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#11
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:
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.
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.
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.
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