Removing Windows XP SP3 on Dual Boot with Windows 7

Let us know how it goes. And be sure to make a Win7 Backup image after you're done so you never have to reinstall Win7 again.

OK Disk arrived and it is not a bootable disk, just the copy of the download... I tried the whole thing again, I found that I could make E actve with 7's disc manager then use gparted to change the partitions. Delete C with XP on it, Grow E with 7 on it... then use the recovery disc I made to run the boot repair three times. It seemed to be working, then it took a long time to create my desktop and at the end I was given a blank screen with a small note at the bottom that said my seven, build 7600 was not a legal copy (or some words to that effect). So, back to the image and back to XP/7 dual boot. My XP is on the partition marked C and 7 is on E. C is Bootable and E is active.
what now?

Bob: it's time to make bootable DVD out of your files so you can boot into it and do a formatted clean install.

https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/30470-make-bootable-iso-student-d-l.html

Back up your files, boot from the new Win7 DVD and choose Custom>Advanced drive tools to delete, Create New as you wish, and format to install.

You have the key which came with the download, right?

sup3rsprt said:

Then all you have to do is delete everything on the E: drive except for the boot folder and the file bootmgr (without it your system won't boot anymore).

If you want to delete the entire partition (there isn't much reason to) you will have to move the boot manager or do startup repair.

I have a problem with this... the boot folder is hidden and I don't know if I just "move" it that the machine will still boot. Also, many of the files in the Windows folder are protected and won't let me delete them. Any suggestions?

gregrocker said:

Bob: it's time to make bootable DVD out of your files so you can boot into it and do a formatted clean install.

https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/30470-make-bootable-iso-student-d-l.html

Back up your files, boot from the new Win7 DVD and choose Custom>Advanced drive tools to delete, Create New as you wish, and format to install.

You have the key which came with the download, right?

Right... but I am not ready to tackle this right now... so I might just live with the small stuff until I decide to put a linux distro in that partition and then I'll use GRUB.

Sorry to have caused you to answer so often, but this is windows craziness to a linux guy.

wahoobob said:

gregrocker said:

Bob: it's time to make bootable DVD out of your files so you can boot into it and do a formatted clean install.

https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/30470-make-bootable-iso-student-d-l.html

Back up your files, boot from the new Win7 DVD and choose Custom>Advanced drive tools to delete, Create New as you wish, and format to install.

You have the key which came with the download, right?

Right... but I am not ready to tackle this right now... so I might just live with the small stuff until I decide to put a linux distro in that partition and then I'll use GRUB.

Sorry to have caused you to answer so often, but this is windows craziness to a linux guy.

Well, its the next day and I used the down and dirty - brute force type fix. (Linux training?) I saved the files I needed, made an image of where I was on an external hard drive (just in case), formatted the harddrive with GPartEd then put a minimum XP install just to have a "qualifying" OS. Next I upgraded to 7 and reinstalled my Major software and files. Many of the drivers needed to be updated at this point and since I'm using a Thinkpad I went to Lenovo and downloaded their excellent updating software. If you use IBM or Lenovo you should have this software!! And after some online updating and restarting time everything works. Even the ultranav, green on-screen bars for sound, and shock absorber, even the wireless radio and bluetooth control software are now just like they should be. So now I'm making the new image on the external hard drive. I will probably buy a large thumbdrive later and put it on there, too. I don't want to have to install again... ever. Thanks for your patience and expert help.

Glad you got it up and running.

A few pointers for future use:

You didn't need to install XP to have a qualifying OS to Upgrade. There is a workaround posted all over the internet which is also given out by MS tech support. Or just run a Repair install (Upgrade over itself in Win7) from the new Win7 desktop which will then take the key.

You are smart to rely on the backup image as you never again need to reinstall either.

Believe it or not, the Win7 installer is nearly driver-complete, with newer ones coming in quickly from Windows Updates. This is because MS funded the partnership (WHQL) with all manufacturers to build Win7 drivers, so it has them first.

I hope you didn't replace newer drivers that MS had first. Win7 has a whole different driver situation than any previous OS.