Can't delete old vista partition :/

[DaRonRon]

I have both Vista and Win7 installed on two separate partitions on my hdd. My laptop came with vista originally and i installed the RC afterwards. So anyway i decided i dont need my vista partition anymore so i want to delete it, but apparently i cant. Take a look:

In win7's disk management it doesnt allow me to delete my vista partition (or even format!)

The other pic is a third party program EASEUS Partition Master which i highly recommend. Even there it doesnt allow me to delete the partition.

An important note to point out is that im booted in Windows 7 currently so i should be able to delete my vista partition.

So is there something im missing?

 

[richc46]

download and try gparted.

 

[DaRonRon]

i just googled gparted. Is it an ISO which i have to burn?

 

[richc46]

As far as I know, it currently, is just a download.

 

[DaRonRon]

As far as I know, it currently, is just a download.

could you be so kind as to link me to that download..

 

[richc46]

GParted -- Welcome

You may have to burn to a DVD.

 

[DaRonRon]

thanks for the link, i will check that out tomorrow cause its a little late.

Does anyone else have any other ideas?

 

[sg010]

your vista partition is the system drive, if I remember correctly the system drive contains boot info if you delete it you may find you will not be able to boot the computer. also it's before your 7 partition so you will not be able to expand the 7 partition to use that space.

I recommend you create a backup of the 7 partition and repair disks before you attempt deleting that partition.

good luck.

 

[SIW2]

You don't need GParted.

If you have the Easeus boot disc, use that - if not , create it - you have Easeus Pro , so you can do that. Tool>Bootable disc

You can incorporate the space into the 7 partition if you wish.

Delete D first, then use Resize/Move to include the now Unallocated space.

Rt click the new larger 7 partition Advanced>Set Active.

Either way, you need to run startup repair 3 times after you finish partitioning.

 

[DaRonRon]

You don't need GParted.

If you have the Easeus boot disc, use that - if not , create it - you have Easeus Pro , so you can do that. Tool>Bootable disc

You can incorporate the space into the 7 partition if you wish.

Delete D first, then use Resize/Move to include the now Unallocated space.

Rt click the new larger 7 partition Advanced>Set Active.

Either way, you need to run startup repair 3 times after you finish partitioning.

As it is right now, i cant delete D. If i create the bootable disc then can i delete the partition?

I also read about the Set Active command, and apparently allows me to chose which partition i boot from. So if i set C as active then wont it allow me to then delete D?

 

[DaRonRon]

Maybe i should have mentioned that i was going to install the retail version of win 7 as soon as it arrives.So i figured it would be best to install Windows 7 over D (vista partition), and then delete C (Win 7 RC). Can i do this?

 

[kbz1960]

Maybe i should have mentioned that i was going to install the retail version of win 7 as soon as it arrives.So i figured it would be best to install Windows 7 over D (vista partition), and then delete C (Win 7 RC). Can i do this?

If you're going to do that then why don't you backup your files and do a custom install, delete all partitions, create one drive and format and install?

 

[DaRonRon]

i might try that, but i want to make sure, can i install over the vista partition since i cant delete it apparently?

 

[Tews]

If you cant delete a partition, then you are doing something wrong... Follow SIW2's advice and you will do just fine...

 

[DaRonRon]

If you cant delete a partition, then you are doing something wrong... Follow SIW2's advice and you will do just fine...

i would follow that advice, but he says to delete the partition which apparently i cant. Correct me if i misunderstood.

 

[Dave76]

Maybe i should have mentioned that i was going to install the retail version of win 7 as soon as it arrives.So i figured it would be best to install Windows 7 over D (vista partition), and then delete C (Win 7 RC). Can i do this?

When you install Win7 in the D partition (Vista) it will re-write the boot files.
The last OS installed will be the default OS in the boot menu, first on the list.

Read this Seven Forums tutorial on How to Delete a Listed Operating System at Boot in Windows 7.

This will remove the Win7 RC from your boot menu.

Then you can delete the C partition (Win 7 RC).

Have a look at Windows Easy Transfer - Transfer To & From Computers This tutorial will show you how to transfer your user files and settings from one computer to another using the Windows Easy Transfer tool.
You will still need to install all your programs first.

Let us know if you have any questions.

 

[DaRonRon]

oh i think i understand now.

i must boot from the Easeus disc, delete the partition through there. Reboot. Set the win7 partition as active. Reboot. Then resize the partition with remaining space.

is this right?

 

[Dave76]

If your planning on installing Win7 soon, just install it in the Vista partition and you won't have to worry about deleting or the boot manager.

 

[DaRonRon]

If your planning on installing Win7 soon, just install it in the Vista partition and you won't have to worry about deleting or the boot manager.

ok i will follow your instructions. Thanks a lot mate.

So i install over Vista. Then in my boot manager there will be 2 Windows 7 entries. I boot into the first one because that will be the newer one. I then follow the tut u provided to remove the RC entry from the boot manager. Then from here i can finally delete the partition.

Is this correct?

 

[MacGyvr]

If your planning on installing Win7 soon, just install it in the Vista partition and you won't have to worry about deleting or the boot manager.

ok i will follow your instructions. Thanks a lot mate.

So i install over Vista. Then in my boot manager there will be 2 Windows 7 entries. I boot into the first one because that will be the newer one. I then follow the tut u provided to remove the RC entry from the boot manager. Then from here i can finally delete the partition.

Is this correct?

Honestly, you're getting some weird and incomplete advice here.

When you start your installation of Windows 7, you will have the opportunity to adjust your partitions. You will need to click on "advanced" on the screen where it asks you where to install.

From that screen (if you want your drive completely clean), delete ALL the partitions on the drive. If you want multiple partitions, you can create them on this screen as well, or you can simply tell Windows 7 to install into the unallocated space and it will create the partition(s) it needs and start the install.