Win 7 plus Win 7 on 2 partitions?

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  1. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #11

    Hello again Adrian.



    No mate, it's not necessary at all, you can just leave everything connected and you will get the Windows managed dual boot as mickey megabyte mentioned earlier and all will be fine and you still won't need a third party boot manager.

    You could just format the Vista partition during install and do the install there with no issues.


    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.


    Bare Foot Kid said:
    Greg has an excellent idea to move the data from the Disk 0 and to do a complete wipe (secure erase) of the entire HDD prior to OS installation, for the best possible space to install Windows 7 to; have a look at Step One of this tutorial at the link below, be sure to look through Step Two #s 2 & 3 for partition creation options.


    SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
      My Computer

  2.    #12

    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.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 31
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit, Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #13

    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
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 31
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit, Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #14

    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
      My Computer

  5.    #15

    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.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 31
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit, Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #16

    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
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #17

    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.

    Do not enter a product activation key during the installation, that can be done later.

    Activation Trial Period - Extend Up to 120 Days


    It's not at all as complicated as it may look at first glance; it is all done using the Windows 7 installer while booting from the Windows 7 installation disk; take all the time needed; you said you have the capability of making copies of these posts, if you can't get copies of the snips post back and I'll list the commands for you in another post here so they can be copied. All commands are followed by hitting the <Enter> key.


    DISKPART : At PC Startup

    Start by booting the Windows 7 installation disk as outlined in Method One in the tutorial above and just follow the commands one by one, I couldn't get it all in a single snip so I made 2 but they're in sequence.
    click to enlarge, click a second time to really enlarge
    Win 7 plus Win 7 on 2 partitions?-adrian1.jpg
    Win 7 plus Win 7 on 2 partitions?-adrian2.jpg
    After you "exit" diskpart and the command window it will take you back to the first installer dialog box to continue with the clean install as usual, when you get to "Where do you ... " this dialog box, click to highlight/select the Windows 7 partition then click Next and do not use the installer to format anything as diskpart runs full formats.

    Of course your installer will list all the partitions on the system but I showed this to give you the idea of where to do the install to, that's the reason to give the partition you want to install to an easily recognizable Label (name) it can be anything you like.
    Win 7 plus Win 7 on 2 partitions?-adrian3.jpg
    When the installation finishes, this is what you will have.
    Win 7 plus Win 7 on 2 partitions?-adrian4.jpg
      My Computer

  8.    #18

    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.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #19

    You can do all the Partition Wizard stuff after you have the 'new' Windows 7 installed; also most of what you would want done can be done with the Windows 7 installable version found at this second link below; have a look at this first tutorial for some more ideas on its many uses.


    Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

    Partition Wizard Home Edition
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 31
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit, Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #20

    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
      My Computer


 
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