Formatting hard drive containing old OS

[antalgebra]

ok, (sorry) finally expanded the above pic, and gave the info I needed. Its a little off the edge, but it looks like your system partition is 100MB, regardless of where it lies, deleting the vista partition will NOT touch these boot records.

Again, we aren't formatting a drive here... were deleting partitions, and in no way is Win7 relient on Vista pt. Reiterating, IF im absolutely wrong (I can guarentee this isen't the case) and you can't boot, then just run quick recovery, it will re-create the 100/200/500MB partition and re-write the boot file, and your good to go anywayz.

 

[antalgebra]

Here's the screebshot of Colonel's Disk Management:

http://g.imagehost.org/0602/disk_mgmt_screenshot.jpg

Gottit. 101GB, system partition. thanks, now im up to speed. Why wont running the recovery consol work?? He can even do it before he deletes Vista?

 

[SIW2]

The 7 recovery functions will report nothing wrong if he runs it now.

There is nothing wrong - all the boot files and bcd entries are where they need to be - with the current HD and o/s arrangement.

They are not where Colonel would like them to be.

NH had an interesting idea - not sure how he could boot into 7 to run the upgrade install - after detaching the Vista HD? If he detaches the Vista HD - he can't boot into 7 at all.

 

[antalgebra]

gottit. makes sense. I do understand your concern to delete the partition right away, the floor is yours.

 

[Night Hawk]

The 7 installation on the second drive added into the laptop can be made bootable by simply following the method I outlined. I've done that a few times here already where the second(64bit) 7 installation went onto the next 500gb(first of a pair same model) with the 32bit 7 on the next. All three were a triple boot from the host drive.

From there the pair having the 2nd 64bit and the 32bit 7 were turned into an array for the 64bit. It still could be booted from the host since those entries were left intact from unplugging 3 out of the 5 drives.

Later when breaking the array up the 32bit reinstalled with the rest unplugged again and later that unplugged to wipe the first of the pair for the 64bit and install a second copy of the 64bit there all three were are still seen in the host install boot options and load. Likewise with the second drive by itself the upgrade of the 7 installation there will make that drive bootable, repair the 7 installation, and still load once the Vista host is replugged.

For simply trying to copy all programs folders over from the second to the first once Vista was wiped clean simply won't work! A clean install of 7 there still means a clean install of just about every program with the exceptions I pointed out before. If you want to wipe the Vista drive repair the 7 install with that unplugged and make that the new default boot device where the old Vista drive makes for a storage drive!

 

[SIW2]

How is that going to work with an Extended partition ?

It can be a Boot partion ( it already is ).

It can't be a System partition.

 

[Night Hawk]

Now you see why the only thing that will work is a clean install on a fresh primary. But the question remains as to how 7 was able to be installed onto an extende partition to begin with since Windows installer itself mandates a primary type?

Otherwise the installation never would have been seen having stalled as soon as that partition was selected.The primary would have had to have been converted some how from primary to the extended type after 7 was already on which still doesn't happen!

 

[infernalcolonel]

Hrm...

Yeah, to be honest, I don't really care if 7 is on the other HDD or not...as long as the computer treats it like it's the main drive with none of the crap I'm dealing with now. Of course, not reinstalling 7 is a big plus, if that's what leaving it on this drive means.

If it matters...for some reason my laptop came with 2 different drive brands: Toshiba and Hitachi. I have no idea why...could that be a reason it's set up like it is with the "extended" partition?

And if that's true about being able to use my key for the x64 version, then HELL YEAH! I'll just reinstall it later I suppose, so I guess a clean wipe would be the best option.

So do you need me to give you some info out of disk management, or was the image re-posted by SIW2 adequate, antalgebra? I still have no idea what step I need to take next. Is it GParted?

Thanks, you guys rock.

 

[infernalcolonel]

OK, so...umm...

Hmm. I downloaded BCDeditor, although I'm not sure what to do with it. So basically is my only option to boot up with the 7 DVD, format the drive Vista is on, and install 7 there, then subsequently delete the 7 installation I'm using now? Is there no way at all to change the 7 drive type to Primary? That sucks if so, although if that's what I have to do, I'll do it.

Or...I suppose I could just download the .iso for Vista Home Premium x64 (I think the discs contain all versions anyway), and just do a fresh install on the old drive, leaving 7 on the new drive? Then it wouldn't even matter, right? The only difference would be the absence of Toshiba software (BOO freakin HOO) and the possible need to download some drivers from toshiba.com.

Is that probably a better option?

I just know that when 7 goes gold, I'll probably axe Vista for good. There's really no need for me to use it at all, so installing Vista seems silly. Especially since I can get more storage out of the drive without it (and possibly stripe the 2 drives together? ... they are different models, remember).

Thanks again.

 

[Night Hawk]

With two different hard drives you have to decide just what you want to see. From the screenshot posted earlier there's nothing indicating that the second drive has an extended partition on it to begin with! Istead you see "healthy, boot, page file, Active, Crash Dump, Logical Drive"!

Well let's have a look at how things look in the DM for multiple 7 installlations where each drive especially paying attention to the first host drive seeing the exact same thing there. For some reason I can't figure out why a repair install with the Vista drive out of the equation during the repair wouldn't see the second drive become your new OS drive.

And whatever you decide to do with the first drive there is either leave it intact to preserve the present installation while still under warranty or seeing a full drive wipe in order to try out the 64bit 7 if you are running the 32bit on the second drive is still your decision there.

A simple boot from the Vista recovery disk or GParted live cd can easily see the Vista drive reformatted by the Vista drive tools or a simple right click on the primary while booted live in GParted and selecting NTFS from the choices of different file systems.

Personally replacing the former XP/Vista dual boot to now run the new XP mode and Vista installed on a vhd to leave the rest open for 7 and storage was the best thing to come along here in a long time!

 

[SIW2]

You can easily convert the 7HD to Primary.

Download the free version of Macrium Reflect. Install it on your Vista partition.

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

Make an image of the 7 HD. Save the image anywhere except the 7 HD.

Restore the Image to the 7 HD and choose the Primary option. Select Active as well.

 

[Night Hawk]

Unfortuantely all that will do is make a backup image of the 7 drive, restore the image later, but still leave the drive unbootable as well as not backing up a working installation of 7. You first will want 7 up and running and can even remove the Vista drive for the time to see the 7 made bootable on it's own.

Presently the boot information, BCD store, mbr entries are found on the Vista drive there. Unplugging the Vista host will allow you to perform the repair install to see 7 running again where then you would want to use the Reflect program if not the built in backup tool seen in 7 itself.

When replacing this build I'll restore the image I made of Vista to the drive it was originally on and left behind to see the new 7 build take over!

For you infernalcolonel you wanted to dump Vista? To preserve the preinstall and simply run 7 there removing the Vista host from the equation leaves that intact while the repair or even fresh custom install of 7 on the second drive will have you running 7 only without warranty concerns.

 

[SIW2]

The colonel would prefer to avoid a reinstall.

By first making the 7 HD a primary partition, he can then make it bootable.

I didn't post the steps to make it bootable in the same post - or it would be too long.

One step at a time.

 

[Night Hawk]

The thing to note is that a repair install without the first drive plugged in will preserve things as well as seeing the new mbr entries and boot file placed on the second drive for the first time. With 7 running again you simply replug the first drive back in and still can boot into 7 with the BCD entries already present.

The repair would automatically make the 7 primary active. Backups are generally made while things are working not when you first have to correct a list of problems. Once everything is set then you would use the Reflect prorgam to backup a working copy of 7.

 

[nate42nd]

I have a similar issue. Not exactly but...

I have 7 installed on a 640GB HD and now I need to install it on a new SSD. With the RC I'm pretty sure I can just unplug the HD, plug the SSD in and do an install, then plug the regular HD back in and format it. Is this going to work? also what if it were a normal copy of Windows (not the RC) How would I get Windows activated? Phone call?

Can I just use the install disk to install on the SSD and format the regular drive with both plugged in?

 

[SIW2]

Hi Nate,

1. You should be fine to clean install 7 RC on the SSD , then reattach the HD as you suggest.

2. If it were a normal version of windows - it should also be fine.
Just changing the HD will not normally cause activation problems.

3. You could leave both drives attached and delete the HD partitions using Drive Options (advanced) during installation.

I assume you will have the SSD set as first HD in BIOS boot order.

Probably less chance of botch up if you detach the HD first, then reattach and delete.

 

[SIW2]

NH,

I do not follow what you are saying.

1. The Macrium image is not for backup purposes. It is only to be used to restore that one time so that the partition can be made Primary. That image is not needed after that.

2. He has a laptop and has already said he does not want to open it up and detach the drive.

3. Even if he did detach the Vista drive - he would not be able to boot into 7 - therefore he would not be able to perform a repair (upgrade) install.

4. Even if a repair ( upgrade ) install was performed on an Extended partition - it can not be a System partition - you cannot mark an Extended partition Active.

 

[nate42nd]

Hi Nate,

1. You should be fine to clean install 7 RC on the SSD , then reattach the HD as you suggest.

2. If it were a normal version of windows - it should also be fine.
Just changing the HD will not normally cause activation problems.

3. You could leave both drives attached and delete the HD partitions using Drive Options (advanced) during installation.

I assume you will have the SSD set as first HD in BIOS boot order.

Probably less chance of botch up if you detach the HD first, then reattach and delete.

Thanks SIW I have astoundingly never had a HD fail. Thanks for the info.

 

[nate42nd]

I assume you will have the SSD set as first HD in BIOS boot order.

Ohhhhh yes and I can't wait!

 

[Night Hawk]

NH,

I do not follow what you are saying.

1. The Macrium image is not for backup purposes. It is only to be used to restore that one time so that the partition can be made Primary. That image is not needed after that.

2. He has a laptop and has already said he does not want to open it up and detach the drive.

3. Even if he did detach the Vista drive - he would not be able to boot into 7 - therefore he would not be able to perform a repair (upgrade) install.

4. Even if a repair ( upgrade ) install was performed on an Extended partition - it can not be a System partition - you cannot mark an Extended partition Active.

He doesn't have an extended partition to begin with. You can't install Windows onto an extended only primary type partition to begin with. I think you are confusing that with Linux which can be installed on extended partitions.

Without the #1 Vista drive plugged in the entire BCD store would have to be built just to be able to have the startup repair tool write the new mbr entries in order to make the drive bootable in any form. Once bootable and 7 loads the repair would go on from there.

That's rather an involved process rather then simply booting from the 7 dvd and performing a custom install if it even worked out since all that is command prompt activity seen there.

Now a totally new drive being added in? The same situation with a new twist where a clean install is still needed to see 7 running. As far as the Vista installation even if you were simply reinstalling 7 over with that drive plugged in Vista would simply be readded into the 7 BCD store as a boot option. The only changes at first seen on the boot menu screen would be Windows 7, Windows Setup, Vista and then move onto Windows 7, Setup Rollback, Vista.