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

[CiaraJansonFan]

Hi all,

I've been trying to (finally) get rid of my old Windows XP partition from the dual boot setup I've had for over 12 months now, but I'm struggling

I've been using the instructions from here:

Video: Remove Windows XP from a dual-boot configuration with Windows 7 | TechRepublic

It works OK until I try the step to write a new boot sector to the Windows 7 partition:

Bootrec /fixboot

which gives the error: 'Element not found'

I then have to run Startup Repair to get Windows 7 to boot. It fixes the problem and the log says:

"Partition table does not have a valid System Partition"

It repairs the partition table and when I get back into Windows 7, the Windows XP partition I deleted in DISKPART is back again!

I have Windows 7 installed on a 120Gb SSD and 2 x 2TB HDDs, one of which has Windows XP still installed on the 1st partition.

Can anyone assist me please?

Thanks
Steven

 

[seavixen32]

You can use Partition Wizard to create a bootable disc that you can use to delete the XP partition.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93322-partition-wizard-use-bootable-cd.html

When you're done, boot back into your Windows 7 DVD and restore the Master Boot Record, as this Windows Seven Forums tutorial explains.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/20864-mbr-restore-windows-7-master-boot-record.html

 

[CiaraJansonFan]

Thanks for the quick reply!

That tutorial looks useful and I haven't tried that yet so will hopefully be able to give it a go tomorrow and get back to you in the next few days.

Thanks again
Steven

 

[seavixen32]

You're very welcome.

Please keep us posted with the outcome or post back if you need further help.

It may also help you to know that it pays to run a startup repair three times with a reboot between each one as the repair procedure does not necessarily fix everything with the first pass.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

 

[CiaraJansonFan]

Hi,

I've done what you said but I'm afraid it didn't work

When I tried running bootsect /nt60 SYS /mbr I got the following error:

The System partition was not found:
The requested system device cannot be found.

I read the help for bootsect and then tried:

bootsect /nt60 C: /mbr

which seemed to have worked, but I still can't get Windows 7 to boot without running a Startup Repair, which puts me back to square one (dual boot with XP).

I tried bootrec /fixboot again but still get 'Element not found'.

In Disk Management my Windows 7 drive shows (Boot, Page File, Active, Crash Dump, Primary Partition). My Windows XP drive shows (System, Active, Primary Partition).

Anything else I can try please?

Thanks
Steven

 

[seavixen32]

Try removing the Active flag from the Windows XP partition.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/197157-partition-mark-inactive.html

Once you've done that, run the Startup Repair three times with a reboot between each one.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

 

[SIW2]

Yes, Seavixen,

That was the issue.

Is his win 7 partition primary?

 

[CiaraJansonFan]

Thanks again - I've removed the Active flag from the XP partition and I'll run the Startup Repair 3 times tomorrow night (hopefully).

After I've done that, should I just carry on as before and delete the XP partition using Partition Wizard and then I assume Windows 7 should be capable of booting on its own, is that right?

Cheers
Steven

 

[seavixen32]

Yes, Seavixen,

That was the issue.

Is his win 7 partition primary?

According to an earlier post, yes, it is.

 

[seavixen32]

Thanks again - I've removed the Active flag from the XP partition and I'll run the Startup Repair 3 times tomorrow night (hopefully).

After I've done that, should I just carry on as before and delete the XP partition using Partition Wizard and then I assume Windows 7 should be capable of booting on its own, is that right?

Cheers
Steven

You've got it in one.

Best of luck and I hope the outcome is a positive one.

Please update us as to to how you get on.

 

[gregrocker]

Please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Management drive map with listings, using the Snipping Tool in Start Menu. Screen Shots

The procedure is to mark the Win7 partition Active, then run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Time.
Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two)

However there are unknowns which frequently exist that require seeing the disk picture, e.g. if Win7 is on a Logical partition it must be converted to Primary using Partition Wizard, or if a Recovery partition or other boot partition is present that's marked Active it needs to be considered. So it is flying blind to advise you without seeing the DIsk Mgmt screenshot.

 

[AddRAM]

Have you tried using the partition wizard bootable disc yet ? There is no reason it won`t work.
Also, as asked, please upload a shot of disk management.

 

[CiaraJansonFan]

Hi all,

I ran Startup Repair 3 times tonight after marking the Windows XP partition inactive last night. The first time it said it had fixed the problem, the second and third times it said there was no problem to fix.

I haven't tried deleting the XP partition again yet, but I suspect Windows 7 still won't boot when I do so as the Startup Repair hasn't made the Windows 7 partition a System one and the XP partition is ACTIVE again!

Please see attached screenshot as requested:



Thanks in advance,
Steven

 

[CiaraJansonFan]

Have you tried using the partition wizard bootable disc yet ? There is no reason it won`t work.
Also, as asked, please upload a shot of disk management.

Yes, I used the Partition Wizard CD last night to delete the XP partition.

 

[AddRAM]

Can you give us an update ?

 

[gregrocker]

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.

 

[CiaraJansonFan]

Can you give us an update ?

I already have - above!

 

[AddRAM]

I saw that, I meant was everything ok.

Don`t forget to click the scale on those that`ve helped you.

 

[CiaraJansonFan]

I saw that, I meant was everything ok.

Don`t forget to click the scale on those that`ve helped you.

It's not OK, no. You should have noticed from the screenshot I posted that the XP partition is very much alive and I suspect if I delete it, Windows 7 will fail to boot again

 

[CiaraJansonFan]

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.

Thanks for the suggestions Greg but it's too late to try that tonight so it'll have to be a job for tomorrow night