How to move Windows 7 from one partition to another

[Saigonjeff]

I need help to move My Windows 7 installation from Drive F to Drive C without loosing all my programs and settings.

I have been running XP on Drive C for what seems like forever, and I wanted to keep it until I was satisfied with the new Windows 7. As it turn out, I really like Win 7 and have not gone back to XP since.

I see no reason to keep the XP installation anymore, and I could really use the free disc space that remains after XP is gone. So Here is what I want to do...

1. Format Drive C
2. Move Windows 7 from Drive F to Drive C
3. Merge the remaining empty space on Drive F into Drive C
4. Get rid of Drive F partition

Attached is a snapshot of my Drive Management Map

Any Help would be appreciated

 

[gregrocker]

The only way to change Win7 from F to C drive is to reinstall. It is stuck with the letter F because its installer was run from XP blocking out the letter C so that Win7 couldn't claim it as it does when it is correctly installed from a booted installer. In that case whichever OS you were booted into would have been lettered C.

If you don't mind keeping the current install on F you can mark it Active in Disk Mgmt, reboot into the Win7 installer or System Repair Disk to run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times until Win7 partition is labeled System Active. You can then safely delete C (after backing up files you need) and if you want resize Win7 partition into its space using Partition Wizard CD Resize Partition - Video Help.

 

[Saigonjeff]

Thanks gregrocker... I had a feeling I would have to reinstall... But I'm wondering if I can just format Drive C:, do a clean install of Win 7 on it, and then create a disc image of Drive F: with my Backup software, and restore the image to the C: drive. That way, I could avoid having to spend literally Days reinstalling my programs. I could then format the F: drive and use Partition Magic to resize C. Would that be possible?

 

[AddRAM]

You could try doing that with the way you have it now. Never tried doing that yet but it could work. Give it a shot.

Still the best way is to reinstall. You can work on it and still boot into the other 7, when you`re good, just delete F.

After you delete F you`ll have to run startup repair.

You do have a windows 7 install disc, correct ?

 

[gregrocker]

To try that you wouldn't have to reinstall Win7 but use the imaging app's boot disk which gives the best shot at recovering the C letter.

When it offers the choice of drive letter choose Auto, also a Primary Active partition.

This will normally allow Win7 to find C to letter itself with, but in this case since it was installed incorrectly from another OS lettered C, I dont' know if it is correctable even by this imaging feature. But as Brian says, you can try.

Someone else like SIW2 or Wolfgang may already know this doesn't work. I kinda suspect it won't.