Solved Clarification about moving bootmgr

[iexample1]

Hello all,

I had a friend help me install Windows on my custom build a long time ago using a free OS from my university. He installed both Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate in 2 partitions (and I have another, separate logical volume for a total of 3). At the time I thought nothing of it however I'm ready to install Windows 10 and would prefer to have only one single volume/partition.

I currently only boot my Windows 7 Pro and use it for everything and as such my plan was to simply delete my Windows 7 Ultimate partition and add it to my Pro (C: ) drive. I ran into complications when I found out that my bootmgr (active partition) is actually my Windows 7 Ultimate (D: ) drive. I browsed through this thread: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html and it seems simple enough to change.

My question is then: because I use my Pro for everything and EasyBCD is only free for non-commercial use (ie. my Ultimate) is my best course of action to boot into my Windows Ultimate(D: ) and move my bootmgr to my pro (C: ) drive?

While I have backed up all my important files I would just like clarification before proceeding. Will doing the above have any effect on my files on C:?

Would following this be any better: Move Windows 7 boot files to another drive ?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

EasyBCD is a good tool and what I would use.

As far as I know, it does not move boot files. It copies them--despite the title of the tutorial.

You say "I found out that my bootmgr (active partition) is actually my Windows 7 Ultimate (D: ) drive."

How did you find that out? What's the proof of that?

I'm just trying to make sure you are not going to get in a jam.

In a typical installation, boot files are NOT on the same partition as Windows. They might be, but normally aren't.

Best thing you can do is post a picture of Windows Disk Management.

 

[iexample1]

Thanks for the response and here is my picture of my disk management:



I believe the drive marked active (D or my Ultimate) has the bootmgr files if I'm not mistaken.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

OK.

Your boot files are on D because it is marked "system".

You can use EasyBCD to copy those files to C.

You'll also need to mark C as active and D as not active. You can do that in Disk Management.

Reboot and confirm that C is shown as system and active.

If it boots OK, you could then delete the D partition if there's nothing on it you want.

You would then need to use Partition Wizard to add the space now occupied by D to the C partition.

In the typical Windows install, a small partition named "System Reserved" will contain the boot files. But it's possible, as in your case, to do an install without System Reserved. I've never used System Reserved either, but it is the default.

 

[AddRAM]

I would totally wipe out D and C, because C is in the middle of the hard drive.

And re install Windows Pro (whatever you have a key for) on the unallocated space or create a partition (my recommendation) to install it on.

Then upgrade to Windows 10, then reinstall any software.

I would also get your data off that logical partition and delete it too. Data on the same drive as windows ??? Only if it`s absolutely necessary.

Great idea, don`t get me wrong, but if you loose the drive, you loose the data.

If you don`t want to reinstall, then stick with your plan

 

[cmmtch]

If you can manage to do it purchase or borrow another drive and perform a backup/image of C before you do anything. That way if things go really wrong for you there's the backup/image to at least get Win7 Pro and your files back.

Another option would be after you have the backup/image on another drive, do a format on the existing drive to clear everything off of it, boot from install media and image the now empty drive with your Win 7 Pro backup/image, then upgrade to W10. With Win7 Pro you get W10 Pro, and you'll still have a backup/image of your original Win7 Pro with all your stuff on it.

After doing that if you can't boot from the HDD you might have to boot from install media and perform startup repair to get the bootmgr in the right place.

 

[AddRAM]

Excellent advice

 

[iexample1]

Thanks all for the great advice, I'm going to give a proper update when I get my hands on another drive in order to save my backup/images before I proceed.

 

[iexample1]

Thanks again for all the help it worked out great and now I'm running Windows 10 P. I think it's time to move to the Ten Forums .

 

[cmmtch]

Thanks for posting back your results iexample1 When we resolve a problem and post back our results it will help others with a similar issue.

Just because you are on W10 you can still hang around on sevenforums, I'm more on tenforums these days but come back and check things out here once in a while.

Good to hear things worked out for you, if you haven't done so already you can now make a backup/image for W10 Pro.