DISKPART : At PC Startup

Open Windows DISKPART at System Startup​

This is an outline of the methods to boot (start) the PC to open DISKPART so you can manipulate the Solid State Drive (SSD) or Hard Disk Drive (HDD) partitions before you start an installation or for any other reason.

Let's get started!

Method One

Windows 7 Full Installer

1) In the BIOS set the boot order to boot first from the CD/DVD Drive, insert the Windows 7 instalation DVD and restart the PC, at the first black/screen hit the space bar for the "Press any key ... " prompt, then at the "Language" screen hold the "Shift" key and hit the F10 hot-key to open a command window.


click any image to enlarge


2) In the command window that opens type diskpart <enter> to get started.

To close the command window when finished type exit <enter> to leave diskpart, then exit <enter> again to close the command window and get back to the installer.

Method Two

Windows Repair CD

In the BIOS set the boot order to boot first from the CD/DVD Drive, insert the created repair CD and restart the PC.

1) At the first black/screen hit the space bar for the "Press any key ... " prompt, after the "Loading Files" screen, select your language, then it'll do a search.


2) Select the desired OS and click next.

3) In the Choose a Recovery Tool dialog box click Command Prompt, in the command window that opens type diskpart <enter> to get started.

When finished with diskpart type exit <enter> to leave diskpart, then exit <enter> again to close the command window.

Then click Restart in the Choose a Recovery Tool dialog box that's still open to finish up.

Method Three

Vista Full Installer

In the BIOS set the boot order to boot first from the CD/DVD Drive, insert the Windows Vista full installer DVD and restart the PC, at the first black/screen hit the space bar for the "Press any key ... " prompt, then at the "Language" screen click next, at the "Install ... " screen click Repair Your Computer.

From there the steps are exactly the same as in Method Two above, starting at step #1 to get to the command window, also to close the command window and finish up.


Enjoy!

Related Tutorials

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• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/127918-clean-install-windows-7-ahead-vista.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/127744-clean-install-windows-7-ahead-xp.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/119151-system-reserved-create-using-disk-management.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/123170-system-reserved-create-dual-boot.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/121536-system-reserved-multi-boot-logical-partitions.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/69585-safe-mode.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93322-partition-wizard-use-bootable-cd.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/107566-dual-boot-create-partitions-using-pwbd.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/109752-partition-recover-space-used-older-os.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2672-partition-volume-shrink.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2670-partition-volume-extend.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2674-partition-volume-create-new.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2668-partition-volume-delete.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/87768-password-reset-options-windows-7-a.html
• How to "Clean" or "Clean All" a Disk with the Diskpart Command

 

[Commodore Pet]

I am off to a bad start. I want to use method one. I get to the language screen, I hold shift and press F10 but nothing happens. Any suggestions for getting the command prompt?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

I am off to a bad start. I want to use method one. I get to the language screen, I hold shift and press F10 but nothing happens. Any suggestions for getting the command prompt?

Hello mate.



Just to make sure, exactly what type disk are you trying this with, is it a full version Windows 7 installation disk?

 

[Commodore Pet]

Yes, OEM Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit full version.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello again.



Have a look at Method Three to see if that will start and be sure to keep me informed.

 

[Commodore Pet]

Method 3 worked like a charm! I have wiped and optimized my SSD and have re-installed Windows 7 on it.

Thanks

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

My pleasure mate, good to see you got it sorted and thanks for the update.

 

[cajunbear333]

I have tried to correct my boot issue following your suggestions. But after going into diskmgmt.msc and making active the partition I have been unable to (using the recovery cd I made) get into diskmgmt from a cmd prompt. After booting to recovery mode and choosing language, I am not offered a choice for a cmd prompt. This computer is 1 day old and this is the second problem. Computer is Gateway Windows 7 Home 6GB Ram 1 TB HDD Intel Duo 3.0Ghz. Need some assistance as now getting bootmgr is missing error. Which I know is because I haven't been able to do the 3 startup repairs and move the bootimg to the correct partition. I can still start the computer and boat to windows with the recovery disk in the cd drive

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello cajunbear333, welcome to Seven Forums!


You need to use the method outlined in this tutorial at the link below to run the 3 separate starup repairs and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


How to Run a Startup Repair in Windows 7

 

[cajunbear333]

keep getting the boot image missing error and not letting me get to the option of F8

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

keep getting the boot image missing error and not letting me get to the option of F8

You have to boot the created Windows repair disk then use Option Two of this tutorial to get to where you can do the startup repairs.

How to Boot to the System Recovery Options in Windows 7


It's also shown in this same tutorial at Method Two though when at step #3 you would click "Startup Repair" instead of Command Prompt.

 

[cajunbear333]

yes i understand that but for some reason when the gateway logo comes up i press the F8 key and the computer still loads windows. at the moment i'm unable to get to the advanced options

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

You have to boot the created Windows repair disk then use Option Two of this tutorial to get to where you can do the startup repairs.

How to Boot to the System Recovery Options in Windows 7


It's also shown in this same tutorial at Method Two though when at step #3 you would click "Startup Repair" instead of Command Prompt.

Please pay attention, forget about the F8 anything.

Boot the Windows repair disk and when it says "Press any key ... " press the space bar, then you will get a "Loading Files" window then follow the steps at Method Two and at step #3 click "Startup Repair" not command prompt, do that same thing three (3) separate times to recreate the Windows boot files to the partition you marked active.

 

[cajunbear333]

Success! Thanks for your patience.
The problem was I had the wrong disk. After burning the windows repair disk I had no issue in getting into the advanced menu. I just checked and now the system and boot file are on the same partition. The guides were very straight forward and go the job done. Much appreciated.
Shawn

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Success! Thanks for your patience.
The problem was I had the wrong disk. After burning the windows repair disk I had no issue in getting into the advanced menu. I just checked and now the system and boot file are on the same partition. The guides were very straight forward and go the job done. Much appreciated.
Shawn

I'm glad to see you got it sorted and thanks for the update.

 

[alikhan]

Excellent article ...got it working in very first attempt .

 

[gaylemaupin]

I know this is an older thread, but I am trying to follow the steps and having a lot of problems. I have a seven-month-old Asus x53e which died a couple of days ago. A call to Asus Tech Support was zero help, and I'm trying to avoid shipping it across the country to have it fixed.

I was able to create a Windows Repair CD, and I have run the Startup Repair 3 times and it hasn't work, SO I'm starting over and trying to follow the instructions here in this thread.

Now, I'm trying to follow Method 2. The problem is that it cannot locate my OS. What do I do? Should I just click "next" and open the command prompt anyway? Should it take a long time for DISKPART> to appear in the command box? After I exit diskpart, should I then go ahead and run the startup repair 3 times?

Any thoughts, suggestions, comments are GREATLY appreciated. I have lost at least 12 hours of my life to this fun problem and I'm about to pick the laptop up and throw it.