I messed up the partitions

OK. So I finally got bullied enough by Microshaft to get rid of XP and get Windows 7. I liked XP and knew my way around so it was with a certain degree of trepidation that I delved into Windows 7 to learn a "new" operating system they will eventually dump once more to over price the next version because their customers have no realistic other choice. Grrrr.

I bought a second hand ex business computer (HP XW 4600 Workstation) off eBay because it is much faster than my old Dell 3100c and I have no money for new computers. It came with Windows 7 pre installed (No disk. Thanks Microshaft! Grrr.) and I hate that, but understand that Microshaft like to squeeze as much out of their customers as possible while giving as little as possible. Providing a whole CD might stop their exec's having enough petrol for that helicopter he/she bought last year. (OK. Rant over)

The nitty gritty:

The disk drive is 1TB and was actually just one huge C: drive. This made me nervous. I wanted to make a backup partition in case something went wrong in the future (Something always does) because I have no Windows 7 to reinstall the system (Grrrx2). I had done that before under XP so how hard could it be?

What I somehow ended up with was something that looks like this (In Computer Management) : System reserved. Backup E: C:

Backup E: my shiny new partition is now the wrong side of C: ! (Grrrrrrr!)

So, I start the simple (I thought) process of either deleting the rogue partition and starting again or, moving it to the other side of C: Simple right? No. This is microshaft we are talking about and with them, something like this is NEVER simple.

Hours and hours searching the web for answers and/or free (I have no money. Poverty, being the default for working class oldies like me in the UK) software that will put it right produces zero fruit. I read countless pages. On almost all of them is some Indian guy who has recognised this will be a big issue and has written software to fix it and he is trying to sell his wares to people who will need his expensive fix probably just once in their lives. I ignore him. I have a hatred for vultures.

Eventually I go to the Microshaft support pages and ask to speak to one of their helpful support staff, live. "Roland" is polite. He asks for the product number of Win 7. I give it to him. 'This is out of date,' he says
and politely tells me that Microshaft will not help me unless I pay for more Exec helicopter petrol. I reject that option so he sends me to a useless page all about how to partition a drive under Windows 7. Politely implying, "You should have read this page first, dummy." How was I to know Microshaft would put a new trap in their new OS for people who thought they knew how to partition already?

If you have read this and are now as pissed as I am..... Good! Maybe we can start a pressure group to get Microshaft to learn about the dangers of pissing off your customers over and over again. Doubt that though.

Can you help? You will have gathered that I am now a computer dummy all over again (Thanks Microshaft! Grrrr) So, be gentle with me and lay off too much of the damn jargon please.

Curmudgeonly old git, awaits your verdict and expects a slap down for voicing my opinions but if you can help, please take pity. I am being driven nuts by this event that apparently the software genuius' at Microshaft were unable to prevent.

Does your new HP XW 4600 Workstation have a readable Windows 7 COA (Certificate of Authenticity) sticker on it ?
If it does, you should be able to reinstall the Windows 7 version that you are licensed for.
This tutorial has everything needed to reinstall, including where to get the official Win 7 ISO, how to create a bootable media, and what the COA looks like.
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Before you do anything, post a screen print of Disk Management.
If you can boot the PC with Windows, here are the instructions:
Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

Wow!

That was super fast. Thanks. Off to learn how to post a pic here. Yes there is a sticker. Not sure if the key is the same though. Will check it.

Is this OK?

Well, if there is a valid readable sticker you should be able to do a clean reinstall.
Personally I would never use a Used PC "as-is", there's no telling what the previous owner did, and what "hidden goodies" might be there.
I'm the "paranoid type", and would rather take the time to start with a clean OS than risk security issues ...

Just saw your screen print, i think we were posting at the same time ...
I don't see anything wrong with the "partition options".
The problem I see is the [E] Backup partition is too small.
I think you need to re-size the partitions ...
Lets wait for an installation / setup expert to help from here ...
Nice work learning to screen print so fast :)

DavidW7ncus said:

Well, if there is a valid readable sticker you should be able to do a clean reinstall.
Personally I would never use a Used PC "as-is", there's no telling what the previous owner did, and what "hidden goodies" might be there.
I'm the "paranoid type", and would rather take the time to start with a clean OS than risk security issues ...

I heartily agree with you but I have to live within my own reality. In a perfect world for me, I would have bought a shiny new computer, paid the extra helicopter fuel and got a disk and everything would be great. As it is, I cannot do any of that and taking out a loan and getting ripped off with interest payments by our charming banking system was not an option either.

DavidW7ncus said:

Just saw your screen print, i think we were posting at the same time ...
I don't see anything wrong with the "partition options".
The problem I see is the [E] Backup partition is too small.
I think you need to re-size the partitions ...
Lets wait for an installation / setup expert to help from here ...
Nice work learning to screen print so fast :)

Thanks David. It was not too hard. First time I have used the snipping tool though. It was quick and easy. Thanks Microshaft, you did something right.

Re size: Yes I figured that. The reason I am troubled by the position of the partitions is because everywhere I went on the net the order was C: then E: and mine is backwards. Can I move it?

I have never had a factory installed OS before. I always had the cash to buy the disk in the past. I will have to get my head around the concept of a re-install without one but I have no problems with doing it. This is a new clean disk and the important stuff is still on my old computer.

Re Paranoia: Me too. So I looked at everything on the disk very closely and switched off all remote access services.

Yes, you can move it.
Technically it's better to have the OS [C] partition before the [E] partition for better performance.
But it should not cause any problems to have your arrangement...just some "performance hit".

The issue is if you don't have a backup location (and method) before you start making changes, you could break things and be forced into a reinstall.

That's why I suggest waiting for better expert advice before rearranging ...
I'll ask for help with this rather than give you wrong advice and cause more problems.

DavidW7ncus said:

Yes, you can move it.
Technically it's better to have the OS [C] partition before the [E] partition for better performance.
But it should not cause any problems to have your arrangement...just some "performance hit".

The issue is if you don't have a backup location (and method) before you start making changes, you could break things and be forced into a reinstall.

That's why I suggest waiting for better expert advice before rearranging ...
I'll ask for help with this rather than give you wrong advice and cause more problems.

Thanks David. You are a star my man.