'Element not found' when trying to delete old Windows XP partition

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  1. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #21

    But you said you deleted the XP partition.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 31
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
    Thread Starter
       #22

    AddRAM said:
    But you said you deleted the XP partition.
    Yes, I deleted it using the Partition Wizard bootable CD, but running Startup Repair RESTORES the partition table and hence the XP partition
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  3. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #23

    Did you mark the W7 partition active when you used partition wizard ?
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  4. Posts : 31
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
    Thread Starter
       #24

    AddRAM said:
    Did you mark the W7 partition active when you used partition wizard ?
    It has always been Active to my knowledge (and still is now).
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  5. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #25

    So what can you boot into right now ?

    I would then take Greg`s advice and disconnect all the hard drives but C: and run the startup repair.
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  6. Posts : 31
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
    Thread Starter
       #26

    AddRAM said:
    So what can you boot into right now ?
    Windows 7, and XP too I assume, although I haven't tried the latter!
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #27

    Well that`s what I meant by an update. I had no idea you were booting into W7 yet. Can you delete the XP partition from disk mgt now ?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 31
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
    Thread Starter
       #28

    AddRAM said:
    Well that`s what I meant by an update. I had no idea you were booting into W7 yet. Can you delete the XP partition from disk mgt now ?
    If I make the XP partition inactive (as I have just done), neither OS boots and my PC boots from the W7 DVD in my DVD drive.

    After running Startup Repair, I can now boot into either W7 or XP (as I could before). Both partitions are now Active and Primary, as in the screenshot I posted earlier. Only XP is a System partition however.

    So as you can probably guess, no, I cannot delete the XP partition from Disk Management!

    Clear as mud I hope?!?

    Looks like I'm taking my PC apart tomorrow and disconnecting the XP drive
      My Computer

  9.    #29

    So what happens when you follow these steps I gave you?

    gregrocker said:
    Unplug all other HD's except Win7, make sure it's still marked Active and set first to boot in BIOS setup. Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two)

    Boot into the Win7 DVD or System Repair Disk System Recovery options to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times until Win7 starts on its own and holds the System Active Boot flags.
    Sometimes you have to force the Win7 partition to take the System boots files or it will just repair or rewrite them to the XP partition where they still reside. You do this by unplugging or disabling the XP HD as I've now written out for you twice.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 31
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
    Thread Starter
       #30

    gregrocker said:
    So what happens when you follow these steps I gave you?

    gregrocker said:
    Unplug all other HD's except Win7, make sure it's still marked Active and set first to boot in BIOS setup. Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two)

    Boot into the Win7 DVD or System Repair Disk System Recovery options to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times until Win7 starts on its own and holds the System Active Boot flags.
    Sometimes you have to force the Win7 partition to take the System boots files or it will just repair or rewrite them to the XP partition where they still reside. You do this by unplugging or disabling the XP HD as I've now written out for you twice.
    Yes, I realise that Greg, but as I said, it was too late to start taking my PC apart last night so I'm going to do what you said tonight (Tuesday) instead. Please bear with me while I do so and rest assured I will report back with the results.

    Thanks
    Steven
      My Computer


 
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