Removing previous version of Windows

[glenvarun]

Hi guys,

I have this issue regarding removing my previous copy of windows from my Harddisk
I had a 1TB HDD which had windows installed on the C Drive partition.
A few days back, i purchased an SSD as well as another 1 TB HDD.
I installed windows on the SSD using a bootable usb drive.
However now on boot i get two copies of Window 7 - one for the SSD and one for the HDD.
I tried formatting the C drive throught the new Windows (SSD) , but it would give the option to delete partition.
Finally i managed to wipe and format the C partition using EasyUS Partition Manager, however I still get the two options for boot.
Also my C drive is showing 8 gb as used but there is nothing in the drive.


Here is a screenshot of the Disk Management screen

Please help,
Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

Not only did you not unplug the other drives during the install to the SSD but you ran the installer from the old OS which locked the letter C from being used on the SSD as it would had the installer been correctly booted to Clean Install Windows 7.

I would start over and unplug the other drives to install to the SSD if you want it to boot as C correctly.

If you are one of the few who doesn't care that Win7 is not on C then you can simply delete C and it's former System Reserved boot partition, but first you must move the paging file for A off of it because somehow it winded up there. To do this shut off the paging file and then turn it back on set to A: Virtual Memory Paging File - Change - Vista Forums

You can then mark Inactive System Reserved to delete it and C in Disk Mgmt, repartition as data drives. Partition - Mark as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums

 

[glenvarun]

I would like to have the system on C.
So if i disconnect the other HDD and justeave the ssd connected and then install windows, will it solve the issue?

 

[gregrocker]

Yes. Delete all partitions as shown in the tutorial.

 

[AddRAM]

The ssd will be C, Windows will always have the letter C, unless you make a mistake in installing the way you did, as Greg pointed out.

If you just delete the C partition on the 1 TB drive, the C letter would become available, but I would do as Greg stated and re install.

How much memory do you have installed ? You may not even need a page file

The 8 GB used on C is your page file, I would delete that partition.

As Greg has stated, if you unplug all the hard drives, and re install windows on the ssd, all will be fixed.

3 things you can do to gain back space on c: ( The ssd once you re install windows )

1) Turn off the page file ( with 8 GBs of memory, you don`t need one )
2) Turn off system restore ( if you don`t use it )
3) Turn off the hyberfile ( if you don`t use it )

How in the world did the ssd ever get named A ? That`s impossible unless you changed it yourself, windows will never use A or B :huh:

 

[gregrocker]

It was installed from the existing OS thereby blocking use of C, and A was first available.

Leave the paging and hiberfiles alone after reinstall.

 

[glenvarun]

Yes. Delete all partitions as shown in the tutorial.

Will do that in the morning. A complete reinstall. Thanks a lot for your guidance.

The ssd will be C, Windows will always have the letter C, unless you make a mistake in installing the way you did, as Greg pointed out.

If you just delete the C partition on the 1 TB drive, the C letter would become available, but I would do as Greg stated and re install.

How much memory do you have installed ? You may not even need a page file

The 8 GB used on C is your page file, I would delete that partition.

As Greg has stated, if you unplug all the hard drives, and re install windows on the ssd, all will be fixed.

3 things you can do to gain back space on c: ( The ssd once you re install windows )

1) Turn off the page file ( with 8 GBs of memory, you don`t need one )
2) Turn off system restore ( if you don`t use it )
3) Turn off the hyberfile ( if you don`t use it )

How in the world did the ssd ever get named A ? That`s impossible unless you changed it yourself, windows will never use A or B :huh:

Thanks a lot for the instructions. That stupid mistake of naming it was commited by me, Since C wasn't available

It was installed from the existing OS thereby blocking use of C, and A was first available.

Leave the paging and hiberfiles alone after reinstall.

 

[AddRAM]

I knew it

 

[glenvarun]

Thanks alot guys, reinstalled it on the ssd while disconnecting all other hdds. Works like a bliss now.
Thanks a lot for all the help amd for guiding me through it. Really appreciate it.