Removal of XP System boot partition from a W7 Dual boot

Use free Partition Wizard bootable CD. You 'll have to convert the Win7 Logical partition there to Primary first so that you can mark Win7 Active, then delete XP, resize Documents/Win7 extended partition into delete XP space, then boot into the Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD to run Startup repair up to 3 separate times to write MBR to Win7.

[This is complicated by the Win7 partition being a part of Documents extended partition. You may need to include the Documents partition in all of the operations below involving Win7 partition. If you want to separate and move the Documents partition, or liquidate it into Win7 , ask back for additional steps.]

Boot PW CD, select 1 for screen resolution, rightclick Win7 logical partition>Modify>Convert to Primary, OK.

Rightclick converted Win7 Primary partition>Modify>Set to Active, OK.

Rightclick XP partition>Delete, OK.

Rightclick Win7 partition>Resize>slide left grey border to the left to take up deleted XP space, OK. Apply all steps.

Win7 will not now boot, so boot the Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, click through to Recovery tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots, to write the MBR to Win7 until it starts.

I have a similar issue. My windows 7 is the 2nd partition of my documents hard drive. I should have not done it this way, but I wasn't patient enough to wait when I built this system.

I'm planning on purchasing >= 1TB drive to use as my new Documents drive (SATA) and leave the current SATA drive as my OS drive.

In the meantime. What is the most efficient way to do this?

I can't make my Windows 7 partition active, so it won't boot from it, I'm trying to rid myself of the Windows XP drive. I just want to remove it from my case and leave it installed on there, in case I ever need it! LOL.

Why is D marked Active? A non-system drive should never be marked Active.

Assuming E is XP, unplug it, boot Partition Wizard bootable CD, select 1 for Screen Res, rightclick D>Modify>Set as Inactive, OK.

Next rightclick C>Modify>Convert to Primary, OK.

Next rightclick C>Modify>Set to Active, OK. Apply all steps.

Next boot into Win7 DVD REpair console or Repair CD, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to write the System MBR to WIn7 and start it. Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

I personally would Copy C to the preferred lower left hand HD address using PW CD, after Resizing D from the left side by 60gb which is available. But first complete the above steps and save a Win7 backup image of finished job before deciding.

gregrocker said:

Why is D marked Active? A non-system drive should never be marked Active.

Note Sure about this to be honest

Assuming E is XP, unplug it, boot Partition Wizard bootable CD, select 1 for Screen Res, rightclick D>Modify>Set as Inactive, OK.

Next rightclick C>Modify>Convert to Primary, OK.

Next rightclick C>Modify>Set to Active, OK. Apply all steps.

Next boot into Win7 DVD REpair console or Repair CD, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to write the System MBR to WIn7 and start it. Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

I personally would Copy C to the preferred lower left hand HD address using PW CD, after Resizing D from the left side by 60gb which is available. But first complete the above steps and save a Win7 backup image of finished job before deciding.

Not sure what you're saying here, I think i'm just not connecting which is the preferred lower left hand HD. However, I have a new 1TB drive that will be my storage drive. Will PWCD allow imaging of files etc? Because ideally, I'd like to do it this way.
1. Disconnect XP Drive
2. Connect new 1TB drive.
3. Boot PWCD
4. Create image of Win7 partition and D partition (already made separate zip backup to external HDD)
5. Do your steps listed above.
6. Run Bootup repair (up to 3 times).

Does that sound correct? Assuming PWCD can do the imaging etc.

In addition to file backup, I would save a Win7 Backup Image externally first: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

That is all the backup you need for this operation. Then follow the steps given above to unplug XP, mark D Inactive, C active, run Startup REpair x3.

The point about considering moving Win7 to the left hand partition on it's hard drive is because read times are slightly faster when the OS is in the preferred left hand side of the HD closer to where the disk reader parks.

But since you are attaching a 1tb HD for storage you can accomplish this easier afterward by copying the data from D over to the 1tb, then deleting D and resizing C into its space using PW CD.

With the System Image backup and data zipped externally, you have no need to copy anything with PW now, nor any reason to plug in the 1tb until after the System MBR is recovered into Win7 using the exact steps I gave you.

Going surfing will be back around 7 pm PST.

gregrocker said:

In addition to file backup, I would save a Win7 Backup Image externally first: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

That is all the backup you need for this operation. Then follow the steps given above to unplug XP, mark D Inactive, C active, run Startup REpair x3.

The point about considering moving Win7 to the left hand partition on it's hard drive is because read times are slightly faster when the OS is in the preferred left hand side of the HD closer to where the disk reader parks.

But since you are attaching a 1tb HD for storage you can accomplish this easier afterward by copying the data from D over to the 1tb, then deleting D and resizing C into its space using PW CD.

With the System Image backup and data zipped externally, you have no need to copy anything with PW now, nor any reason to plug in the 1tb until after the System MBR is recovered into Win7 using the exact steps I gave you.

Going surfing will be back around 7 pm PST.

Thanks for your help man. I only preferrred to copy everything during the use of PWCD to make it so when I fixed the MBR and restarted the computer, I was ready to go, and didn't have some more work to do. I'm letting it run now and then I have to run the repair to fix the boot options.

Thanks again!

Other than backing up image and files externally beforehand, everything can be fixed in place and needs no further copying during repair. Just be sure to remove the XP HD so it doesn't interfere.