Windows 7: Removing Windows Vista from Dual Boot with Windows 7

Hello all,

Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction here....

I've got a dual boot system at the moment - screenshot attached of my Disk Management screen if that helps.

I would like to remove the Vista OS and reclaim the space now that I've transferred everything over to 7 and have a backup.

I've deleted the Vista Boot entry in msconfig's Boot section, and have looked at these posts on this forum but don't seem to be getting anywhere -

Dual booting vista and windows 7, want to remove vista all together



MBR - Restore Windows 7 Master Boot Record

As you can see from my screenshot - E: is the old, 32bit Vista partition (system active, primary partition). C: is the new, 64bit Windows 7 partition.

I'd like to remove E, and expand C, but I don't have the option to format E: when I right click.

If anyone has any tips or can point me in the right direction, it would be most appreciated. Have downloaded EasyBCD 1.7.2, although from their website I don't see Windows 7 as being supported

Thanks in advance,
Darren.

Welcome to SevenForums, Darren!

It looks as if you have Windows 7 on a logical drive. While it is possible to boot to Windows on a logical drive, it would require the 100MB system partition Windows 7 creates on installation.

How hard would it be to start over? You do not want Vista anymore, so if you start the installation process, you can delete the Vista and 7 partitions, and create a new, Primary one.

Let us know if you need help, and we will be happy to assist you.

You can accomplish what you want using free Partition Wizard Bootable CD and your Windows 7 DVD.

Back up your files and a Windows 7 Backup image externally as resizing operations can fail. Make your Recovery Disks from the Recovery Partition as it will likely be disabled after Vista removal.

Boot Partition Wizard CD, select 1 for screen resolution, right click E>Modify>Set Inactive, OK.

Now rightclick E>Delete, OK, and if you want rightclick G:Recovery>Delete, OK.

Now rightclick C>Modify>Convert to Primary, OK, and rightclick C:Modify>Set to Active, OK.

Now rightclick C>Resize, drag left grey border all the way over deleted E and G space, OK. Apply all steps.

When steps are completed, confirm C is now Active Primary.

Boot into Windows 7 DVD Repair console, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to write System MBR to C.

When Windows 7 is configured as you wish, be sure to save a Windows 7 Backup image externally so you never have to reinstall again, just reimage the HD or a replacement from the DVD.

Thanks Jonathan for the reply -

Yes, it would be a major ball-ache to start fresh now - it's my main work and home machine, and I've spent the last couple of weeks of my spare time migrating, re-installing, setting up local versions of websites I work on and installing all my Adobe, Wamp, Vis Studio....different web browsers....waffle waffle...!

I wish I'd known it would be a problem before installing, but I was a bit cautious with 7 and wanted to play it safe...

Regards,
Darren.

We have helped remove 150+ dual boots here since Windows 7 release with almost perfect success, as long as the steps are followed exactly.

Hey Greg,

Thanks for the reply

I'll follow through tomorrow - thanks for the info, much appreciated.

Regards,
Darren.

Okay...Backinig up a System Image now from Win 7. It selected C and E by default with greyed-out checkboxes, so I've started that. 189Gb so may take a little while.

Have downloaded the Boot CD image and will burn that ready to run the fun!

Thanks again,
Darren.

You're welcome, Darren.

Will be checking in throughout the day and night.

Just follow the steps carefully and ask any questions if you have them.

Hi there guys,

A BIG Thank you for providing the above information -

Followed the above steps as closely as I could, then rebooted. BOOTMGR missing, so rebooted with Windows 7 disk inserted as described above. Couple or 3 reboots, and BINGO!

I now have the 500Gb drive with Windows 7 as one partition.

Really pleased, thanks so much chaps.

Regards,
Darren.

Screenshot of end result