Install but since it reinstalls Windows while keeping everything in-place it might not help if you have corrupt settings or botched the install otherwise, plus it will probably take nearly as long.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 31
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #22

    Hi Greg

    F12 didn't give me any options - it just did its test, I think, of just the HD drive.

    I will check the tutorials you recommend but I'm getting well outside my comfort zone here; it's getting a bit too technical for me.

    But it is getting late here so I'll look at it afresh in the morning. I'll just follow Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 as best I can.

    Thanks for your help.
      My Computer

  3.    #23

    If you have a Dell then reboot and hold the F12 key down. It should show a Boot menu of your attached devices.

    If not reboot and tap the F2 key or whichever is listed to Enter BIOS setup. Look for a setting to enable F12 menu, Save Changes and Exit.

    Rather than assuming that it's too technical for you, keep asking back questions to see if you can learn. If not then you'll know its too technical for you.

    This is the top technical forums on the web, considered by MS to be the best ever with top experts in every field. Why be any less than confident. We will not let you fail.
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  4. Posts : 31
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #24

    Hi Greg

    I've certainly learned a lot in this excellent forum.

    I've now entered BIOS which confirmed f2 and f12 menus to be active. So I've now gone back into f12 so I can let you know exactly what I get.

    The Boot Device Menu is giving me 5 options - Intel Array; Onboard or USB CD-ROM drive; System Setup; Hard Drive Diagnostics; Boot to Utility Partition.

    I ran the HDD option yesterday. The first info received was: Drive 0: WDC WD1600JS-75NCB3 - Pass. Then Drive 1 (same reference) - Pass. Then drives 2, 3, 4, & 5; for 2 & 3 (disk drives) diagnostics were not supported. Drives 4 & 5 had no device.

    I was then invited to press Enter to reboot. As I said yesterday there was no window produced and the process was totally different to that should on YouTube.

    From here I will download and burn the ISO file and I will check my backup files. I'll let you know what I see in the Backup and hold until I see your reply as I'm uncertain about steps 4 & 5 in the Clean Reinstall menu

    I'll hold at that point until I hear back from you

    UPDATE:

    I've looked at the backup files but they mean nothing to me. Can you tell from the snips below if I've got everything I need, including bookmarks, Outlook data, etc?

    FURTHER UPDATE:

    Have now attached Belarc report. Would you mind guiding me through what I need to do with the results? Thank you.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Safe removal of Vista partition on a Dual Boot.-capture2.png   Safe removal of Vista partition on a Dual Boot.-capture3.png   Safe removal of Vista partition on a Dual Boot.-capture4.png   Safe removal of Vista partition on a Dual Boot.-capture5.png   Safe removal of Vista partition on a Dual Boot.-capture6.png  

    Safe removal of Vista partition on a Dual Boot.-capture7.png  
    Last edited by PaulCH; 30 Dec 2013 at 10:23.
      My Computer

  5.    #25

    On that model, to get the full diagnostics you'll need to choose Boot to Utility Partition and select the full range of tests.

    Please remove the Belarc report to protect your Windows 7 and Office Product Keys.

    What type of Win7 OEM key are you using to activate the WIn7 install? That would normally be for builder's OEM or preinstalled factory OEM.

    I would use the method for backing up your files in the tutorial and not use Windows Backup which can lose your data. Simply organize your files into their respective User folders and then drag or copy those to the storage drive. Anything else needing backup is in the tutorial.

    I see you made a backup image - is this for Vista or the bad Win7 install? You'd really only want to keep Vista image in case you didn't make your Vista Recovery disks, so you have a path back if you ever want to sell the machine with the native license. Or you can always Clean Reinstall Vista like you're doing Win7.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 31
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #26

    Thanks. I'm doing the quick test now - or did you want me to carry out the extended test?

    Regarding backup - I did a manual backup of Vista but it was no more than copying the contents of the C Drive (as it was) and pasting it to my external drive. I don't know if everything is there as I didn't have the knowledge then that I have now.

    I'll do a further backup of my current C Drive as you say.

    The backup image I made was of my current C Drive under Seven. I have no other backups.

    I have the Win7 reinstallation DVD (red one).
      My Computer

  7.    #27

    I'd run the Extended test located on the Utility partition of all the hardware to check its condition, and know that the OEM tools partition is worth keeping for these valuable diagnostics which happen to be able to run after a clean install on the rest of the drive.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 31
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #28

    OK. Running extended now.

    I wasn't given any results to play with after the quick test. Hopefully the extended test will give me something so that I can act on it as you suggest.

    Earlier I restarted the Windows Installer in Services, rebooted, but my programs still won't load.

    Is there anything else you wish to comment on following my ramblings?

    LATER: I've now run the extended version. The test completed but again didn't display any results.

    Is there any way I can re-install the Windows Installer as, at least, I could catch up with some work before I continue the reinstall? I restarted Windows Installer and the RPC because it was a dependancy - but it made no difference.
    Last edited by PaulCH; 30 Dec 2013 at 14:08.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 31
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #29

    Hi Greg

    I realise you're very busy and for me to ask back questions it was going to take for ever to complete the reinstallation.

    So I've done a simple clean install of Win7 and Windows Installer is working again.

    I just need guidance now on which part of the old backed-up Vista drive I should move across. The User files are obvious but what other folders do I need to move in order to get my browser bookmarks, Outlook data and any other settings I may have had previously?

    I've attach a snip showing the folders in C and in G. It seems that a few files that were saved directly to the C drive have been retained!!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Safe removal of Vista partition on a Dual Boot.-capture.png  
      My Computer

  10.    #30

    I had already addressed this earlier so hope you followed the tutorial to assure you get and keep a perfect install:

    gregrocker said:
    As to your backup, its always good to browse in to see that your files are all there. The tutorial Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 provides a checklist of everything that needs to be remembered since it compiles the experiences of thousands of installs including ones where data was accidentally left behind. So double check against the steps. .
    It explains in the tutorial how to easily copy back into the new User folders their content from the backup. Just Select All in each folder, left-click-hold and drag the content to the corresponding User folder on the left-hand Explorer bar, don't release left-click til it confirms destination folder in the hypertext.

    I hope you deleted all partitions during the booted install. If in doubt post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image
      My Computer


 
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