Solved How to get rid of Windows XP on seperate hard drive?

[Frank Cogburn]

Hello all, my wife has Windows XP on her computer on one hard drive and Windows 7 on another separate hard drive. She no longer wants to use Windows XP and wants the hard drive it was on as a second hard drive for Windows 7. Can I just reformat the XP hard drive without messing up the boot options? Right now when she boots it says "earlier version Of Windows" or Windows 7, with Windows 7 being the highlighted choice. I don't want to mess her boot up so I need some guidance here. I'm not a complete stranger to computers but if I mess her computer up, the couch does not look to inviting! Thanks for any help!

 

[gregrocker]

If Win7 or it's 100mb System Reserved partition is marked System Active then it has its own boot files onboard so it's safe to remove the XP HD.

If not please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Management drive map and listings:

1. Type Disk Management in Start rb: Search box.
2. Open Disk Mgmt. window and maximize it.
3. Type Snipping Tool in Start Search box.
4. Open Snipping Tool, choose Rectangular Snip, click New, draw a box around full drive map and all listings.
5, Save Snip, attach using paper clip in Reply Box.

Tell us what is on each partition. We will give you the steps to safely remove XP HD.

 

[Frank Cogburn]

Gregrocker, I will get this info to asap. It's on my wife computer so as soon as I can get her SevenForums account verified I will get back to you. Thank you, Frank Cogburn

 

[gregrocker]

Just post it up here.

 

[AddRAM]

Just use your account.

 

[Frank Cogburn]

Just use your account.

I want her to have her own account so she can fix her own computer! I do not want to sleep on the couch!

 

[Frank Cogburn]

This is the Snipimage from my wife's computer. Sorry it has taken so long to respond. Her account has never been confirmed. Thanks for any help, Frank

 

[gregrocker]

Mark Win7 partition Active in Disk Mgmt, power down to unplug the XP HD, boot into Win7 installation DVD or System Repair Disk, accept any offered repair, restart. If Win7 doesn't start boot back in to run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times with reboots until Win7 starts and holds the System Active flags.

You can then plug back in XP HD, boot it if needed using one-time BIOS Boot menu key given on first screen. When ready you can move the data off and wipe it with Diskpart Clean Command, repartition in Disk Mgmt.

 

[Frank Cogburn]

Thank you, I will try that and let you know results asap, Frank

 

[Frank Cogburn]

Done and done! Thank you! Now if the wife can get her account confirmed she can do her own fixin'!