Dual Boot Windows XP(Primary) and Windows 7 (Logical Partition)

[bigalw]

I have disk with 3 partitions, XP (C) is primary, Win 7 (D) is Logical and (E) is Logical and a data drive. I used a dual boot program to choose which OS to use at start up. I did this to preserve XP apps in case they wouldn't work on Win 7. Now I want to delete XP and have Win 7 as the primary partition (C) and data as Drive D. I cannot change the current Win 7 D drive to a primary partition or change the current C to a logical partition.
I tried using EasUS Partition and it won't let me do what I want. I hope someone can understand what I am trying to do and help me out. Thank you

 

[AddRAM]

I would do a complete reinstall. Get your data off ( backed up ) wipe everything, make 2 partitions and install 7. All your partitions should be primary.

 

[bigalw]

That's what I was afraid of

 

[whs]

The problem is that your bootmgr is in the XP partition. You have to make the Win7 partition a primary partition and then you can try this - but chose the partition letter for the current Win7 partition

 

[bigalw]

Thanks for the info. Before I press the button on EasyBCD, could you look at the boot info I have to make sure what I want is correct (Make D my boot drive then delete C)

EasyBCD info screen
There are a total of 2 entries listed in the bootloader.

Default: Windows 7
Timeout: 30 seconds
Boot Drive: C:\

Entry #1
Name: Earlier Version of Windows
BCD ID: {ntldr}
Drive: C:\
Bootloader Path: \ntldr

 

[whs]

You want to move the Windows 7 one to D.

 

[bigalw]

Won't let me do it - D is a logical drive

 

[whs]

Can you post a picture of your Disk Management so that we can advise you further. I hate to tell you to change D to primary and then you have a problem with dynamics.

 

[bigalw]

Attached is a pic of my disk management (attached file)

 

[Kaktussoft]

change win7 partition to primary!! Do it with partition wizard. Post disk management afterwards. Then I give you more instructions

 

[gregrocker]

Here are the steps which work best to recover to Win7 its boot files and the disk space from XP, based on having given them countless times in almost four years. Feel free to bookmark them.

As suggested boot free Partition Wizard bootable CD to rightclick D to Modify>Set to Primary, click OK.

Now rightclick D again to Modify>Set Active, click OK.

Next click on the Win7 HD to highlight it, from Disk tab above click on Rebuild MBR, OK, Apply all steps.

Reboot to see if WIn7 will start. If not boot into the Win7 DVD or System Repair Disk to run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times until Win7 starts and holds the System Active flags.

Now that we know Win7 will start on its own from its own partition, you can boot again into PW CD, rightclick on XP to Delete, OK. Then rightclick on C to Resize, slide left border all the way to the left to take up the deleted XP space, OK, Apply both steps. Have your Win7 DVD or REpair CD standing by since sometimes resizing on the boot sector requires repairs.

 

[bigalw]

Thanks - your instructions look like they are setting C as the primary. My Windows 7 is on D. Should I follow your instructions using D instead of C?

 

[gregrocker]

You must have incorrectly run the Win7 installer from XP which locked out C from being available. Otherwise when the Win7 installer is correctly booted Win7 will always be on C when booted.

So you can follow the steps I've given converting D to Primary and marking Active to recover the boot files and XP drive space into it, although it will be on D.

Or you can back up your files and boot the Win7 installer to delete both of those partitions and create a new one to correctly install Win7 on C from boot. Your choice.

 

[whs]

Kaktussoft is right. There is no problem turning the D partition into a primary. Best is to use the bootable CD of Partition Wizard (last entry on that webpage). Burn that to CD and boot with that CD. Then highlight the D partition, click the Partition tab. The controls are under "Modify".

 

[bigalw]

I'll give that a shot, thanks