Problems formatting D-drive after newly installing Windows 7

ekuarf · 16 Jan 2013

Hallo,

my problem is the following. I had Windows XP on my Samsung P560 laptop. This week I installed Windows 7 Professional (32 bit) on it. The first time I did it, the new installation did not wipe the computer clean; which is what I wanted. I then found out how to change the boot order to boot from the installation CD. Now it wiped the C-drive clean, but put the old stuff on the D-drive. At least, that is what I am guessing is going on: The files that were on the C-drive are now on the D-drive. When I start up Windows all folders etc. are empty.

To really clean the laptop, I now want to format the D-drive. However, the "format" option in Disk Management is inactive (stays gray). I can only guess what is going on. Is Windows 7 installed twice on my computer? When I start up the computer, on the black BIOS screen, it says Windows 7 twice as well. What can I do about it? If not, why can I not format the D-drive? I attached the a Disk Management screen shot. I hope that helps.

If you know what is going on and even know how to fix it, please use "normal" people language. This is the only computer I have and I need it for work daily, so I really want to prevent misunderstandings.

Thank you! Frauke

Night Hawk · 16 Jan 2013

Hello ekuarf Welcome to the Seven Forums!

With one look the D partition was the original XP C primary. Did you previously have a second storage/backup D partition before installing 7? You installed 7 to a totally separate second primary and didn't replace the OEM XP preinstall when using the custom option during the 7 install resulting in seeing an almost XP/7 dual boot.

You have two options to go with in order to clean all this up depending on how you want to go about it. Each however might involve seeing a second new 7 install however.

1) Nuke both C and D and reserve D for a separate storage/backup partition putting 7 on the first primary. 2)Clean both C and D off entirely to see a brand new larger single C primary with a fresh 7 install go onto that.

Simply nuking the present D and moving C back to the front of the drive is a time consumer and doesn't guaranty integrity due to the large volume of drive space once C is moved and expanded to simply see the enlarged C primary fill the drive. And for the second option you will want to decide if you want to continue keeping the XP Factory recovery partition on the drive or lose that and add another 10gb into the mix.