Delete Windows 7 Boot Partition

Marionumber1 · 23 Apr 2011

Hello SevenForums! I'm new here, and this is my first post. Anyway, I discovered the boot partition in Disk Management. It is marked active, and has Bootmgr plus the Boot folder. Due to this, I presume it is some boot partition separate. However, my C: drive also has a valid Bootmgr and Boot folder. I was wondering if I could delete this, and mark the C: drive active.

Note 1: I'm using GRUB2 in the MBR, so it may not matter.
Note 2: It is called "Recovery", so it most likely has the WinRE on it. But I have a recovery disk, so it may not matter.

Bare Foot Kid · 23 Apr 2011

Hello Marionumber1, welcome to Seven Forums!

Before we make any specific recommendations will you please post a snip/screen-shot of the entire disk management drive map with a full description as to which drive/partition is which, so we can see what you have going on as there may be a fairly simple way to resolve the situation.

In the Windows start menu right click computer and click manage, in the left pane of the "Computer Management" window that opens click disk management and post a maximized snip of that.

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Marionumber1 · 24 Apr 2011

Delete Windows 7 Boot Partition-diskmgmt.png

The first is an OEM partition. Then we have the partition I'm talking about, called "Recovery". Then we have my C: drive. After that is my Ubuntu partition. Then my E: drive, for shared data. Then my Ubuntu swap partition.

Also, I confirmed that Bootmgr can load from the C: drive.

Bare Foot Kid · 24 Apr 2011

I just want to make sure you to know that "Recovery" partition is the one used to recover the PC back to "Factory" specs, like it was when you purchased and set it up for the first time.

Before you change anything: have you created the set of recovery disks in case you ever want to take it back to "Factory" condition?

I can help you remove that partition and recover that space into the C: partition if you choose.

Marionumber1 · 24 Apr 2011

Yeah, I made a recovery disc. And I know how to partition hard drives, so if you think it's safe, I'll remove it and resize C: and mark C: as active. Don't even know if it matters with GRUB2 in the MBR anyway.

Bare Foot Kid · 24 Apr 2011

[Disclaimer]I don't know how this will affect Grub[/disclaimer]

You can use the outline in this tutorial at the link below to do as you like, be sure to mark the Windows 7 partition Active first to make sure there will be no issues with that side of it.

Do the wipes to the 2 partition to the left of C: don't just delete them, the recovery partition may cause errors if you just delete that one.

Partition : Recover Space Used by an Older OS

If you have any issues marking C: active, Option Two of this tutorial shows how to correct for that.

Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

Be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep me informed.

whs · 24 Apr 2011

I am puzzled. In your disk management snip I see the Recovery Partition as active partition. So the bootmgr must have somehow ended up there. I do not understand the Grub deal. The MBR should be pointing to the recovery partition.

Marionumber1 · 24 Apr 2011

The Recovery partition has Bootmgr. But the C: drive does too. And I'm dual booting, so I have GRUB in the MBR.

Shootist · 24 Apr 2011

Marionumber1 said:

The first is an OEM partition. Then we have the partition I'm talking about, called "Recovery". Then we have my C: drive. After that is my Ubuntu partition. Then my E: drive, for shared data. Then my Ubuntu swap partition.

Also, I confirmed that Bootmgr can load from the C: drive.

that first partition, the 100MB one, is supposed to be the active partition and hold the BASE boot files for Win 7.
Somehow those BASE boot files got put on the recovery partition, Maybe.

What I would suggest is getting a boot CD/USB utility program, something like Hirens boot CD, that has a file manager included and take a look at what is on both of those partitions. Until you know what is on them I would not delete/move/resize anything. you could end up with a non booting system.
Of course if you do delete that partition and then move the space into the C drive and the system doesn't boot you could always run a repair install to place the needed boot files back on that 100MB partition.

whs · 24 Apr 2011

Well, if you are sure that C has a full bootmgr, I guess you can make it active. I have no idea though how the bootmgr would have gotten there. A bootmgr looks like in the picture below.

You then still have to make Grub point to C, but I have no idea how this is done.