Safely marking new Win7 install as active

[sq10prog]

So, basically, after salvaging an old laptop that had Vista preinstalled, and without thinking, I shrinked the 70GB partition, and used the free space to install Windows 7.

Now, I'm not saying it's broken, but I want to get rid of the Vista partition, and I want to do it without the installation disk.

In short, here's my partition table from Disk Management:



Is there a way I can *safely* double-check to see if I can mark my Windows 7 partition as active and not cause a boot error (e.g. ntldr is missing) and force me to use the disk, or can I use Vista's recovery partition to fix/add Win7's boot part of the OS and then mark it as active?

btw, on F8, there is no 'repair your computer' option (for Win7, that is), so I can't do a fixboot from there.


EDIT: after further digging, I found that the Vista partition has the boot folder and the bootmgr file, while Win7 does not. Is it possible to move the folder/file or is there a better way to add the boot part?

 

[Ztruker]

You can't do what you want without the install DVD since you will need some way top make the Win 7 partition bootable after you remove the Vista partition.

If you do not have a Windows 7 installation DVD, you can download a legal copy with SP1 integrated from here:

Windows 7 Direct Download Links

Make sure you get the same version you have, Home Premium, Pro or Ultimate and 32 or 64 bit. Note that Basic or Starter is not available.

I recommend using ImgBurn at 4X speed (or the slowest available) to create the DVD from the downloaded .iso file.

You can do this on any computer capable of burning a DVD.

YOU MUST HAVE A VALID KEY TO INSTALL THIS .ISO. The one on the COA sticker on your computer will work.

You can also create a bootable USB Flash drive (4GB or larger) to install Windows 7 from.

1. Download and run Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3
2. Select Windows 7 from the first drop down list, all the way to the bottom
3. Select the downloaded Windows 7 iso file
4. Select your USB flash drive
5. Click Create

For techies or folks who work on computers: Create Windows 7 Universal ISO With All Editions Selection On Install with ei.cfg Removal Utility.
This will fit on a 6GB flash drive or can be burned to a DVD.

 

[sq10prog]

...

I was fearing that. So basically, after I make my bootable flash drive, then I just remove the partition, plug in the recovery console, and run 'fixboot', or is there more to it?

 

[gregrocker]

Mark the Win7 partition Active, reboot into the Win7 DVD or System Repair Disk to run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times until Win7 starts and holds the System Active Boot flags on its partition.

You can now boot into free Partition Wizard boot CD to delete the Recovery and Vista partitions, rightclick the Strorage partition to Resize then slide it all the way to the left, then click OK. Partition Wizard Resize Partition - Video Help.

Next rightclick C to Resize, drag the left border all the way to the left to take up the space from the deleted and moved partitions, click OK, then Apply all steps.

The only way to make this better is to back up the files on the Storage partition so you can delete it too so that C is on the left hand side of the HD where it is read faster. You can then adjust the right side of C to make room for a data partition if you need one.

If you're interested in getting a perfect install then make sure you followed the steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 (same for retail) or I would do it over again deleting all partitions during install after backing up your data.

 

[sq10prog]

...

Well, here's the interesting part: there is no system recovery option or an option to create a sysrecovery disk on my windows 7.

Anywho, I'm currently downloading some isos that might help me recover Windows 7 immediately after marking the partition as active, so I'll play around with it, and when I'm sure the recovery will work, I will do the recovery and cross my fingers.

 

[AddRAM]

Wow, you have all that on a 74 Gig hard drive ? You need to get your data off it and create 1 partition and install 7 on it.

What`s on the D partition ?

 

[sq10prog]

Wow, you have all that on a 74 Gig hard drive ? You need to get your data off it and create 1 partition and install 7 on it.

What`s on the D partition ?

Yep. I once had another computer that I (also) salvaged, and the HDD was 80GB.... I installed Windows 7, Arch Linux, Windows XP... and had in total about 7 partitions each being around ~10GB. I'm not very wise when it comes to partitioning.

And the D partition is Vista, which is what I want to get rid of. Sorry for not being clear in my picture, as I said that the first partition is Vista... which also points to the words recovery partition, which I meant to say in short "Vista's recovery partition".

 

[AddRAM]

You can delete all the partitions with your Windows 7 install disc, but the method I prefer using is, booting with a Partition Wizard boot cd, deleting all the partitions, creating 1 new partition, and marking it active. That way you will have just 1 partition C, and no system reserved partition. You need all the space you can get on that drive.

Partition Wizard Bootable CD allows user to manage partition directly with partition manager bootable CD.

This is a great tool and you should have it in your arsenal.

 

[gregrocker]

I took the time to write out the exact steps to do what you want. Did you even see them?

You could at least acknowledge the steps so I know I didn't waste my time.

 

[sq10prog]

I took the time to write out the exact steps to do what you want. Did you even see them?

You could at least acknowledge the steps so I know I didn't waste my time.

Yes, I saw them. Did you see me quote you?

 

[sq10prog]

You can delete all the partitions with your Windows 7 install disc, but the method I prefer using is, booting with a Partition Wizard boot cd, deleting all the partitions, creating 1 new partition, and marking it active. That way you will have just 1 partition C, and no system reserved partition. You need all the space you can get on that drive.

Partition Wizard Bootable CD allows user to manage partition directly with partition manager bootable CD.

This is a great tool and you should have it in your arsenal.

Yes, I know, and I will do that, but I wanted to know if I could make the partition I am currently on bootable and active without using the recovery CD. It will be a challenge, at least.
And yes, but I prefer/use Parted Magic.

 

[gregrocker]

May I ask why you won't proceed with those steps.

Feel free to ask back any questions if needed.

 

[sq10prog]

May I ask why you won't proceed with those steps.

Feel free to ask back any questions if needed.

Don't have time -- didn't try them yet, and on top of that, I have yet to find a CD to burn. My resources are very limited, you know.

 

[gregrocker]

You can buy 5 good quality CD's or 3 DVD's on the wall rack by the camera dept at Walgreens for $2.