Bootable partition confusion

[RogerR]

The DISKPART tut says:

You also can't delete the system partition, boot partition, or any partition that contains the virtual memory paging file, because Windows needs this information to start correctly.

My patience and curiosity is about used up on this one. Looks like I'm headed for a format and clean install. I could probably have reinstalled all the programs in the time its taken to chase this around in circles.

 

[gregrocker]

Hi again, Roger -

Agree with Saltgrass, you have your boot critical files on D. This is the one you want to format, right?

Need to set C: active, delete D; then recover MBR into C: Windows 7 partition using Win7 DVD Startup Repair.

Back up your files and a Win7 Backup Image externally.

Boot Partition Wizard CD, select 1 for screen resolution, right click C: Modify>Set Active, OK. .

Now rightclick D: Modify>Set inactive, OK. Then Delete, OK. Apply all steps.

Now boot into Win7 DVD, select Repair my Computer on second screen, then click through to Recovery Tools to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to rewrite MBR to C: Win7.

 

[Night Hawk]

I wouldn't be planning to delete any partition. Reinstalling the program may clear up the misreading by that.

C not D contains the boot files. Those are always placed on the root of the first primary even when Windows is installed to any other partition or drive.

The Disk Management shows the actual partition theme and is what to go by there.

So I should disregard this?

The program is seeing a problem right from the start. The 7 installation along with the boot files are on C. Somehow PW is simply providing useless info there.

C not D contains the boot files. Those are always placed on the root of the first primary even when Windows is installed to any other partition or drive..

Not exactly correct. If the partition is not active, it will have no boot files on it.

Also, the System partition is where the boot files are. Check your own system.

It seems the third party partitioning software has caused some confusion.

The D partition is the second on the drive with 7 and the boot files on the first C primary there. That's the active primary unless RogerR is experiencing any startup problems which isn't the case here.

If you feel both partitions are active, then delete D: and run startup repair. If you do not get some type of message within 30 seconds, then it may take as much as 7 hours to fix.

I have to say I definitely find that advice questionable telling someone to simply delete a partition off of their drive without any information as to what files are on it?

Using a 3rd party drive tool to mark the D partition inactive or to see if it is would be far better. But it is being seen as active is due to being provided a logical drive letter to start with in order to see the volume mounted.

If the DM was showing "boot" on that then you would know Windows was in trouble. For simply seeing a second partition or drive marked active explain why one of the 5 sata HDs here isn't marked anything?

(hint: 32bit 7 HD)

 

[RogerR]

Boot Partition Wizard CD, select 1 for screen resolution, right click C: Modify>Set Active.

Doh! That's it. It had not dawned on me that I could boot into PW before the OS and break the cycle.


Thanks, Greg!

 

[surfasb]

You could also try diskparted from the setup disk rather from inside Windows.

 

[gregrocker]

Roger can you clear this up as it is causing some confusion here, and my advice depends upon it:

Your Disk Mgmt screenshot was taken from Win7, and shows C: is Windows 7, correct?

It was installed in a dual boot with D:Vista which is marked System Active because it holds the boot critical files for the former dual boot.

You attempted to format Vista and it won't format because it contains the MBR, correct?

 

[RogerR]

Roger can you clear this up as it is causing some confusion here, and my advice depends upon it:

Your Disk Mgmt screenshot was taken from Win7, and shows C: is Windows 7, correct?

It was installed in a dual boot with D:Vista which is marked System Active because it holds the boot critical files for the former dual boot.

You attempted to format Vista and it won't format because it contains the MBR, correct?

Yes.

Actually there was another installation of 7 on the D:\ partition, but C:\ holds the functioning OS.

 

[RogerR]

Ok, looks like I'm out the other side

 

[Night Hawk]

I updated the previous post with a second image taken while booted into the first 64bit 7 install seen before the new drive was added. Note the "boot" item is now seen on the other C there.

The 32bit still lacks any active designation due to being configured into a dual boot with the new drive's 64bit installation there shown in the first image. Since the first 64bit installation was added in afterwards as a boot entry it won't show "boot" while in the newer install.

We missed each other's posts there.

 

[gregrocker]

Ok, looks like I'm out the other side

Nice work, Roger.

Did it go as predicted?

I was waiting up here with a bag of tricks.

 

[RogerR]

Next question - I read the tutorial on extracting user settings from windows.old, but couldn't make it work for me (too many files not found). Any thoughts on that?

 

[RogerR]

Ok, looks like I'm out the other side

Nice work, Roger.

Did it go as predicted?

I was waiting up here with a bag of tricks.

Yep. Easy peasy 2 minute-fix if you boot from PW, but a horrid 2 hour vortex if you don't!

 

[gregrocker]

Ok, looks like I'm out the other side

Nice work, Roger.

Did it go as predicted?

I was waiting up here with a bag of tricks.

Yep. Easy peasy 2 minute-fix if you boot from PW, but a horrid 2 hour vortex if you don't!

It's why I always recommend the free Partition Wizard bootable CD on dual boot extractions, as you not only get better readings but can go back in when OS is unbootable to make necessary adjustments.

Couldn't really do without it. None other works quite as well with Win7 that I've found.