Accidentally installed windows 7 on my Recovery Partition D:\

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  1. Posts : 16
    windows 7 64 bit
       #1

    Accidentally installed windows 7 on my Recovery Partition D:\


    Hi

    Can someone please help me?

    I have a Dell Studio laptop, and recently tried to reformat it by reinstalling Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit. However, I made a mistake and reinstalled Windows 7 on the Recovery Partition. Because of this, when I started up my computer I got two Windows 7 boot options, one in C: and another in the Recovery Partition, which normally should not be visible but is now labelled D:.

    I reformatted the hard drive again by reinstalling Windows 7 on C:, but still got the 2 boot options when I started up. I used msconfig to delete the boot option on the Recovery Partition after this. However, each time I start up my computer Windows 7 loads very slowly, and I even got 2 crashes. I think the Windows 7 installed on the Recovery Partition might still be causing problems. Is there a way that I can remove this installation completely, both from the Recovery Partition and from the boot configuration on my computer?

    Thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #2

    Yes. If you manage to get it installed on C: you could format D: from disk management. Or better yet just delete it when you install windows.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 16
    windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    AddRAM said:
    Yes. If you manage to get it installed on C: you could format D: from disk management. Or better yet just delete it when you install windows.
    Thanks. I not sure about deleting D: yet, because Dell, my laptop's manufacturer has some files on restoring the computer to the original factory configuration on it. I only read somewhere that I can access this option by pressing F8 when I start my computer. Before I reformatted my computer I tried this, and it didn't work. After I reformatted my computer I tried this, and it didn't work either. But I wonder if installing windows 7 on D has corrupted this function, and I would still like to retain it.

    As well, is there some other critical files that would be lost if I delete or reformat D:?

    Can someone with a Dell computer help me on this?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 16,119
    7 X64
       #4

    Dell partition may be the active one.

    You would need to pick out carefully the bits you installed to it by mistake.

    Easy to make an error there.

    Perhaps post a screenie of the contenst of your "D" partition.

    Screenie of disk mgmt window would help, too.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 16
    windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    SIW2 said:
    Dell partition may be the active one.

    You would need to pick out carefully the bits you installed to it by mistake.

    Easy to make an error there.

    Perhaps post a screenie of the contenst of your "D" partition.

    Screenie of disk mgmt window would help, too.
    Thanks, here are the images of my D partition contents and disk Mgmt
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Accidentally installed windows 7 on my Recovery Partition D:\-partition.png   Accidentally installed windows 7 on my Recovery Partition D:\-capture2.jpg  
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 16,119
    7 X64
       #6

    Dell partition is system.

    That is fine.

    TO access Dell recovery options you need to add the dell bootable wim to boot menu.

    It maybe called winpe.wim or similar.

    It will be on D somewhere - look in the folder named Dell - and all it's sub folders and post screenie.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 16
    windows 7 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    SIW2 said:
    Dell partition is system.

    That is fine.

    TO access Dell recovery options you need to add the dell bootable wim to boot menu.

    It maybe called winpe.wim or similar.

    It will be on D somewhere - look in the folder named Dell - and all it's sub folders and post screenie.
    Just did this. The only 2 files in the Dell folder are:

    catalog.ini (It is a configuration setting file)

    and Factory.wim (Is this the file you are talking about, and how do you use it to access the recovery options?).
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 16,119
    7 X64
       #8

    If factory.wim is large - 3gb or so - then that is the installation wim.

    You are looking for the preinstallation wim - it is probably under 200mb.

    It is possible you may have overwritten it - look in the folder recovery\{longnumber} as well.
      My Computers


  9. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #9

    Here are all the steps you need to perform. Read carefully: Dual Boot - Delete a OS

    But your original recovery partition is probably gone. Call Dell for an installation disc. They send that for free - at least last time I checked.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 16,119
    7 X64
       #10

    Hi whs,

    Dell is system .

    He wants to retain dell recovery options.

    Your tut - excellent tho it is - not appropriate here.
      My Computers


 
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