I now want to uninstall Vista but can't

pooksahib · Jun 7, 2009

Hi. I'd appreciate some help with the following:

I've always had Vista on my C drive. (The HDD is partioned into 3 - C, D and E).

For the past few weeks I've had 'dual boot' - Vista and Windows7. Although I installed Win7 on D drive, it shows as being on C when I boot Win7 (with Vista having moved to D...).

I am now happy with Win7 and want to remove Vista. But when I boot into Win7 and try to format the D drive (where Vista now is) I get an error message - "Windows was unable to complete the format". I am left with 2 folders in D drive - 'Windows' and 'Program files' but neither can be deleted.

I've done a fair amount of online searching but cannot find a solution as to how I remove Vista and free up my D drive. Any assistance gratefully received!

smarteyeball · Jun 7, 2009

Open disk management (right-click computer>manage) and delete the Vista partition by selecting delete volume.

Dark Nova Gamer · Jun 7, 2009

Have you tried popping in your Windows 7 Install DVD during boot, and click threw the setup screen until it asks 'Upgrade or Custom'

Then click 'custom' and click on the Vista partition then at the bottom hit 'delete' (and/or format).

Sorry if that didn't make sense, I just woke up.

torrentg · Jun 7, 2009

You need to move your boot files from the Vista partition before you can format or delete the Vista partition.

While booted into 7:

Make sure your computer is set to see hidden and system files first.

Then copy bootmgr file from Vista partition root to 7 partiton root. Then copy the boot folder from Vista to 7, telling it to skip copying bcd and bcd.log when it asks.

Then do this command from an elevated command prompt:

bcdedit /export C:\boot\bcd

Now set the 7 partition as active.

Now you can reboot and the 7 partition will be controlling that. You can also now remove Vista from the bootmgr using either easybcd or typing msconfig in the start menu search box, then boot tab.

Vista partition can now be formatted or deleted. Good luck.

Snufffed · Jun 7, 2009

Suggest you use a good 3rd party BACKUP or Win7's.
1. Made a FULL CLONE partition of Win 7. I use Acronis v.12
2. Make a BOOT CD with all required to use BACKUP files.
3. FORMAT C:\ from boot CD.
4. RESTORE Full Clone/Backup on to C:\
5. Replace Bootable CD with Win7 DVD.
6. Reboot - if it fails -
7. Boot from Win 7 DVD and REPAIR C:\Win7
Your ready to go.

smarteyeball · Jun 7, 2009

torrentg said:
You need to move your boot files from the Vista partition before you can format or delete the Vista partition.

oops, forgot that little gem

Good catch.

pooksahib · Jun 7, 2009

My thanks to you all - I'll try torrentg's suggestion first though.

"Then copy bootmgr file from Vista partition root to 7 partiton root".
Do you mean the bootmgr file here: D/Windows/Boot/PCAT/bootmgr
Where exactly is it to be copied - to the same place in C (i.e. REPLACING the Win7 bootmgr file)?

"Then copy the boot folder from Vista to 7, telling it to skip copying bcd and bcd.log when it asks."
Do you mean REPLACE the Win7 Boot folder with the Vista one?

"Then do this command from an elevated command prompt:"
Is that a 'Start/Run' command or a DOS command?

"Now set the 7 partition as active."
How exactly is that done?

Many thanks.

SIW2 · Jun 7, 2009

Right on torrentg

Hi pooksahib,

First, Post a screenshot of Disk Management window - like the one Smarteye posted so we can see what your setup is - and which steps below you need to follow.

If you already have bootmgr and Boot folder on 7 partition , all you need to do is Step 4,5,6.

1. Go to folder options and make sure Hidden files are showing. Also untick "Hide protected operating sytem files", Apply, OK.

2. Look at the root of the partition and you will see bootmgr and a yellow folder called Boot.

3. Copy and paste those, skip copying bcd as it won't let you, then use the bcdedit command to export a copy of bcd from the current System partition to the Boot folder you have just copied across, like this:

4. type cmd in Start search box - when it pops up, rt clcik and run as admin, then type :

bcdedit /export C:\boot\bcd {enter}

Close cmd prompt.

5. Go to Disk Management , rt click C and Mark as Active.

6. Restart to hand System status to C.

pooksahib · Jun 7, 2009

SIW2, that was superb. I now have a spotlessly clean D drive with Windows7 safely housed on C. Many, many thanks to you.

But... on startup I'm still getting that black and white screen asking me to select which O/S I want to use. I'd've thought that would have gone automatically. How do I get rid of it so that the first thing I see after power-on is the Win7 password screen?**

Thanks again for the beautifully clear instructions.

**It's OK - I worked it out myself!

torrentg · Jun 7, 2009

Hey, glad you got it sorted out.

Haha SIW2, if it wasn't for one of your posts a few months ago when I learned, I'd still be telling people to use VistaBootPro to copy the bcd.

SIW2 · Jun 7, 2009

Hi pooksahib,

GLad it worked out for you.

Torrentg - well done for spotting it and suggesting the correct remedy.

Nothing wrong with Easybcd or VistaBootPro - I just think it's better to know how to do these things manually - so you can get out of trouble if needed. - seems you know how to do that now.

mithatkn · Jun 8, 2009

SIW2 said:
Right on torrentg

Hi pooksahib,

First, Post a screenshot of Disk Management window - like the one Smarteye posted so we can see what your setup is - and which steps below you need to follow.

If you already have bootmgr and Boot folder on 7 partition , all you need to do is Step 4,5,6.

1. Go to folder options and make sure Hidden files are showing. Also untick "Hide protected operating sytem files", Apply, OK.

2. Look at the root of the partition and you will see bootmgr and a yellow folder called Boot.

View attachment 13555

3. Copy and paste those, skip copying bcd as it won't let you, then use the bcdedit command to export a copy of bcd from the current System partition to the Boot folder you have just copied across, like this:

4. type cmd in Start search box - when it pops up, rt clcik and run as admin, then type :

bcdedit /export C:\boot\bcd {enter}

Close cmd prompt.

5. Go to Disk Management , rt click C and Mark as Active.

6. Restart to hand System status to C.

I did what's written here except for step 5,6 my windows 7 was installed on E so i left E as active and i didn't understand the step 6 so i did in a different way but now when i try to open my computer there is an error:
"Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem :
1. Insert your windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language settings,and then click "Next" .
3. Click "Repair your computer."

File : /boot/bcd
so i put my windows 7 dvd but the language settings window won't come up so i can't click on next because of this i can't get to the step where i can "repair your computer".

SIW2 · Jun 8, 2009

Hi,

I am not sure what your original setup was and what you are trying to do.

Are you trying to delete a partition , but you can't as it is the System partition ?

What did you have installed and where?

Step 6 is restart the computer.

Did you boot from the 7 dvd - the message doesn't explain that - but you need to boot the dvd.

First you get windows loading files, then select Language and keyboard.

Next you see a screen saying Install Now - don't click that , click at the bottom where it says Repair my Computer - see this tutorial:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

mithatkn · Jun 8, 2009

Now i started windows 7 installation from the beginning i chosed to i install it on C where vista is already installed but because i tried dual boot before now i have files of Windows 7 on E and vista.old files on C i just wanna get rid all of them what should i do

SIW2 · Jun 8, 2009

Hi,

So you now have Win 7 installed on C - and Windows .old on C.

You have the previous install of 7 still on E.

You want to keep the 7 installed on c.

You also want to get rid of E and the Windows.old folder?

Look in Disk Management and see which partition is marked as "System".

mithatkn · Jun 8, 2009

yes those are the things that i want
C is marked as System

SIW2 · Jun 8, 2009

If C is system , you can just rt click E in Disk Managment and delete it.

If you need any data from the old Vista installation - it will be in the Windows.old folder - just copy it from there somewhere safe.

You can get rid of the Windows.old folder, by running Disk Cleanup.

You may have two 7 entries in the boot menu when you start up.

Type msconfig in Start search box - click it when it pops up - click the boot tab, highlight the 7 entry not marked as default and delete it.

mithatkn · Jun 8, 2009

i went to disk management and right clicked on e and selected delete volume but now it's disappeared i cannot find it how can i get it back

mithatkn · Jun 8, 2009

i got it back on my own thank you anyways but after deleting E and re formatting it now i cannot find disc cleanup sorry for causing so much trouble

torrentg · Jun 8, 2009

Heh heh, no trouble.
Start menu, all programs, accessories, system tools, disk cleanup

or in start menu search box, type "disk" and you'll see it there.

I now want to uninstall Vista but can't

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