Current dual boot-deleting Vista

[Minotar]

Disk ID: A53F2CA8
Type : ATA
Status : online
Path : 0
Target : 0
LUN ID : 0
Location Path CIROOT<0>#PCI<1100>#ATA<C00T00L00>
Current read Only State : No
Read Only : No
Boot Disk : No
Pagefile Disk : No
Hibernation Disk : No
Crashdump Disk : No
Clustered Disk : No

Volume### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
Volume 1 C Windows 7 6 NTFS Partition 125GB Healthy
Volume 2 D Data NTFS Partition 163GB Healthy
Volume 3 E Windows 7 6 NTFS Partition 125GB Healthy

You could do that. The problem arose copying an extended partition. You had quite a few attempts at changing the various partition types yourself.

The partition table is suspect. Not sure the installer will read it correctly.

Boot to the system recovery options command promt and Type:

Diskpart

lis disk

( hopefully )

sel disk 0

detail disk

( let us know what it says)

exi

( to exit diskpart)

 

[gregrocker]

Unless SIW2 has a fix (he always does), this is the point I would boot into the Installer, select CUstom>Advanced Tools then Delete all of the partitions on either side of the Data partition (hope you backed that up). Then create a new partition to the left of the Data storage partition, format it and install.

When you get it set up to your satisfaction, use Win7's Backup Imaging to save an image externally so that you will never again have to do another reinstall.

If thid does not work this time round that is what i will do,at this point its 3:30 am and ive gone through about 50 cigarettes and 30mugs off coffe.

So,using the custom install i delete both win7 partitions but keep the data one,and then use the space left by the two deleted partitions to re-install Win7?

Well, probably not in the space of both deleted Win7 paritions, since they are on either side of the Data drive. If you wanted to use all that space you would have to use your Partition manager to move it all together in the beginning of the drive to the left of the Data partition.

Don't you have enough space there now to create, format and install a partition to the left of the data partition, in the space which was previously occupied by the Recovery Partition and Vista copy?

 

[Minotar]

Unless SIW2 has a fix (he always does), this is the point I would boot into the Installer, select CUstom>Advanced Tools then Delete all of the partitions on either side of the Data partition (hope you backed that up). Then create a new partition to the left of the Data storage partition, format it and install.

When you get it set up to your satisfaction, use Win7's Backup Imaging to save an image externally so that you will never again have to do another reinstall.

If thid does not work this time round that is what i will do,at this point its 3:30 am and ive gone through about 50 cigarettes and 30mugs off coffe.

So,using the custom install i delete both win7 partitions but keep the data one,and then use the space left by the two deleted partitions to re-install Win7?

No, not in the space of both deleted Win7 paritions, since they are on either side of the Data drive. If you wanted to use all that space you would have to use your Partition manager to move it all together in the beginning of the drive to the left of the Data partition.

Don't you have enough space there now to create, format and install a partition to the left of the data partition, in the space which was previously occupied by the Recovery Partition and Vista?

Thats what i meant

I more than likely do have sufficent space,i just dont like have space doing nothing lol

 

[gregrocker]

THen take the time to set up your partitions exactly as you want them using your partition software.

I hope PW has the tools to run a file system check and surface scan as Paragon does, since SIW2 thinks there may be a corrupt partition table.

 

[Minotar]

It would have showed up in the above table he asked me to get no?

 

[gregrocker]

Startup repair should have rebuilt this after copying your Windows 7 onto the deleted Vista space, as long as the drive is marked active. It won't. None of the bootrec or bootsect commands are working, either. Unless anyone else has a fix, I personally would reinstall.

Unless SIW2 has another idea, you could delete the old Win7 to see if it is conflicting, then double check that the first one is marked active and in the first part of the disk. Try startup repair a few times. Try the bootrec and bootsect commands again. But at this point I would only be doing them to learn.

 

[Minotar]

Thanks,going to try it now,its now half 4 and im getting less and less able to read lol

 

[gregrocker]

I know how it gets with the overnighters sometimes you have to call it quits to make sure you are not making fatigue errors.

If you want to continue this tomorrow then this post will be the first one I check, and SIW2 should have been by. PST here.

 

[Minotar]

I know how it gets with the overnighters sometimes you have to call it quits to make sure you are not making fatigue errors.

If you want to continue this tomorrow then this post will be the first one I check, and SIW2 should have been by. PST here.

I usally stay up late if not for the two days due to the accident at work but im trying to get out of it lately lol.

I should be ok,im just moving the partitions around with PW.

I was thinking,would expanding space in data be a better idea seeing as thats where nearly all my files are stored?

 

[gregrocker]

Sure why not? You can also adjust them later.

Is there a file system checker and surface scan on PW? I would check all partitions.

 

[Minotar]

Sure why not? You can also adjust them later.

Great,ill let you know how it goes before i knock off anyhow

 

[gregrocker]

You run the disk check?

See what it sez, right click on your first partition in PW

SIW2 thought it might cause trouble with the install if partition table is corrupt

 

[Minotar]

You run the disk check?

See what it sez, right click on your first partition in PW

SIW2 thought it might cause trouble with the install if partition table is corrupt

I dont think PW has that option

 

[gregrocker]

yeah its on the right click menu when u click on partition. Just checked.

But if you are going to do the reinstall, I'd just go ahead since MBR will be overwritten even with quick format.

And if you used the PW formatting, I'd still do a quick format from the Win7 installer just to make sure its compatible.

Make sure you don't accidentally format your data drive

 

[Minotar]

yeah its on the right click menu when u click on partition. Just checked.

But if you are going to do the reinstall, I'd just go ahead since MBR will be overwritten even with quick format.

And if you used the PW formatting, I'd still do a quick format from the Win7 installer just to make sure its compatible.

Make sure you don't format your data drive

oopps lol

Thats what im going to do,the Win7 Os partition thats left is under type "System"
Is that ok to format?

its late,im sorry for the amount of questions

 

[gregrocker]

glad to help. Yes you can format using PW to get a full, or just use the Win7 installer's quick format which def overwrites that bastad MBR

Win7 should sort it out so no need to worry about it unless another drive is marked active.

let us know how the install goes

 

[Minotar]

glad to help. Yes you can format using PW to get a full, or just use the Win7 installer's quick format.

Win7 will set it all up so no need to worry about it unless another drive is marked active.

let us know how the install goes

Great

And seriously,thanks,i know from working with cars,trying to explain something over the net can be dreadful when the other person only has limited knowledge...especially if it lasts hours.

Of course

 

[gregrocker]

You are much more skilled than the average user.

The fly in the ointment here was the WINRE partition when deleting the first boot partition and moving the second over. Normally the 100mb boot partition Win7 creates can be deleted and recovered into the Win7 via Startup Repair.

These dual-boot deletions are each gonna be a pain.

And people are bailin out of XP/Vista within hours whereas we beta testers took more time to realize Win7's perfection (it also had beta bugs).

My computers here have all gone thru these multiple times, so I like helpin other people work their puzzles.

 

[Minotar]

You are much more skilled than the average user.

The fly in the ointment here was the WINRE partition which I have not enountered before when deleting the first boot partition and moving the second over. Normally the 100mb boot partition Win7 creates can be deleted and recovered into the Win7 via Startup Repair.

These dual-boot deletions are each gonna be a pain.

And people are bailin out of XP/Vista within hours whereas we beta testers took more time to realize Win7's perfection (it also had beta bugs).

My computers here have all gone thru these multiple times, so I like helpin other people work their puzzles.

It depends on who you compare me to

I think that WINRE is assosicated with Fijitsu computers in general as there was a program "Fijitsu Recovery" pre-installed,but i thought it was a .exe,not an actual partition.

I might agree on that...lol

Well for that you have my up-most thanks!

Win7 Ultimate is now my current OS and seems to be working perfect,ill know within a few days of any hiccups and report back

I added some rep for you earlier and SIW2 ,both of you more than desrve it.

Dan

 

[gregrocker]

Googling that Fujitsu WinRe partition, it is the same as the 100mb boot/repair partition Win7 can install, and just as with most it can be removed and recovered by Startup Repair, since if manufacturer's it is disabled in almost every case by the new OS install anyway and is wasting space and possibly conflicting.

Therefore, it had to be something hanging the Startup Repair and bootrec/bootsect commands, probably in the partition manager software deleting/copying process. These operations are always fraught with danger.

Congrats and enjoy Win7. You can work through any issue here. Remember to make your backup image and store it externally once you get the HDD set up just like you want, for no'mo reinstalls.