Strange W7 installation

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  1. Posts : 21
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #11

    gregrocker said:
    Where did you get your copy of Win7?

    Install free Partition Wizard and get screenshot from it using Snipping Tool in start menu, attaching file in reply box using Paper clip. PartitionWizard.exe

    We only need to see if you have something about the partitioning that is interfering with Windows 7. The system reserved 100mb partition is fine and sounds correct, as does the Windows 7 partition as you relate it. But we need to see to be sure.

    This may only require a Repair Install
    Here's a screenshot of my partitions. Why is everything functioning poorly? I've checked my ram and everything seems fine. But even my xp install was acting weird. I could boot into regular mode, but not safe mode (it would always hang at .mui sys file)...
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Strange W7 installation-partition-screenshot.png  
      My Computer

  2.    #12

    The problem is that the Windows 7 partition was formatted as a logical partition, which cannot be marked Active or become a System partition. This is how it should appear:

    Strange W7 installation-capture2.png

    Open Partition Wizard and make a bootable CD from the top toolbar. Boot into PW, rightclick on WIndows 7 partition and Modify: Set Partition as Primary.

    Now boot into Windows 7 OS* and run Win7 DVD from desktop to Repair Install

    (*Should the Win7 OS not start up then boot into the Win7 DVD Repair console and run Startup Repair repeatedly until Win7 starts).

    Any performance problems caused by converting from logical to primary will be overcome with the repair install which keeps programs, files and settings in place but reinstalls the OS and reconfigures the boot correctly.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 21
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #13

    gregrocker said:
    The problem is that the Windows 7 partition was formatted as a logical partition, which cannot be marked Active or become a System partition. This is how it should appear:

    Strange W7 installation-capture2.png

    Open Partition Wizard and make a bootable CD from the top toolbar. Boot into PW, rightclick on WIndows 7 partition and Modify: Set Partition as Primary.

    Now boot into Windows 7 OS* and run Win7 DVD from desktop to Repair Install

    (*Should the Win7 OS not start up then boot into the Win7 DVD Repair console and run Startup Repair repeatedly until Win7 starts).

    Any performance problems caused by converting from logical to primary will be overcome with the repair install which keeps programs, files and settings in place but reinstalls the OS and reconfigures the boot correctly.

    Since I'm having various problems, and I really just installed W7, I'd rather to a full format clean install. I thought I did this yesterday, which is why I don't understand how W7 ended up as a logical drive. When i installed W7, I deleted and formatted the partition with XP Pro on it. I had also just deletedand formatted my old W7 partition (which was originally on a logical drive). So, with no OS on the computer, why did it install to a logical drive?

    If I want to clean install, how can I ensure that I'll get one, fully formatted partition that places W7 as a primary drive? Thanks.
      My Computer

  4.    #14

    You can partition and format Primary HD in advance using Partition Wizard CD or Diskpart commands from the Win7 DVD.

    Win7 will not install the 100mb System Reserved partition to a HD already partitioned.

    You can also undo a 100mb partition as it is being applied during Custom installation: Use Custom>Advanced tools to Delete the partition given where Win7 is to be installed, then extend the 100mb partition to take up the entire HD using New tool, Format and install.
    Last edited by gregrocker; 09 Dec 2009 at 20:57.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 34
    6@Win XP 1@Vista (1@Win 7 (Mine))
       #15

    No Pro


    I'm no pro but I have had a similar situation, right down to windows saying it's not genuine and I paid nearly $200 for the OS. The only way I was able to fully resolve the problem was to go the HD manufacturers website and use their software to to reset the MBR of the HD. Then I did a fresh install and all has been well since.

    If this helps, tip my scales.

    P.S. It may help if you fill in the stats for your computer in your profile.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 21
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #16

    gregrocker said:
    You can partition and format Primary HD in advance using Partition Wizard CD or Diskpart commands from the Win7 DVD.

    Win7 will not install the 100mb System Reserved partition to a HD already partitioned.

    You can also undo a 100mb partition applied during Custom installation: Use Custom>Advanced tools to Delete the partition given where Win7 is to be installed, then extend the 100mb partition to take up the entire HD using New tool, Format and install.
    How do you get into the disk partition commands using the Win7 DVD? And what commands do you use to format and partition? Thanks.
      My Computer

  7.    #17

    Boot Win7 DVD>Repair console>Recovery tools, open Command Line, type:

    DISKPART
    LIST DISK
    SELECT DISK # (for Windows 7 disk)
    clean
    create partition primary
    select partition 1
    assign letter=c:
    active
    format
    exit
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 21
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #18

    gregrocker said:
    Boot Win7 DVD>Repair console>Recovery tools, open Command Line, type:

    DISKPART
    LIST DISK
    SELECT DISK # (for Windows 7 disk)
    clean
    create partition primary
    select partition 1
    assign letter=c:
    active
    format
    exit
    Great, thanks.
      My Computer


 
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