Changing the System Driver

[mokeylad]

Hi, i have recently installed Windows 7 on my VelociRaptor hard drive but windows XP is still installed on my other drive and is classed as the system drive, i now, as i have windows 7, would like to format my 'windows XP' drive but cannot as its the system drive... I have tried the thing where you use the install disk and repair it and this has not changed a thing.

Any help is extremely helpful, thanks.

 

[Mark Phelps]

If the Windows XP drive was connected while you installed Win7, it is very likely that the installer wrote the Win7 boot loader files to the Windows XP drive; so even if you could remove or reformat it, Win7 would most likely then NOT boot.

I have tried the thing where you use the install disk and repair it and this has not changed a thing.

It's probably just repairing the boot loader files already in Windows XP -- so you are seeing no changes.

What you can try is installing EasyBCD from NeoSmart Technologies on Wikn7, running it, and using it to copy the Win7 boot loader files to the Win7 drive. You do this by clicking the Advanced Settings button, then selecting Change boot drive under BCD Management Options.

You can then test the result by disconnecting the Windows XP drive and booting using only the Win7 drive. IF it boots OK, the migration of the boot loader files was successful.

Then, I would consider downloading and burning a CD of the Minitool Partition Wizard Boot CD, booting from that, and using that to reformat the Windows XP drive.

 

[mokeylad]

I'll try that Thanks

 

[mokeylad]

i have done this but the Windows 7 Drive is still not classed as the 'system' drive?

 

[whs]

TYhis is the fastest fix:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html

You have to be booted into Win7, not XP.

 

[mokeylad]

Whs, i am booted into windows 7,i was booted into windows 7 before the problem was that the windows xp drive is still considered the system drive.

 

[whs]

Of course. That is because you did not detach the XP drive when you installed Windows 7. Then the Win7 installer put the bootmgr into the XP partition which made it eh system drive for All systems.

If you follow my tutorial and move the bootmgr to the Win7 C drive, then you don't need the XP partition any more.

 

[mokeylad]

needing the Xp drive isnt the problem and its not a partition, i want to be able to erase the XP drive but i cannot do so untill the computer recognizes the Windows 7 drive as the System.

 

[whs]

You obviously do not follow the logic. The Win7 C partition will only be recognized as the system partition after you copied the bootmgr to it. Jumping in circles is not going to make it happen. You have to do what is outlined in the tutorial.

 

[mokeylad]

The bootMGR is copied to it, from what Mark and you suggested, but the 'windows xp' drive is Still considered the System Drive?

 

[whs]

Post a picture of your disk management please.