How to convert from dual boot to single boot 2 HDDs - Win 7 & Vista64

[nvguy41]

How to convert from dual boot to single boot 2 HDDs - Win 7 & Vista64

Hello,

I'm trying to convert back to using just Win 7 after having a successful dual boot setup for a few years now. However, the multiple runs of the Win 7 startup repair have not moved the system files to my Win 7 HDD. Here is the data from the BCDEDIT command:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Windows\system32>bcdedit
Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
device partition=D:
path \bootmgr
description Windows Boot Manager
locale en-US
inherit {globalsettings}
default {current}
resumeobject {470dc358-369b-11e2-8f7f-fc31c5b7de69}
displayorder {current}
{8ee6a7a6-4e60-11dd-8165-ce8fc0eea296}
{470dc35c-369b-11e2-8f7f-fc31c5b7de69}
toolsdisplayorder {memdiag}
timeout 30
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {current}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description Windows 7
locale en-US
inherit {bootloadersettings}
recoverysequence {470dc35a-369b-11e2-8f7f-fc31c5b7de69}
recoveryenabled Yes
osdevice partition=C:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {470dc358-369b-11e2-8f7f-fc31c5b7de69}
nx OptIn
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {8ee6a7a6-4e60-11dd-8165-ce8fc0eea296}
device partition=D:
path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description Microsoft Windows Vista
locale en-US
inherit {bootloadersettings}
osdevice partition=D:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {8ee6a7a7-4e60-11dd-8165-ce8fc0eea296}
nx OptIn
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {470dc35c-369b-11e2-8f7f-fc31c5b7de69}
device partition=E:
path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description Windows Vista (TM) Home Premium (recovered)
locale en-US
osdevice partition=E:
systemroot \Windows
C:\Windows\system32>



I also would like to remove the bootup menu so the system boots straight into Win 7 instead of waiting on a selection. I suspect this will be remedied once I get the system files moved to the Win 7 drive, but wanted to note that request as well.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[gregrocker]

Post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

If Primary partitions you should be able to move the Bootmgr - Move to C:\ with EasyBCD - Windows 7 Forums. Make sure to mark C:Win7 Active.

If the OS you want to delete is on the left then you can use Partition Wizard to Resize Partition - Video Help.

Or equalize space between all partitions and unallocated space whether adjacent or not using How to extend partition easily with Partition Wizard - video help.

 

[nvguy41]

Here is the screenie of my disk management:



Thanks.

 

[AddRAM]

In order to write the system files to C:, Windows 7 has to be marked active.

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

Disconnect drive 0 and 1, mark disk 2 active, then run startup repair.

 

[nvguy41]

To be certain, I should mark the Win 7 HDD as 'active' using Disk Management prior to powering down the PC and then disconnect the other 2 HDDs? Once they are physically disconnected, I boot up using the Win 7 DVD to run the start repair option (3 times) to load the system files to the Win 7 HDD.

Once complete, I should no longer have the boot option to choose between Win 7 or Vista so it should boot straight into Win 7? If this happens, can I just delete all the Vista related files off that HDD? I don't want to format it because I have countless pictures, videos and my .pst Outlook file that I want to use on another PC (transferring the former Vista HDD to another PC for storage).

Thanks!

 

[AddRAM]

There`s also no reason E: should be marked active.

 

[gregrocker]

Yes, proceed as you said. But I would also swap the Disk0 cable to Win7 drive so it is in DISK0 position for less problems. Make sure Disk0 remains set first HD to boot in BIOS setup when the others are plugged back in.

The correct way to delete an OS is always to delete its partition in Disk Mgmt. You should already have a backup of your files since a HD can fail at any time If not I would back them up to another drive and then delete the old Vista partition. If this is not possible, then shrink the Vista drive in Disk Mgmt since there is plenty of space, create a New Partition in the shrink space labeled Data, drag your files there in Explorer using Select All on the Organize tab. Once confirmed they are all there then delete the old Vista partition in Disk Mgmt and create another storage partition there.
Partition or Volume - Shrink
Partition or Volume - Create New
Partition or Volume - Delete

 

[nvguy41]

Strange, but Windows cannot access my Drive E: now for some odd reason. I'll reboot and see if it can find it. Disk management still sees it though.

Thanks for the tips, I'll work through them all....pity you can't just delete the Vista files and move on, but I can see the benefit of reformatting the drive then copying the files back over.

 

[nvguy41]

There`s also no reason E: should be marked active.

I think startup repair did this as I used to have Vista 64 on that drive but deleted program files when it was not 'active'. Any way to make it NOT active?

 

[gregrocker]

Delete E in Disk Mgmt after backing up its files and marking Inactive. Partition - Mark as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums