Dynamic partition

Barman58 · 23 Dec 2017

@Novel8

OK this is what I am assuming you have - ignoring disk 0

100 MB System drive
122.48 GB Windows 10 Partition Will be C: drive when Win10 is running something else when Win7 Is running
128.18 GB Unallocated space
450MB Windows 10 Win10 Recovery Partition, (Recovery Tools)
122.44 GB Windows 7 Partition Not fully operable at present
92.16 GB Unallocated space

What I would suggest is that you grab yourself a copy of Partition Wizard free and a copy of EasyBCD 2.6 (last free version)

using these tools you should be able to

Move the 450MB partition to sit immediately right of the C: Drive ( Win10) - Partition Wizard

move the 122GB, Win 7 Partition to be immediately right of the 450MB partition - Partition Wizard

Reinitialise the Windows 7 partition to boot from the system partition in a dual boot - Easy BCD ( if the install of Win 7 is too corrupt to re-use you will need to re-install into this partition

Create a new Data partition of 130.34 using the total unallocated space which will be shared access from both Operating systems in the Dual boot - Partition Wizard

If this is what you wish to do I can give further assistance if you require it

Novel8 · 23 Dec 2017

Yes, that sounds and looks cool...I d/l those programs and just hope they are not confusing when I attempt to do what your suggesting....just one thing has me puzzled...you and I seem to agree that portions of my Win 7 is still on this drive and the installation of Win 10, did not overwrite it...you sound sure that win 7 is in that 128 gb unallocated section....how can a OS be in an unallocated partition?

Megahertz07 · 23 Dec 2017

Lets find out if you still have win 7 and in what partition.
You're not following my instructions!!!!
Have a look at the disk management image on your post #20.
On the half top you have partitions descriptions. You have the Volume, Layout, Type, File system, Status, Capacity, Free Space and % free.

We can't read the status column. You must expand the column so we can read it.

Barman58 · 23 Dec 2017

The Win7 installation is, I believe in the partition directly to the right of the 450Mb Tools partition the windows 10 install has I think gone wring as it should have added the older Win 7 Boot options to the 100MB partition at the far left, but has corrupted it

The two unallocated partitions are exactly that,- spare space but the 144GB partition without any name or drive letter allocated is where I think the Win7 Install is

When you get the programs I've suggested read through the help files - Partition Wizard can be operated by using it's built in Wizards, and can sometimes reboot to it's own "OS" when needed

One thing I have to advise is that although these programs are very reliable I would always make backups of any personal files and other data just in case, When You get to re-activating the boot system it's always a good idea to have a boot disk or USB, again Just in case

Novel8 · 23 Dec 2017

We can't read the status column. You must expand the column so we can read it.[/QUOTE]

Megahertz07 · 23 Dec 2017

As Barman wrote, Win 7 probably was on disk 1, partition 4, (122G). As it is now 100% free, there is nothing on it.

You have 3 unallocated partitions, one in disk 0 and two in disk 1.
You can only expand a partition to an unallocated partition on the right.

- With Disk management expand the H: partition to the right to add the 4G to H: . Right click on H: and select Extend Volume.
- With Disk management expand the C: partition to the right to add the 128G to C: . Right click on C: and select Extend Volume.
- With Disk management expand disk 1, partition 4 to the right to add the 92G to it. Right click on partition 4 and select Extend Volume.

Disk 0 will have only two partitions
- G: with 29,41G
- H: with 46,93G

Disk 1 will have only four partitions
- P1 - 100M
- P2 - C: 250G with win 10
- P3 - 450M Recovery Partition
- P4 - 214G (where you will install win 7)

Disk 0, Partition 1 (G: ) is set as Active, so it has a MBR pointing to a boot loader.
Detach disk 0 (take the power or the SATA cable). Power on and see if Win 10 still boots.
- If it boots normally, good.
- If it doesn't boot, the required MBR is on the detached disk 0. Boot with the Win 10 installation disk and do a boot repair.
Once you have win 10 booting normally, you're ready to install win 7.

Boot with Win 7 installation disk, go to install, select Partition 4 - 214G and proceed.

When finished, it may not boot win 10. Don't panic. You may have to set an option to have dual boot.
Under win 7, open Device Manager and install all drivers. There should be no yellow alerts.
For the updates, use the offline updates. MS releases SP2 for Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums

Novel8 · 23 Dec 2017

I got as far as to the last move....Part 4 to 92.16gb, and once i clicked on 'extend volume', it just won't proceed, like the others did. There was no message.

Megahertz07 · 24 Dec 2017

Lets try another approach.
Right click on disk 1, partition 4 and delete the partition. You will end with a 214G unallocated partition. Then create new, and format as NTFS.

Barman58 · 24 Dec 2017

If you are using windows Built-in disk management then you have to work within it's restrictions (it's a basic tool only). Partition Wizard will allow you to Move a partition and extend (resize) in one operation where ever the partitions and free space are .

I would recommend that one data partition is shares between Multi Boot installations as I lessens the likelihood of Operating systems corrupting each other during Data access. I've had a maximum of five Operating systems on the same disk (including Win7 on a non Primary Partition), sharing a single data store without any issues so it does make sense as you will always find that you create more data in one OS and so need maximum Safe storage available to both.

Novel8 · 27 Dec 2017

Megahertz07 said:

Lets try another approach.
Right click on disk 1, partition 4 and delete the partition. You will end with a 214G unallocated partition. Then create new, and format as NTFS.

It seems when i make some progress, another snag appears. I did as you suggested and finally installed Win 7....BUT, by doing that, its obvious i have no network connection and it screwed up my network connection in Win 10. i cannot get into the internet in either OS. i called D-Link, and they were no help at all. i'm hoping i can some guidness here.