Want to make Win 7 System Partition DualBoot

Oldroser · 13 Jun 2010

Well, I did it, but I had to do a repair install.

The next stupid question is about deleting the 200 mg partition. I had it deleted once, I thought. It shows up now as unallocated space or some such (I am writing this elsewhere so can't check.) When I try to delete it again it says that "This is an Extended Partition. Are You Sure You Want To Delete?" And I'm not sure since I have no idea how on earth it became an extended partition and whether deleting it will mess up the other, desired primary partitions holding Windows 7 and my data. I think I can, actually, but want to be cast iron sure, so am coming here to check.

The last thing is, anybody have any idea why Macrium Free's rescue disk that used to work for me and then I thew it out and made the new one with the newer program now will not work under any circumstance whatsoever?

theog · 13 Jun 2010

System reserved, take look here.

System Reserved Partition - Delete

Your rescue disk, try burning at a slow speed.

gregrocker · 13 Jun 2010

Better post back another screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map.

If it is warning you that is an extended partition and you previously deleted within it, it should read Free Space (Logical), which can be deleted to become (Primary) Unallocated Space. Then you can extend the adjacent partition into it..

Partition or Volume - Extend

If this is not clear then let us see the screenshot.

Night Hawk · 13 Jun 2010

Since the 7 installer didn't place it there to begin with there won't be anything on it. If that was created at the front of the drive once gone you would then need to move the 7 primary forward to fill that empty space in. But like gregrocker suggested a good look at the DM would be a big help at this time before going any further.

Oldroser · 14 Jun 2010

Posting an image using the paperclip didn't work, because after the file uploaded, when I clicked "Close this window", nothing happened. Below is using Photobucket, and it's taken a while for me to get a code there that worked. If this is too big, I'm sorry, it was all I could find that worked.

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Night Hawk · 14 Jun 2010

Nothing happens until you finish the post and click on the Quick Reply button. That's any images attached with the second browse window appear. You'll get used to it!

As far as the 200mb partition you may as well simply deleted that entirely and expand the second data partition into the empty space left behind. With the W7 installer's own drive tools that creates a 100mb system reserved partition at the front not rear of the drive which holds the repair tools mainly.

When using a 3rd party paritioning program the 7 installer then tucks them into the new C primary since the partition is already present. You won't see the F8 boot menu option however unless a problem comes up where you are then aske if you want to use the startup repair tool. The other tools are unavailable.

gregrocker · 15 Jun 2010

Try deleting the Free Space to get rid of the extended partition and make Unallocated Space. Then extend the adjacent partition into the space using tutorial I linked above.

Oldroser · 15 Jun 2010

Night Hawk, I couldn't get to the Quick Reply button. I was stuck in the area where you upload images. After mine uploaded, I clicked the "close window" button, neither of them would work.

Since you say it is safe, will delete the partition and expand the data area.

When I have a migraine that keeps me awake in the wee hours I will do a very slow Macrum Rescue disk again.

Thank you so very much, don't know what I'd do without you all.

Night Hawk · 15 Jun 2010

I've have the attach files page slow at times here as well since SF is a busy place to start with!

That's a common problem however and generally easy to use in the few seconds it takes there.

The 200mb partition you added at the end of the drive won't do you any good there for a start since the actual system reserved partition is half that size and prepared by the Windows installer itself. Your best option is to simply delete that and look at the reference gregrocker pointed to if you are new at drive partitioning in general to avoid any goofs!

Once in a DM that will only take a matter of a minute if that to take care of. That will simply see the 200mb of drive space made available to the G data partition rather then having the extra part taking up space and not being used for anything.

Oldroser · 17 Jun 2010

Where is my Win 7 100 mg partition? I don't see it.

Want to make Win 7 System Partition DualBoot

Not used to this, see if this works