Windows 7: Reassigned Drive letters and System Reserve

theog,
Got it
glennc

Glenn-

What is the Windows 7 Ultimate folder? Backup?

Looks like you did indeed format F sucessfully and are using it for storage. There are no Windows 7 OS folders there at all. You just haven't yet deleted the old 200mb partition.

It is a good thing you asked since that 200mb partition is marked Active and as the first Active partition it could have derailed the System MBR into itself if you ever need to run Startup Repair to get Windows 7 started.

You can simply delete that partition in Disk Mgmt or using DISKPART commands from the Windows 7 DVD/CD Repair console if you don't want to burn a Partition Wizard CD. However PW is a great tool to have around and it will also allow you in this case to Resize your F partition into the space created by deleting the 200mb.

Let us know which you want to do and we'll give you exact steps.

gregrocker,
First may I thank you for you dogged assistance. When I mess em up I do a good job. Now I will download PC, will it remove the partition and make the F: into on block of storage and also will it retain the files that are currently on it.
I must tell you that the Windows install put the 200 MB SR area on the C: (MBR1) and a 100 MB SR area on F: (MBR2). It really did I know it for sure. So now the 200 MB is on the F: and a 100 MB is on the C:. Does the C: have everything it needs to boot?
I will get back as soon as I get PC up and running. Thanks to you and everyone
glennc

The Windows7Ultimate was made by me to store a copy of the Install disk, which I haven't done yet and a backup copy of the keycode in a text message.
The XP Pro folder holds a backup of the XP installation disk which I am running on my old computer with a copy of its keycode.
glennc

You didn't mess up anything, just held back from formatting the 200mb Sys Reserved since you think it might cause problems with booting.

What we look for to know DISK1 has all it needs to boot is "System Active" in the Sys Reserved, and "Boot" in the Windows 7 partition. As this appears correctly in your drive listings, there is not a concern about it failing to boot.

If you want to delete the 200mb partition in Disk Management first, it will prompt you if it cannot delete it due to it actually holding the System flag, even though it is not marked as such.

You can then even leave that unallocated space there although it is in the preferred lower HD address (closest to the laser).

If you want to recover the space then back up an image of F to C as Resizing operations can fail. However we have never had one fail in hundreds we have helped with here using Partition Wizard which has data protection that will not allow it to fail - just restart and attempt the operation over until you bail out at the next restart.

Boot PW CD, select 1 for screen res, rightclick F, select Resize, grab left grey border by holding left click on mouse, drag it to the left over the deleted 200mb, then click OK and Apply Steps.




Edit: Smart guy - I also back up all installers whether disk or .exe (in Downloads here).

gregrocker,
I must be doing something wrong. I see the drives one is 931.5 GB and to the right it shows a small box and its listed System reserve, a vertical line and MB2 931.32 GB. The MB2 has yellow out partly to indicate I quess the used space and the free space is white. If I click the area of MB2 and choose move/resize option and a box opens up showing the display of the MB2 area. It does not show the partition, it is yellow and then white and on the leftside of the bar it say 931.32 GB. If I move the the left side border to the right the yellow space decreases in GB and the white disappears till I can go no further and it is a small yellow box on the right side that says 329.70 GB.
Which may or may not indicate the used space on the drive. At this point I require clarification and guidance as what to do next. It show a great deal of unallocated space. I can do the same thing if I click on the 200 MB System Reserve area and it acts the same way.
Help
glennc

Oh and the pop up resize box has Using Enhanced Data Protecting Mode box checked...
glennc

You need to delete the 200mb partition first. Rightclick 200mb, Delete, OK.

Then rightclick on F, Resize, grab the left grey border while holding the mouse leftclick, slide it over the deleted 200mb all the way to the left, OK. Apply all steps.

OK, I deleted the 200 MB SR area and apply. Now it is still there but says that it is unallocated, and as well as on the Disk Partition shown above the map.
When you say click F exactly what do you mean. the previously described actions seem still to occur.
Help!
glennc

MB2 = 931gb = F in windows

click on it, select Resize, drag left border all the way to the left over the unallocated space, OK, Apply all steps.