Delete a partition when Dual-Boot is installed

[jsmo]

Greetings!

On one of my 1 Tb disks, I installed at first Win7-32bit (Disk E on the picture). Some months later on the same disk I made a new partition and installed Win7-64bit (Disk C on the picture). When I boot I am offered to select which OS I want to use.

Now I would like to delete the Win7-32bit partition to use the place for something else (non OS).

Question: May I simply delete the partition where Win7-32 ("E" on the picture)? Won't the boot be affected?

Thank you!

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
Review this,
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/210983-dual-boot-delete-os.html

 

[jsmo]

Thank you, that is exactly what I needed! Another problem arrises: When I try to delete the partition (or to format it) where Win7-32 is (The bootmgr is located on another "Reserved" small partition) I get a message that "this partition is currently in use" or "A program or process on this partition is running".
So far I am unable to find which program it is, the task manager doesn't shown anything, regedit too...
I could force the format / deletion but....! Any suggestion?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Possibly this screen shot would be better than the cropped one you posted ?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

 

[jsmo]

Well, I could but it won't help! The thing is simple: Using an OS on a partition, the computer says that "a program or process" is currently in use, located on another partition with another OS that I want to delete Even after a reboot... SO I cannot format/delete the partition. How can I find which process is run from this partition?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Not sure you are not booted into C ?
What is on the Safe partition ?
You might glance at this too
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html

 

[jsmo]

Well... Screenshots are attached

I *am* booted in C and want to delete/format E.

The bootmgr seems to be in the "System reserved" on Disk2

On E I can see one folder "Bootwiz" with a date that can make me think it is used even if I boot on C...?

 

[DavidE]

Well, I could but it won't help!

Yes, it will help if you post a maximized screen print of Disk Management as suggested by ThrashZone using this tutorial to resize and show all info:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

Then we can see where your bootloader is, what OS is booted, and more.
Your little snip in post #1 does not show any of this info.

 

[jsmo]

In the "SAFE" disk - some personal data files only.

 

[jsmo]

And so...

 

[ThrashZone]

Z does say Boot :/

 

[ThrashZone]

Yikes that is a dynamic disk too

 

[DavidE]

Yikes that is a dynamic disk too

Yea, i agree with yikes.

@jsmo, can you disconnect the drive with dynamic partitions and see if the PC will boot ?

 

[jsmo]

Disconnect Z? How to do this, and what to do if the PC does not boot after this?!


By the way Z was some time ago the Boot disk for Win7 in 32 bits then I deleted all, re-installed Win7-32 on another disk, formatted Z and am using now to store films... hum... torrents

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
If it will not boot
Insert your 64 bit installation media and try start up repair.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

 

[jsmo]

hmm... For doing this test I better would physically disconnect the Z drive, then try booting. If it does not, I will just plug it again and have a look

Anyway that wasn't the problem, as I (just) want to remove the E partition...

 

[jsmo]

Well, my initial problem is solved, I could delete the E partition and all is working fine after I modified the Boot menu etc. The file that was in use was made by Acronis software that I used earlier on the 32 bit copy, then on the 64 bit It seems it kept the initial place in the 32 bit copy, and used this file. I uninstalled Acronis then could delete the partition, will just reinstall it now on the 64bit copy.

Tomorrow will have a look at the "boot Z" disk!

Thank you everybody for your help, fast and accurate Have a god day night, 1.30 AM in Moscow, going to bed

 

[DavidE]

formatted Z and am using now to store films... hum... torrents

I don't use torrents, so i don't know what problems that might cause.
You could try MiniTool Partition Wizard bootable CD to see if you can delete the partition when Windows is not running.
https://www.partitionwizard.com/partition-wizard-bootable-cd.html

Have everything backed up before making changes.

 

[DavidE]

We cross posted at the same time !
See you got it solved

 

[ThrashZone]

Yes indeed

I suppose that dynamic disk could be in a raid for the movies performance ?