Solved How to make partitions to reinstall Windows when windows does not boot

[prshreshtha]

So here's the story:
I was just getting some work done last night on my PC, when suddenly the power went out. After a while when the power came back on, my computer would not boot. It was stuck on the Windows loading screen. So I restarted and did diagnostic (pressed F9 before booting), turns out that everything is okay including CPU, memory and Hard Drive connection test.

So I restarted again and let the Windows load, it took 20 minutes. After which it started some disk checking (It looked like the Windows XP disk checking except it had a black background and it took 1.5 hours).

It showed that 8 files or indexes or something were unreadable. Then it restarted, and opened startup repair. Startup repair is apparently checking or disk errors which might take over an hour, but it has been over 5 hours now.

So I know that my Hard Drive is okay since it has been doing all that, but maybe the Windows files are corrupted.

I decided to re-install Windows but I want to keep my files. So I had to move all the files from the system drive to another one so I don't lose my files in the C drive. But I don't have another partition, I just have a 1.35 TB C Drive and I don't have any means of backing the files up on an external HDD.

So I was thinking if I could install Linux from a Disc, creating a partition with Linux, move all the files to that partition and then reinstall Windows from a CD.

Is it possible to do such a thing? If so what are the steps I should take to do it?

My Computer:

HPE-500f: HP Pavilion Elite HPE-500f Specs (Phenom II X6 1045T 2.7 GHz) - Desktops - CNET Reviews

Windows Home Premium SP1 x64
1.35 TB Hard Drive - ~320 GB left

Any answers are appreciated. I will try to provide more info if needed.

Thank you for your time.

 

[gregrocker]

Work through these steps to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Best to back up your User folders externally to a HD, DVD, flash, or 7gb free in the cloud with each Windows LiVE ID on Skydrive.

 

[prshreshtha]

Work through these steps to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Best to back up your User folders externally to a HD, DVD, flash, or 7gb free in the cloud with each Windows LiVE ID on Skydrive.

So, even if I only have the C drive and no other partition, and I backup my users folder, will I have my personal files on the C drive intact?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I don't quite understand your question, but.....................

Your data is currently somewhere on C. You need to get it to some other location if you are going to do a clean install.

You apparently have no external drive and no way of backing up to a USB stick or DVDs.

So you have to backup to the existing hard drive.

I assume C now covers your entire drive. If that is so, you have to shrink C and then make a new partition from that recovered space. Then move your data from C to the new partition. Then reinstall to C.

If you can boot your PC now, you may be able to shrink C with Windows Disk Management.

But it's probably a better idea to use Partition Wizard as it has fewer limitations and is highly reliable.

Go to Partitionwizard.com and get the bootable version.

 

[prshreshtha]

Thank you for your reply ignatzatsonic. Instead of Partition Wizard I'm using GParted Live on a USB because Windows is not bootable. So do I have to take any precautions before I make partitions? Do I have to do something before or afterwards? So can I do the following then:
1. Shrink C (a few gigs left)
2. Create D (which would be around 300 GB)
3. Move personal data from C to D so that C has more free space.
4. Shrink C again
5. Create E (or something) which would again be about 300 GB and move more stuff from C.
6. Repeat this process until C is at desirable size (250 GB)
7. Take D, E, etc. (all the other partitions) and merge them together so that I have C which is 250 GB and D which has the rest.

This seems possible, but I just want to make sure that it actually is before I try it.

All the help provided is very much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[gregrocker]

Seems like a lot of trouble when your data should all be backed up externally at all times anyway.

If you have no other choice then you can work your plan, but I would definitely use Partition Wizard bootable CD which has never failed in countless thousands of operations we've helped with here while all others can fail.

 

[prshreshtha]

Okay, Thank you very much. But the only other computer I have access to cannot write files to a CD, will Universal USB Installer be able to successfully copy the .iso to my USB?

 

[gregrocker]

I believe you need to use the paid version of PW to write to USB stick.

Some have reported they've written the free version ISO to stick using Win2Flash.

I know PW is on Hiren's BootCD From USB Flash Drive (Pen Drive) » www.hiren.info
which is also freeware

 

[prshreshtha]

Thanks again. I guess I'll see if PW has a demo version. If that doesn't end up well, I'll follow the links you so generously provided.

 

[AddRAM]

You don`t need a demo version, the bootable cd files are free. Just burn them to a disc. It`s near the bottom of this link. Most likely already given to you above.

Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online

 

[ramtidke]

If u create anather partion in same HDD & transfer all data in that, u will face problem while reinstalling OS with hp disk as it will force to create new partion(s) every time so u will need to format ur HDD.
I guess u need seperate media to store ur Data.
U can connect another SATA HDD in your desktop & with Bootable media thr file explorer u can transfer ur data to new HDD.
Try with minipE, hiren BootCD.

 

[prshreshtha]

That's the thing: my other pc is about 8 years old and cannot write files. I was looking for something that can make a bootable usb from an .iso file.

 

[prshreshtha]

If u create anather partion in same HDD & transfer all data in that, u will face problem while reinstalling OS with hp disk as it will force to create new partion(s) every time so u will need to format ur HDD.
I guess u need seperate media to store ur Data.
U can connect another SATA HDD in your desktop & with Bootable media thr file explorer u can transfer ur data to new HDD.
Try with minipE, hiren BootCD.

I am not using hp disk. I am using a windows retail cd. Will that cause any problems? The priority here is to reinstall windows and keep the files without access to an external hard drive for back up. Thanks.