Can't delete second installation of Windows 7.

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  1. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #1

    Can't delete second installation of Windows 7.


    Here is the situation. My roommate wanted to use my computer and instead of asking me for my password, he decided to install a fresh copy of Windows 7 Ultimate on my 2nd hard drive. The problem now is that I cannot delete any of the windows folders (Windows, Users, Program Files, etc.) and it is taking up space on my drive. Also, I can't simply reformat because there are ~ 1TB of movies that I don't want to get rid of. Every time I try and edit permissions, I get a message stating "access denied." I've tried everything from unlocker to killbot to safe mode removal to trying to take ownership in cmd. Nothing works. Any suggestion?

    Last edited by Turnyface; 20 Jan 2010 at 18:23. Reason: Picture
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,031
    Windows 7 x64
       #2

    You think you could attach a picture of your Disk Management window using the Snipping tool? Try to put labels on the partitions so we can see what is what.

    Maybe you could shame your roomage into at least buying you a new hard drive!!
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  3. Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #3

    See this article on how to do this. Download and run the .reg file and a Take Ownership selection is added to the right click context menu. Very nice:

    Take Ownership Shortcut - Windows 7

    Makes use of the takeown command (C:\Windows\system32\takeown.exe).
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #4

    Remove your D: drive & do a start repair 3 or 4 times.

    Startup Repair
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  5.    #5

    If the take ownership shortcut doesn't work to allow you to delete the Programs, Users and Windows folders, then post back a screenshot of your full Disk Mgmt drive map so we can see what complications exist.

    Use the Snipping Tool in Start Menu, attaching file using paper clip in reply box.
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  6. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #6

    After taking ownership, I am able to remove all the folders except "Windows." When I open it up, all the sub-folders have been deleted except for "SysWOW64." I get the following error message. I've also included an image of my disk management.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Can't delete second installation of Windows 7.-1.png   Can't delete second installation of Windows 7.-dm.png  
      My Computer

  7.    #7

    Unfortunately, your E: drive has taken the System Active flag and now holds the MBR. It needs to be recovered to Win 7.

    In Disk Management, mark Win7 drive Active. Power down. Unplug E: drive. Make sure Win7 HD is first HD set to boot in BIOS, after DVD.

    Boot into Win7 DVD, select Repair My Computer on second screen, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboot to rewrite the MBR to C: drive.
    Last edited by gregrocker; 21 Jan 2010 at 12:52.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #8

    So I have now removed the System Active flag from my F drive and am still unable to delete the windows file. I have taken ownership with the registry modification. This is where I'm at. Any suggestions?


    Last edited by Turnyface; 08 Feb 2010 at 21:09. Reason: Wrong drive letter. :-\
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  9. Posts : 108
    windows
       #9

    try the following. you may have to do startup repair once you ndo remove the wow folder.

    Remove on Reboot Shell Extension Download - Softpedia
      My Computer

  10.    #10

    Unfortunately you haven't yet removed the Active flag from E and F drives.

    Use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to rightclick>Modify>Set to Inactive both E and F Drives, OK each, then Apply.
      My Computer


 
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