Convert Dual Boot to Single Boot, 2 HD's

GGibson · 27 Aug 2009

I'm close but need some help on what to edit to arrive at single boot Win 7.

wallyinnc · 27 Aug 2009

GGibson, have you already formated the XP partition? It might already eliminate the XP option from the boot sequence, since XP uses Boot.ini / NTLDR. If not you can edit with bcdedit, using the cleanup or delete option, see below. If you are not sure, ask for more help, you can brick your computer if this goes wrong. It might be safer to tansfer or backup what you need from XP BEFORE attempting to remove it from the boot sequence.

C:\Windows\system32>bcdedit.exe /? delete
This command deletes an entry from the boot configuration data store.
bcdedit [/store <filename>] /delete <id> [/f] [/cleanup | /nocleanup]
<filename> Specifies the store to be used. If this option is not
specified, the system store is used. For more information,
run "bcdedit /? store".
<id> Specifies the identifier of the boot entry that you want to
delete. For more information about identifiers,
run "bcdedit /? ID".
/f Deletes the specified entry. Without this option, Bcdedit
will not delete any entries that have a well-known
identifier.
/cleanup Deletes the specified entry and removes the entry from the
display order. Any other references to the entry being
deleted will also be removed from the store. When deleting
an OS loader entry, the associated resume from hibernation
entry is also deleted if it is not referenced by any other
OS loaders. This option is assumed unless /nocleanup is
specified.
/nocleanup Deletes the specified entry without removing the entry from
the display order.
Examples:
The following command deletes the specified operating system entry from the
store and removes the entry from the display order:
bcdedit /delete {cbd971bf-b7b8-4885-951a-fa03044f5d71}
The following command deletes the specified operating system entry from the
store and removes the entry from the display order:
bcdedit /delete {cbd971bf-b7b8-4885-951a-fa03044f5d71} /cleanup
The following command deletes the specified operating system entry from the
store without removing the entry from the display order:
bcdedit /delete {cbd971bf-b7b8-4885-951a-fa03044f5d71} /nocleanup
The following command deletes the NTLDR based OS loader entry from the store:
bcdedit /delete {ntldr} /f

SIW2 · 27 Aug 2009

Looks like the XP partition is the System partition. You won't be able to delete /format it in Disk Management.

Probabaly easiest to set 7 HD as first HD in BIOS boot order.

In Disk Management, ensure 7 partition is marked Active.

Boot the 7 dvd and run startup repair 3 or 4 times.

Check in Disk Management 7 partition is showing as "System ".

Delete XP .

GGibson · 27 Aug 2009

Thanks again for helping me out.

SIW2 · 27 Aug 2009

In Disk Management, ensure 7 partition is marked Active.

Boot the 7 dvd and run startup repair 3 or 4 times.

Check in Disk Management 7 partition is showing as "System ".

Delete XP .

Did you do that successfully?

GGibson · 28 Aug 2009

bcdedit /delete {ntldr} /f

The guy who built this computer for me returned from vacation and gave me the above command to use. I tried it and it worked. Single boot is just fine. Thanks again for helping me work thru this.

SIW2 · 28 Aug 2009

I presume you have 2 separate HD's.

That command will have removed XP from the boot menu you see when you start the machine.

However, your bcdedit post would indicate you are still booting thru. drive D.

C:\Windows\system32>bcdedit
Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
device partition=D:
description Windows Boot Manager

Windows Legacy OS Loader
------------------------
identifier {ntldr}
device partition=D:
path \ntldr
description Windows XP Pro
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {current}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description Windows 7

Look in Disk Management and see if drive D is shown as "system" - it should be as that is the location of bootmgr and the Boot folder (including bcd).

If so, you will not be able to format/ delete drive D should you wish to do so.

To make the 7 drive into "system" and have the freedom to do what you want with D :

Set 7 HD as first HD in BIOS boot order.

In Disk Management, ensure 7 partition is marked Active.

Boot the 7 dvd and run startup repair 3 or 4 times.

Check in Disk Management 7 partition is showing as "System ".

Delete XP partition.

GGibson · 28 Aug 2009

D: (xp)
Healthy (System, Active, Primary Partition)

C: (windows 7)
Healthy (Boot, Page File, Active, Crash Dump, Primary Partition)

I believe this tells me that win7 drive is already set to Active, right?

SIW2 · 28 Aug 2009

Yes , it's Active - but it is not "system".

The system partition is where the 7 boot files live ( that drive will also have 7 compatible mbr and bootsector code).

By placing 7 HD first in BIOS boot order and running startup repair ( usually 3 times) - it will add all the necessary code for you, and 7 partition will be "system".

GGibson · 28 Aug 2009

D: (xp)
Healthy (Acitve, Primary Partition)

C: (win7)
Healthy (System, Boot, Page File, Active, Crash Dump, Primary Partition)

Convert Dual Boot to Single Boot, 2 HD's

Tell me how to edit bcdedit for single boot?

Thanks guys, got it working as single boot system.

Single boot works now

Disk Management, Active

Success with your procedure-Many Thanks.