Odd Re-Installation Issue

Please post a screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map.

Use the cool Snipping Tool in the start menu, attach file using the paper clip in reply box.

Ok - picture attached, hopefully! :)

First we need to verify that you have a bootable Win7 DVD there to use for Repairs.. It sounds as if you do if you got a Custom screen showing partitions to install to.

Put the DVD in the drive, restart the computer and select the F-key given on the first boot screen for Boot Menu -normally ESC, F10 or F12. Then attempt to boot the DVD.

You may need to Enter BIOS using the F-key given for that (usually F2) to set the DVD drive to boot first.

Just verify that the DVD will boot, then enter the Repair My Computer console to see what it finds, cancel out, restart the computer and post results.

If not browse the files on the DVD to see what is there.

If you do not have a bootable Win7 DVD with Repair console, then you will first need to make a System Repair CD in the Backup Center as it is used to repair or rewrite the MBR to the resized Win7 partition.

Now determine if the Recovery partition is still working, as it is normally disabled with a new install. Try opening it by typing Recover in start box. Then try rebooting the computer, selecting the F-key given on the first screen for Recovery to see if it starts up and wants to run.

Now at reboot tap the F8 key to see if there is a Repair my Computer link in the Menu there. If so, start it and see if it boots into the Win7 Repair console and that it is functional.

If neither work then you no longer need the Recov or EISA partitions at the beginning of your drive, but will use your Win7 DVD or Repair CD (created in Backup center) to do repairs or Recover Using a Backup Image.

The force override DISKPART commands Jon gives above will be needed to delete that EISA partition at the beginning of your HD which is also likely disabled if you clean reinstalled Win7.

The Recovery drive can be deleted and it's space recovered into your Windows 7 partition using the best tool for this, free Partition Wizard bootable CD. I will give you step-by-step.

Thanks Jonathon - there's nothing on this laptop as it's brand new! I haven't put anything on it as things were a bit wrong from the get go!

Ok guys - just a few questions from my end.

Would it not be best to delete the C: partition as it's the smallest? (That and I can't actually appear to delete anything from it anyway)

The CD from Dell states that it's the Windows 7 Installation Disc and I've used it several times to re-install my Win7 - although each time I've only ever started the process within Windows itself.

And just to be doubly sure - it's the 'bootable CD' download I want right?

thetinysambo said:

Ok guys - just a few questions from my end.

Would it not be best to delete the C: partition as it's the smallest? (That and I can't actually appear to delete anything from it anyway)

The CD from Dell states that it's the Windows 7 Installation Disc and I've used it several times to re-install my Win7 - although each time I've only ever started the process within Windows itself.

And just to be doubly sure - it's the 'bootable CD' download I want right?

Yes, you want the bootable Partition Wizard CD in order to delete the C Partition, mark Win7 Partition active, then Resize Win7 into the deleted space of EISA and Recovery.

Please try booting from the Win7 DVD using the steps given in my earlier post to determine if it can be used for repairs in this process.

And try accessing the recovery partition as given above to see if your reinstalls disabled it.

Are you wanting to reinstall Win7 again or is the current install ok?

Okedoke - no deleting the C drive part of the partition!

Will now attempt boot from the DVD!