Solved Format second hard drive

[rftech]

I am running Windows 7 64 bit, dual boot with Windows 8. Windows 7 is my my main OS and I setup with Windows 8 as dual boot. I no longer want Windows 8 or to dual boot. I went into msconfig, boot, removed Windows 8 from boot, left windows 7 as default. I tried to reformat the second drive, got message "Windows unable to complete format". I than changed the Drive Letter from J to S and tried to format again, got same message. What am I doing wrong or am I forgetting something. I am also including a screenshot of my Disk Manager.

 

[AddRAM]

There are system files on the new volume and it is marked active. It has to be marked inactive before windows will let you format it. And you have to have a windows 7 installation dvd or a startup repair disc to run startup repair once you format the new volume. Make a system repair disc from windows 7 now, if you don`t have a W7 install DVD.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/197157-partition-mark-inactive.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html

A better ( well different ) way to do the dual install would have been to unplug all other hard drives , then installed 8. You could then choose which operating system to boot with the bios.

Did you discover that windows 8 is terrible and not worth the effort ?

 

[gregrocker]

The System boot files booting both OS's are on S.

Write or reinstate the System boot Files to C by marking C Active in Disk Mgmt: Partition - Mark as Active

Power down to unplug all other HD's, boot into Win7 DVD or System Repair Disk to run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times until C starts and holds the System Active flags.

Afterwards plug back in the other HD's to wipe the old Win8 HD with Diskpart Clean Command , repartition in Disk Mgmt: Partition or Volume - Create New

Then mark K Inactive since only the OS drive should be marked Active: Partition - Mark as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums

 

[rftech]

Responce, Win 8

I dual booted with Windows 8 after I had already had Windows 7 on my computer for a while. I tried it for a while and with out touch screens or even a touch screen, I thought it was worse then 7. To me it was harder to get to the programs you wanted to run. I want to AddRam and Gregrocker for there response, they both supplied great solutions and I plan to use both. Thanks again, hope you guys had a good weekend, mine was a little hectic as I had my Autistic daughter, her mother and her sister both went to the coast for their birthday, they are twins.

 

[AddRAM]

We`re always here, if you need more help.