| Windows 7: Strange W7 installation |
09 Dec 2009
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#1 | | |
Strange W7 installation I had my computer set up as a dual boot for Windows 7 and XP. My Windows 7 came up with an authentication error after I tried to repartition the drive, so I had to reinstall it. Right before I did the reinstall, I deleted Windows XP pro from the other partition and formatted that partition (using the Windows 7 tool that comes up during the setup process).
I've now reinstalled Windows 7, but I'm confused by what I see in the disk management utility. It says that the primary drive is something called the "system reserved drive." In fact this drive has the following attributes: (System, active, primary partition). Strangely, my Windows 7, which is now the only OS on the computer is listed as (Boot, Page file, crash dump, logical).
What is this "system reserved drive," and why isn't Windows 7 listed as being the primary drive? Do I need to run another clean install? | My System Specs |
| OS Windows 7 CPU AMD Athlon X2 6000+ 3.0 Ghz Motherboard PC Chips AG 13g+ V3 Memory 2.0 gb Graphics Card built in Sound Card built in Monitor(s) Displays LG 32 inch flat screen Screen Resolution 1080i Hard Drives Seagate internal 500 gb
WD "My Passport" external 500gb |
09 Dec 2009
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#2 | | Win7 x 6 PC's California, Florida, Boston |
Can you please post back a screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map? Use the Snipping Tool in the Start Menu, attaching the file using the paper clip in reply box.
Sounds like you got the 100mb System Reserved partition that is sometimes installed with Windows 7. It contains the MBR and the repair tools found on the Windows 7 DVD and Repair Disk, making them available by tapping F8 at bootup. It can be removed if you want, but requires recovery of the MBR into Windows 7 partition.
But let us see the screenshot to know for sure. | My System Specs | | |
09 Dec 2009
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#3 | | |
Well, I would post a screen shot, but every other time I open up disk management it hangs on "Connecting to virtual disk service" and doesn't bring up any of my drive info. I'll post the screen shot of that. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 CPU AMD Athlon X2 6000+ 3.0 Ghz Motherboard PC Chips AG 13g+ V3 Memory 2.0 gb Graphics Card built in Sound Card built in Monitor(s) Displays LG 32 inch flat screen Screen Resolution 1080i Hard Drives Seagate internal 500 gb
WD "My Passport" external 500gb |
09 Dec 2009
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#4 | | |
I've now restarted 3 times and the disk management tool just keeps hanging whenever I try to load the information. I don't know what to do. Windows 7 has so many bugs. On my previous install it thought I had a non-genuine version because I changed the partition size. That bug forced me to do this installation, and now i'm having a completely different problem. I don't get it. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 CPU AMD Athlon X2 6000+ 3.0 Ghz Motherboard PC Chips AG 13g+ V3 Memory 2.0 gb Graphics Card built in Sound Card built in Monitor(s) Displays LG 32 inch flat screen Screen Resolution 1080i Hard Drives Seagate internal 500 gb
WD "My Passport" external 500gb |
09 Dec 2009
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#5 | | Windows 7 Pro x64 & Fedora 16 (64bit) Bathurst |
You wouldn't have needed a reinstallation for the activation, you changed the size of the partition and sometimes it happens and is completely normal.
For the disk management, are you waiting long enough for things to appear? Sometimes it can take a bit more time. You could try going directly to it by pressing the start orb and writing "diskmgmt.msc" without the quotes then pressing enter. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Custom built Desktop(Myself) Specs below - Also Asus G53SW-A1 laptop OS Windows 7 Pro x64 & Fedora 16 (64bit) CPU Intel Core i3 530 2.93GHz Motherboard Asus P7P55-M Memory 8GB DDR3 Graphics Card EVGA GTX 550Ti FPB Sound Card OnBoard Monitor(s) Displays HP w2207h & Acer H213H Screen Resolution 1280x1050 & 1920x1080 Keyboard Logitech MK710 Mouse and Keyboard combo Mouse Logitech MK710 Mouse and Keyboard combo PSU Mushkin HP-550 550W Power suppy Case Cooler Master Elite310 Hard Drives HD 1: WD Caviar Black 1TB
HD 2: WD Caviar 320GB
HD 3: WD Caviar 750GB
HD 4: WD Caviar Blue 500GB Internet Speed 15 Mb/s Up & Down |
09 Dec 2009
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#6 | | Win7 x 6 PC's California, Florida, Boston |
You would not get non-genuine error from just trying to repartition. That was a good time to post here for help.
This is not Windows 7 bugs but most likely install mistakes or other interference.
Install free Partition Wizard and get screenshot from it using Snipping Tool in start menu, attaching file in reply box using Paper clip. Attachment 41287
We only need to see if you have something about the formatted partition that is interfering with Windows 7. The system reserved 100mb partition is fine and sounds correct, as does the Windows 7 partition as you relate it. But we need to see to be sure.
This may only require a Repair Install | My System Specs | | |
09 Dec 2009
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#7 | | |

Quote: Originally Posted by gregrocker You would not get non-genuine error from just trying to repartition. That was a good time to post here for help.
This is not Windows 7 bugs but install mistakes. I'm sorry, but you are incorrect. It did have something to do with partitioning. After I installed Windows 7, it worked perfectly for a day. Then after using a partition program to move unallocated space to my Win 7 partition, the computer restarted with a blue wallpaper and the words, "Windows 7, build 7600 This is not a genuine version" in small white letters in the bottom righthand corner.
I looked on this very forum, and there were multiple people who had the same problem after playing with partitions. Windows 7 has a bug where the OS changes the letter assignment of your partitions in the registry, which of course messes with the activation.
I followed the directions that I got on this forum, but I couldn't fix the problem. In case you're interested, here's the info from this forum on the error. There is no doubt Windows 7 is buggy.
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/37113-booting-problem-related-windows-not-genuine-error-2.html#post430194 | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 CPU AMD Athlon X2 6000+ 3.0 Ghz Motherboard PC Chips AG 13g+ V3 Memory 2.0 gb Graphics Card built in Sound Card built in Monitor(s) Displays LG 32 inch flat screen Screen Resolution 1080i Hard Drives Seagate internal 500 gb
WD "My Passport" external 500gb |
09 Dec 2009
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#8 | | |

Quote: Originally Posted by Sbrideau You wouldn't have needed a reinstallation for the activation, you changed the size of the partition and sometimes it happens and is completely normal.
For the disk management, are you waiting long enough for things to appear? Sometimes it can take a bit more time. You could try going directly to it by pressing the start orb and writing "diskmgmt.msc" without the quotes then pressing enter. I've been waiting 45 minutes and it still hasn't come up. Sometimes, after a restart, it opens after about 15 seconds. So I know there is something wrong. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 CPU AMD Athlon X2 6000+ 3.0 Ghz Motherboard PC Chips AG 13g+ V3 Memory 2.0 gb Graphics Card built in Sound Card built in Monitor(s) Displays LG 32 inch flat screen Screen Resolution 1080i Hard Drives Seagate internal 500 gb
WD "My Passport" external 500gb |
09 Dec 2009
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#9 | | Win7 x 6 PC's California, Florida, Boston |
Where did you get your copy of Windows 7?
Install free Partition Wizard and get screenshot from it using Snipping Tool in start menu, attaching file in reply box using Paper clip. PartitionWizard.exe
We only need to see if you have something about the partitioning that is interfering with Windows 7. The system reserved 100mb partition is fine and sounds correct, as does the Windows 7 partition as you relate it. But we need to see to be sure.
This may only require a Repair Install
Last edited by gregrocker; 09 Dec 2009 at 06:23 PM..
| My System Specs | | |
09 Dec 2009
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#10 | | |

Quote: Originally Posted by gregrocker Where did you get your copy of Windows 7?
Install free Partition Wizard and get screenshot from it using Snipping Tool in start menu, attaching file in reply box using Paper clip. PartitionWizard.exe
We only need to see if you have something about the partitioning that is interfering with Windows 7. The system reserved 100mb partition is fine and sounds correct, as does the Windows 7 partition as you relate it. But we need to see to be sure.
This may only require a Repair Install I got my Windows 7 from the $29.99 student discount site at digitalriver. I'll try to get a screenshot. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 CPU AMD Athlon X2 6000+ 3.0 Ghz Motherboard PC Chips AG 13g+ V3 Memory 2.0 gb Graphics Card built in Sound Card built in Monitor(s) Displays LG 32 inch flat screen Screen Resolution 1080i Hard Drives Seagate internal 500 gb
WD "My Passport" external 500gb Strange W7 installation problems? All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:19 AM. | |