Win 7 plus Win 7 on 2 partitions?

Did you make your Vista REcovery Disks off that 13gb Recovery Partition so you have a path back to factory condition if ever needed?


If so, then you could consider deleting the Recov partition during install along with the C: Vista partition, create a New partition there to install Win7 using the Custom Install Drive Options shown here:
click to enlarge
Source: Clean Install Windows 7

We can also help you borrow some space from your large data partition if you want the new C partition to be larger. Use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to Resize from the left.

As long as your new install to C is marked System Active then G can be deleted when ready in Disk Mgmt to create a new partition there or extend D into it.
Partition or Volume - Extend

You may have to delete the old Win7 install's ghost Boot Menu listing in msconfig>Boot tab or using EasyBCD 2.0 to Edit Boot Menu.

Bare Foot Kid said:

I would give serious consideration to this though using the outline in Step Two #3 to create the new Windows 7 "System Reserved" partition and a 100GB partition to install the 'new' Windows to; this will make the new SysResv partition the system volume making it very easy to remove the 'old' Windows when the time comes.

OK, I see what you are saying (thanks). I have spent more time reading the amazing amount of info you have on this site - well done.

While I am quaking in my boots somewhat, I think that the steps outlined in System Reserved : Create for Dual Boot are probably the best way forward for me? I will read that again a few times and print it out too. Maybe it will seem less daunting then!

Thanks for the intro to Partition Wizard - terrific!

Adrian

gregrocker said:

Did you make your Vista REcovery Disks off that 13gb Recovery Partition so you have a path back to factory condition if ever needed?


If so, then you could consider deleting the Recov partition during install along with the C: Vista partition, create a New partition there to install Win7 using the Custom Install Drive Options shown here:
click to enlarge
Source: Clean Install Windows 7

Hi Greg, I take an image of my G: Partition (Win 7 plus all apps only) every 10 days or so and keep about 4 versions to revert to if necessary. So I can certainly lose that 13Gb recovery partition.

I am still stuck a little - the new Windows 7 "System Reserved" partition seems to be absent in the methodology described on Clean Install Windows 7. The advice from BFK seems to suggest that partition is also desirable for ease of removing the old Win 7 partition in stage 2. So it seems that the process described in System Reserved : Create for Dual Boot might be the best route to take?

For a relative novice like me, this is all a pending nightmare

Cheers
Adrian

Hi Adrian -

Are you asking if you should create a System Reserved partition to place in front of a restored image? Or do you plan to clean reinstall?

If you plan to clean reinstall and you don't wipe the HD (to get the cleanest possible install) or delete all partitions, repartition and format with Installer as shown above, then you'd have to construct the System Reserved partition from scratch. Since it's your intention to get rid of G eventually then the only reason you'd really need it is if you want the convenience of having the Repair Console on the F8 Advanced Boot Tools menu - the same Repair console which is on the DVD or Repair CD.

If you want it then either wipe the HD or delete all partitions and it will assign 100mb when you create the new partition(s) using installer's Drive Options. Otherwise you'd have to construct it from scratch by making a (suggested) 200mb Primary first partition, mark it Active, then install to the second partition you create.

What I would do if you're not eager to move the data off of DISK0 and wipe the HD is to boot the installer, choose Custom install, then use Drive Options (shown above) to delete Recovery partition and C, create a new partition there and install to it.

Ask back with any additional questions.

gregrocker said:

Hi Adrian -
What I would do if you're not eager to move the data off of DISK0 and wipe the HD is to boot the installer, choose Custom install, then use Drive Options (shown above) to delete Recovery partition and C, create a new partition there and install to it.

Hi Greg, I think I will try and keep it simple and do as you suggest above. Looks like I had better increase that C: partition size from 55Gb to 100Gb before doing anything though. My complete OS and (large number of) apps only take up 35Gb of space on G: Win 7, so I really don't know why so much space is recommended for the OS. I always move the Page file to the 2nd HDD, so that's not taking up space.

Anyway, I just need to blindly follow the recommendations and not query every damned thing - I am no expert!

Thanks
Adrian

Adrian -

To expand C to the right, burn free Partition Wizard bootable CD using ImgBurn at 4x speed with Verify: Free Download Magic Partition Manager Software - Partition Wizard Online
ImgBurn - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

Back up your files externally, boot PW CD, rightclick D, select Resize, drag left grey border to right to make as much space as you'd like to add to C, OK.

Now rightclick C to Resize, drag right grey border to right to take up the space you made, OK, Apply all steps.

If you want to save doing this until just before you do the reinstall, you only need to Resize D left border since you'll be deleting C and Recovery partition to create a new partition there using the Custom install Drive Options I showed you earlier.

Be sure to delete the paging file from other HD. I would keep it on C since it will be big enough.

Bare Foot Kid said:

Hello again Adrian.

I've closely simulated your system Disk 0 to show an easy method to create the new Windows 7 "System Reserved" partition and a new fully formatted partition to install Windows 7 to in-place of Vista and this will still give you the automatically configured Windows 7 dual boot menu at PC startup.

This in no way will have any affect on the "BACKUP DATA E:" partition.

Jeez Ted, that is a LOT of trouble you have gone to, many, MANY thanks.

I have read and re-read the instructions, cutting away to the linked info too and I think I may have actually "got it". I have assembled a 6 page word doc that goes through the DISKPART formatting and subsequent Win7 installation process. I will print that out and follow it to the letter when I screw up courage to do this (within the next 24 hours).

Just one point to double-check first. In the 2nd DISKPART screenshot there are the following instructions

DISKPART> select disk 0
Disk 0 selected
DISKPART> create partition primary size=200
Succeeded in creating
DISKPART> format fs=ntfs label=”System Reserved”
100 percent completed, successfully formatted
DISKPART> active
Marked current partition as active
DISKPART> create partition primary

That last line above does not contain any size info, unlike the similar command for the System Reserved volume. Does DISKPART just take all the remaining available space automatically? Seems likely, but I am just checking.

Cheers
Adrian