Couple of problems Windows 7

[Raymond]

Hi,

I am on windows 7 however I got the gateway ML3108b with total of 1GB RAM. If I change the total RAM to 1.5GB will it be faster?

Problems so far:

- When I restart the laptop it comes back on with a black screen however it shutdown ok.
- Reclaiming the partition size.

I installed Unbutu on the system. I wanted to remove it completely however I went and deleted the partition on disk manager. problem is the space is not reclaiming on windows 7.

 

[richc46]

My answer for the second part of your question, is to try gparted, you can probably goodgle and find it. Actually I just found it for you Good luck





GParted -- Welcome

 

[Raymond]

Right,

What about the 1.5GB total RAM on Windows 7? Will it lag?

 

[wallyinnc]

I am on windows 7 however I got the gateway ML3108b with total of 1GB RAM. If I change the total RAM to 1.5GB will it be faster?

Welcome to the forums Raymond
You will probably see performance increase with more RAM, mostly on start up and shut down. On applications, it will depend a lot on what you run. If they are processor / memory intensive as video rendering or gaming, that is sure (although I doubt you are doing it now with only 1G). You might even want to bite the bullet and upgrade both sticks, getting the 2G.

- When I restart the laptop it comes back on with a black screen however it shutdown ok.

I need more info here. Are you not able to use the computer because of he black screen or is it temporary?

- Reclaiming the partition size.

Pls follow Rich's recommendation and don't forget to expand Win7's partition to the space you created. Pls remember that moving / creating / deleting partitions can go very wrong, so please back up your personal data before you do it.
Finally, if your Ubuntu partition was to the left of the Win7 partition and you move the Win7 partition to that empty space on the left, you might need to do a recovery install, since Win7 might not like the new position on the disk. Let us know if you need help with that

 

[Raymond]

Hi,

Thanks for the warn welcoming.

The black screen only happens when I press the restart button. I checked and no lights come on. Only the botton wifi and HD lights come on.

I might move back to windows XP since its unstable on windows 7.

Here is what I done to the windows partition:

1. I was on windows XP + Ubuntu
2. I moved the windows XP to windows 7
3. While I was on windows 7 I went to Disk management and removed the partition and now its saying ''Unlocatted'' in black.
4. I checked the sizing and see if it free'ed up and it didnt.

Thats the story there. I am stuck. Sorry if I am posting a junk of writing.

Currently I got BSOD on windows 7. However it starts up if i restart it.

 

[wallyinnc]

Thanks for the clarification Raymond
1) You have to expand the Win7 partition to the unallocated portion, in Disk Management. You can do it if it is to the right, you need GParted and what we described above if it is to the left
2) The problems you are having might be because of 1G being the minimum that Win7 32bits will run off (and it is not enough for 64 bits, are you using 32bits?) and you have probably very small space left in your drive

I would correct the partition issues and upgrade the memory. If it is still unstable and you decide to go back, those things will not harm in XP

let us know

 

[Raymond]

What about the black screen part? I dont understand whats wrong. Maybe Windows 7 is giving me BSOD because of low RAM? I might move back to Windows XP. Installing back all the drivers is going to be a pain.

1.5 GB of RAM will run smoothly on Windows XP?

Also will the Windows 7 backup work on the Windows XP system?

 

[wallyinnc]

Raymond, that is what I mean, maybe the BSOD is because of low RAM. By the way, is it only a black screen or a "Blue Screen of Death" ?

1.5G should run OK with XP as well

Before you do all that, after a BSOD you should have a dump file with info on the crash.

Please check this thread about how to obtain that information. I am not good at analyzing the dump files but I will try to get help if needed

 

[Raymond]

May I ask if the windows 7 backup will work with windows XP? I'll just do a full system clean up and go back onto windows xp

 

[wallyinnc]

May I ask if the windows 7 backup will work with windows XP? I'll just do a full system clean up and go back onto windows xp

I lost you. Do you mean Win7's system image? No, it won't work with XP, I don't think so (never tried to be honest)

 

[Raymond]

When I installed windows 7 it required me to create a backup. I was wondering if the backup will work on windows XP.

 

[wallyinnc]

I am still not sure. What backup procedure did you use? Is it in an external disk? Was it a backup you did while still in XP?
If so, you should be able to use those files in XP, they are basically a copy of your personal files you had in XP.

 

[Raymond]

When I run the Windows 7 CD it gives me some options. I chose to backup my files using the windows 7 backup feature. All my files are compiled into one file. I dont know the extension of the file. I was wondering if that backup will work on windows xp

 

[gregrocker]

It would be helpful at this point to see a screenshot your entire Disk Management map. Use Snipping Tool in Start>Programs list and attach file here using paper clip in reply box.

You may need to use a third party partitioning tool like free Partition Wizard disk to collect the space together you want for the Win7 Partition if Disk Management cannot achieve this for you. We can advise you better how to do this with a screenshot.

Once you have your partition set up I would boot into the WIndows 7 installer, choose Custom install with Advanced drive tools to format the target partition, then reinstall Windows 7, as you may have used incorrect XP partition table.

 

[Raymond]

I am moving back onto Windows XP now. I was just wondering if the Backup from windows 7 would work on windows XP. Its the Windows 7 backup utilities.

 

[gregrocker]

Do you want to try Windows 7 installed correctly?

You probably had installed it on XP formatted partition which is the incorrect partition table.

If you would like to try installing it correctly, boot into WIndows 7 installer and format the target partition first using Windows 7 formatting.

 

[Raymond]

No, I want to move back to XP now. Whats do people say I do now?

 

[gregrocker]

Do you have a windows.old folder in the root of your Win7 drive?

It can be used to roll back to XP. It also has your XP files inside.

It also will confirm that you installed Windows 7 over an XP-formatted partition which is what is causing your problems with Windows 7.

 

[wallyinnc]

Greg, can you help with the backup feature, I am stumped

 

[Raymond]

I deleted the old windows folder on windows 7. Basically I have all the drivers and etc backed up onto my other external hardrive. I want to install a fresh copy of windows xp onto my laptop. I dont want windows 7 no more. What shall I do?