Accidently Installed Win7 to Recovery \:D

[drjim]

I accidentally installed Win7 to Recovery \ instead of :C. Once I caught my error, I installed Win7 no problem to :C, but is now almost full and I figure it shouldn't be. Plus, when I boot up, I get the black and white screen asking which Win7 I want to boot up.

Can someone tell me what I can do (preferably not involving reinstalling Win7 to :C)?

I thought of just reformatting , but thought it better to ask you experts.

As always, thanks and happy holidays!

 

[Minotar]

LMOA!!
Sorry its just a bit funny lol,something id do

Download Partition Wizard Home Edition
Free Download Partition Wizard

Format it>Apply>
Right click the Partition>Move/Resize>Shrink it>Apply
Right click the Drive with Win7 on it>Resize>Expand it>Apply

Click apply at the bottom of the page as above,this is important

 

[Night Hawk]

I think you goofed the recovery partition depending which version the system came preinstalled with. You may not be able to see the recovery partition while in the Disk Management tool to no surprize being hidden to begin with but any 3rd party drive partitioning tool like the program there or another like GParted can remove the 5-7gb partition generally seen for that.

For removing the second entry seen on the boot screen that will take an edit of the BCD store which is easy enough once you know which is which leaving the C as default! The System>Advanced system settings>Startup & Recovery settings there can see to that.

Or you see that done as well as remove the extra entry in one shot using another free stand alone executable called BellaVista(formerly BCD Editor) found at System Tools - BellaVista

Simply download the zip file and extract the two folders Win32 and 64bit from the zip file itself into the folder you download it to and open the correct one for the flavor of 7 you are running. The BellaVista.exe file is named the same in both so choose the correct folder and simply double click on the executable itself to run the editing tool.

The drive tool you use will wipe the recovery partition and expand the C primary easy enough.

 

[gregrocker]

You have established a dual boot with two Win7 installs. We can fix this if you want:

Please post back a screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map, using Snipping Tool in Start Menu, attach file using paper clip in reply box.

If you're not too attached to either install and want to start with a clean slate, boot from the WIn7 DVD, select Custom install, then Drive tools (advanced) to delete all partitions, create New partition(s) as you wish, then format before installing Win7 to the first partition.

Otherwise we can help clean up what you have as soon as you post back the screenshot.

 

[Night Hawk]

In most cases the recovery partition is well under 10gb. However it may be at the front of the drive rather then seen at the back. If that proves to be the case nuking it and moving the existing C forward in order to expand it after will require a 3rd party program. That will take time since you have files already loaded onto it.

If the recovery is at the back that will be much easier to remove and simply expand C to fill the empty space in. First you may want to label the C primary in order to distinguish it from the recovery partition while the size is the actual giveaway to avoid accidently deleting the wrong one!

If you haven't have much experience with partitioning drives you wouldn't any mishaps since you have a working install on C now. The tool at the link there can also rename the entry in the bcd store itself so you know which one is for C. The screen here will show how 3 separate installations on 3 different hard drives can be IDed easy enough.

You won't be having any worries like that there however! :roflmao:

Happy Holidays!

 

[drjim]

You have established a dual boot with two Win7 installs. We can fix this if you want:

Please post back a screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map, using Snipping Tool in Start Menu, attach file using paper clip in reply box.

If you're not too attached to either install and want to start with a clean slate, boot from the WIn7 DVD, select Custom install, then Drive tools (advanced) to delete all partitions, create New partition(s) as you wish, then format before installing Win7 to the first partition.

Otherwise we can help clean up what you have as soon as you post back the screenshot.

I'm not attached to either install and would rather not have to reinstall Win7 (I have set up the PC with programs, tweaks, etc., so would prefer to not start from scratch).

Can you tell me what you mean by my Disk Management drive map? As soon as I hear back, I'll post and look forward to your guidance.

FYI, the PC is a Dell desktop running Vista Home Premium which I am upgrading to Win7. And the drive is clearly identified as Recovery and has about 14GB in it (just about full now).

I really appreciate your help!

 

[SIW2]

Please post a screenshot of Disk Management window

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-how-post-screenshot-seven-forums.html


Type partition in start search - click "create and format hard disk partitions" - Disk management will open.

Click View>Customize, untick Console tree and Action pane, OK.

Then take a screenshot of the full window.

 

[Minotar]

I'm not attached to either install and would rather not have to reinstall Win7 (I have set up the PC with programs, tweaks, etc., so would prefer to not start from scratch).

Can you tell me what you mean by my Disk Management drive map? As soon as I hear back, I'll post and look forward to your guidance.

FYI, the PC is a Dell desktop running Vista Home Premium which I am upgrading to Win7.

I really appreciate your help!

Go to Control Panel>Set View to small/large Icons>Admin Tools>
Computer Management>Disc Management (on the left had side)

type Snype Tool into the search bar>open it>
Use it to highlight the window (disc management)>save it somewhere you can find it easy (desktop)
Then either attach it (Attachments under new post) or upload to TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting
Then copy the

 

[drjim]

Here you go. See attached.

 

[SIW2]

have a look on D and see what is on there - post a screenshot of the contents.

If there is a Windows.old file - post the contents of that too.

If you didn't format it during installation - you should be able to restore the recovery partition contents.

 

[drjim]

have a look on D and see what is on there - post a screenshot of the contents.

If there is a Windows.old file - post the contents of that too.

If you didn't format it during installation - you should be able to restore the recovery partition contents.

Here you go. Note the windows old folder is from :C because I deleted it from the drive (seemed like a good idea at the time), but it should be identical.

 

[SIW2]

Looks like the contents of the recovery partition are still there.

Do you have the Dell installation dvd?

 

[drjim]

Looks like the contents of the recovery partition are still there.

Do you have the Dell installation dvd?

By Dual boot menu, you mean the B&W screen during boot-up where I have to choose which Win7 to boot up, yes I get that.

And I have Win7 on a dvd.

 

[SIW2]

I meant the original o/s that was on the machine (Vista?).

You might want to reinstall that to sell the machine, or if you want to transfer 7 to another machine.

 

[drjim]

I meant the original o/s that was on the machine (Vista?).

You might want to reinstall that to sell the machine, or if you want to transfer 7 to another machine.

Not sure I understand the point of your comment. I'm not concerned about Vista or selling the machine. Just want to clear up the issue of double install of Win7.

I really need more clarity from the commenters above on what the best approach is and how to do it. I don't know enough to decide on various options. Just tell me what I should do and I will obey. And a key question will any of the above suggestions save my Win7 that is installed on :C or will I need to reinstall? Another is: by getting rid of , will that also wipe out the Win7 installed on that drive, but keep Win7 on :C?

 

[SIW2]

You can delete the other boot menu entry in msconfig under the startup tab, and delete/reformat the D partition, if you like.

You will still have full use of 7 installed on C.

If you then want to include the space released from D into C - that is another question - not difficult .

 

[drjim]

You can delete the other boot menu entry in msconfig under the startup tab, and delete/reformat the D partition, if you like.

Now that sounds like something I can do! Is it as simple as that or do I need more detailed instructions? Is it obvious how to delete the other boot menu entry in msconfig (I'm quite familiar with msconfig)? And where do I go to delete/reformat D (just right click on D and choose delete or format? If so, what's the difference between deleting and reformatting (I assume with delete, D disappears, whereas with reformat, D is just cleaned out)?

You will still have full use of 7 installed on C.

Great!

If you then want to include the space released from D into C - that is another question - not difficult .

As I don't know enough to know, what do you suggest? I don't think I need D space released.

Your solution seems so simple compared to the others that involved downloading 3rd party software and repartitioning.

If you confirm your suggestion and instructions, I'm all over it.

Much appreciated.

 

[SIW2]

And where do I go to delete/reformat D (just right click on D and choose delete or format? If so, what's the difference between deleting and reformatting (I assume with delete, D disappears, whereas with reformat, D is just cleaned out)?

Yes.

Is it obvious how to delete the other boot menu entry in msconfig

Yes, type msconfig in start search- click it when it pops up - click the Boot Tab, highlight the old entry , click Delete, Click Apply, OK. Exit without restart.

 

[drjim]

And where do I go to delete/reformat D (just right click on D and choose delete or format? If so, what's the difference between deleting and reformatting (I assume with delete, D disappears, whereas with reformat, D is just cleaned out)?

Yes.

Is it obvious how to delete the other boot menu entry in msconfig

Yes, type msconfig in start search- click it when it pops up - click the Boot Tab, highlight the old entry , click Delete, Click Apply, OK. Exit without restart.

I'm on it. I'll report back.

 

[drjim]

I just followed SIW2's instructions and all worked great.

Many thanks to all for their time and expertise.

And Happy New Year!