Can't delete old vista partition :/

[kbz1960]

Wouldn't it be easier to just delete partions after booting from the win7 dvd and do a clean install if you're getting rid of everything else on the drive?

 

[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?

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.

ah i can delete all partitions during the install? that should solve a lot of problems! thanks mate!

 

[Dave76]

Tough crowd tonight.

Yes, you can delete all partitions when you install.

Is there anything on these partitions that you want to keep?

This is the consideration I had in mind.

Let us know if you have any questions.

 

[DaRonRon]

Tough crowd tonight.

Yes, you can delete all partitions when you install.

Is there anything on these partitions that you want to keep?

This is the consideration I had in mind.

Let us know if you have any questions.

yeh i realized you were considering that. Your way should work fine too, but i have an external hdd so i'll just back things up that way.

Anyway thanks for the help! u deserve some rep

 

[Dave76]

That's a good plan.

Didn't want you to loose everything.

Sounds like your all set.

Your welcome,

Let us know if you have any questions.

 

[DaRonRon]

lol sorry but i have one more question. Last one i promise.

from this pic i see there's the option to delete and format. Im not sure but when i delete does this leave behind unallocated disc space? So if i delete both my partitions, then i have two unallocated disc spaces? Then i join them? And then format? Whats the ordering here?

 

[Dave76]

No problem with the questions.

When you delete a partition it will leave unallocated space.

All unallocated space will be combined if it is next to each other, no partition between them.

If the unallocated space is big enough you can choose it to install Win7 to, it will format and install in the unallocated space.
Or, you can make partitions any size you want and install to one of them.

You can delete then install.
Or delete, format then install.
Or delete, partition, format, then install.

It depends on what you want to have in the end.
If you want one big partition then use the delete and install.
If you want one partition for the OS and one partition for personal data, then delete, partition, format and install.

A lot of people make separate partitions for the OS and personal data. This makes it easier to restore, repair or re-install your OS without loosing your personal data, and it's easier to backup your HD.

 

[SIW2]

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?

LOL. That's completely different from your original question.

from this pic i see there's the option to delete and format. Im not sure but when i delete does this leave behind unallocated disc space? So if i delete both my partitions, then i have two unallocated disc spaces? Then i join them? And then format? Whats the ordering here?

Unallocated space is just what it says - there is no division - you will just get one larger amount of Unallocated space if the partitions you deleted were next to each other.

When you create a partition from that - select how much of it to partition and the remaining Unallocated space can be used to create another partition.

Or select it all and create just one partition.

 

[DaRonRon]

i would prefer to have one big partition where i can install win7 into. but remember, that pic is not from my computer. Mine would have two drives. So i can delete both of them, they will be combined into one unallocated space, and then i can install?

thanks for all your help. Your the best

 

[MacGyvr]

i would prefer to have one big partition where i can install win7 into. but remember, that pic is not from my computer. Mine would have two drives. So i can delete both of them, they will be combined into one unallocated space, and then i can install?

thanks for all your help. Your the best

Unallocated space from two drives will not be combined. That would show as two separate entries in the list.

 

[DaRonRon]

from this pic i see there's the option to delete and format. Im not sure but when i delete does this leave behind unallocated disc space? So if i delete both my partitions, then i have two unallocated disc spaces? Then i join them? And then format? Whats the ordering here?

Unallocated space is just what it says - there is no division - you will just get one larger amount of Unallocated space if the partitions you deleted were next to each other.

When you create a partition from that - select how much of it to partition and the remaining Unallocated space can be used to create another partition.

Or select it all and create just one partition.

when you say create partition, do u mean i must format? Because when i delete both partitions i will have one big unallocated space, then from here should i click format, or i can just go ahead and press next?

 

[SIW2]

Yes, you could - but if you do that you will get an extra 100mb system reserved partition.

7 creates that if you haven't already partitioned the disk first into one (or more ) and marked it Active.

Most people prefer to install the o/s on one partition , and keep their data on a separate partition.

Makes it much easier to manage. Also, if you need to reinstall, or restore an image - the data partition remains untouched.

I suggest ( assuming you are not going to use Bitlocker ) Create 2 partitions.

Mark the one on the Left Active. Install 7 onto the Active partition.

 

[DaRonRon]

i would prefer to have one big partition where i can install win7 into. but remember, that pic is not from my computer. Mine would have two drives. So i can delete both of them, they will be combined into one unallocated space, and then i can install?

thanks for all your help. Your the best

Unallocated space from two drives will not be combined. That would show as two separate entries in the list.

ok then should i extend them?

 

[SIW2]

MacGyver was talking about 2 separate HD's.

It is clear from your first post that you only have one HD.

 

[Dave76]

i would prefer to have one big partition where i can install win7 into. but remember, that pic is not from my computer. Mine would have two drives. So i can delete both of them, they will be combined into one unallocated space, and then i can install?

thanks for all your help. Your the best

Yes, that's correct.

As SIW2 suggests, you will find this two partition setup very useful.

 

[DaRonRon]

the reason why i dont want to have my files on a separate partition is because some family members occasionally use my pc. They will have access to those files then which i dont want.

Is there any way i can install it on one big partition and not have win7 create another 100 mb partition that SIW2 mentioned. If that 100mb partition is hidden then i have not problem with that

edit: i think i could do this and it wont create that extra partition. I delete the second drive only. Then extend it to the first drive (vista one). I format it then click next. Would this avoid that?

 

[SIW2]

The 100mb will be hidden in Computer view - because it is not allocated a drive letter, but you can see it in Disk Management.

If you mark the one big partition Active before installing 7 onto it - you won't get the 100mb partition.

 

[Dave76]

Your family members will have access to one big partition the same as if there are two partitions.

Either way, as SIW2 mentioned, make one or two partitions, then mark the one on the left (if two) or the big partition as active. This will keep you from getting the 100mb partition.

 

[DaRonRon]

how would i mark it as active?

sorry for all these questions, its just that i want to be 100% sure

edit: if i dont delete the vista partition and delete the win7 one, then expand the unallocated space to the vista one, then format it and install will it then be active because the vista one was active to begin with

 

[MachineGun]

Windows will not let you delete any partition if there is a swap file on it.
Boot into Vista and remove the swap file, then you will be able to delete the Vista partition.
MachineGun