How to remove 100MB partition?

[Loke]

I had to reinstall Win7.

I guess the first install made the 100MB partition because it saw WinXP on my old partition. On second Win7 install this partition became free, boot files now at c:

The dumb thing is the 100MB partition was renamed D:

I was able to rename it F: just to get it out of the way of my normal naming convention, D for flight sim, E for games and other stuff.

How can I merge this 100MB partition with one of my other (D or E)?

Another thing, C,D and E are "primary" partitions. I am used to see a few "extended". Is this ok? Only the 100MB partition became "extended".

 

[noyb]

I formatted the HDD as an Active partition first .. then installed W7.
The 100mb partition is not installed with this procedure.

 

[Loke]

I reinstalled once more (after formatting); WIn7 still made the 100MB partition. No problem, as it now is hidden, and the rest of my drive letters are the way I want them; C-D-E.

 

[noyb]

Did you format as an Active partition first ??
Is the 100MB partition hidden .. Or just not there anymore ??

From what I read .. this will prevent you from running Bit Locker ..
whatever that is ???

 

[Loke]

I find the installation formatting procedure confusing and rather useless compared to what I have done before with other versions of Windows, so I was not really shure what I got before Win7 was installed.

In Windows Explorer, the 100MB partition is hidden. In Computer Management -> HDD Management I can see everything. The 100MB partition is Active, the same with my C partition where the OS resides.

Bitlocker? Yeah, whatever that is? But I know for shure Win7 for some weird reason made my 64GB Corsair Voyager USB stick useless by making it read-only, and I find no way back; can`t undo it.

 

[noyb]

My problem with the 100MB partition ..
It confused my Backup/Recovery procedures using Acronis.

I like to be able to replace (recover) just the C system partition ..
and leave the rest of the HDD untouched ..
That includes almost 200gig of data in another Partition.

Sound to me like you didn't format the whole HDD as an active Partition first...
Before installing W7.

I've read that there is a way to remove the 100MB partition after installation ..
But it confused me .. So I went the Simple/Safe route.

 

[Loke]

Maybe you can use a tip I got yesterday regarding backup. A friend of mine that is well into making images said Acronis messed up drive letters when trying to make an image. Now he uses Win7 backup instead, and both him and me are happy with it. I have backed up both my C (system), D (flight sim) plus the 100MB partition to a WD Passport, and recently I made a new backup to an external SATA HDD as I now have changed to AHCI, preparing for SSD disks.

 

[noyb]

I've never had a problem with ATI drive letters ..
I think the 100MB partition is causing the re-labeling.

Just found out .. That if you move a Windows backup Image ...
e.g... Copy > Paste to a bigger XHD .. or a second XHD for backup purposes...
It will not work.

I think my ATI problems were unique to my HP computer(s) ..
a Multi Boot loader is built into the BIOS ???

I've been thinking about a SSD .. But I've read that some of them have problems with ATI.
It will be a show stopper if I can't write a SSD system drive with ATI...
And it will be XP pro 64 that I'll be using.

 

[TheSpirtOfRadio]

No i have the same issue with ATI when i try to clone as soon as I deleted that 100mb volume. but it STILL shows in my disk management (unallocated). My ATI shuts down my entire computer after about 5 minutes... then when I reboot the secondary HDD (the one that I usually clone to) Is gone.

 

[gregrocker]

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals,

Boot into BIOS setup, reset to defaults, save changes. (If an EFI BIOS you'll need to decide if you want UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS: if UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with, or enable Legacy BIOS or Compatibility Support Module to proceed with normal install.) Set DVD drive first to boot, HD second, set SATA controller to AHCI, Save changes and Exit.

Then boot into Windows 7 installer DVD or flash stick burned or written using tool and latest ISO for your licensed OS version here.

At first installer screen Press Shift + F10, or enter System Recovery Options to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY SIZE=102400 (for 100gb partition, adjust as desired)
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

Next click Install Now, then Custom install to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.

In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.

After install you can adjust partition size or Create new partitions for data, etc. in Disk Mgmt.You are creating the partition here for the purpose of marking it Active which overcomes certain install failures.

 

[TheSpirtOfRadio]

Is there by any chance you could add me on skype? Im having a different Issue With cloning. (its much easier to explain.) This one to be precise. --> Clone fails to read MBR | Knowledge Base

Skype = thespiritofradio2112

 

[gregrocker]

You should always be prepared when cloning or re-imaging to have the WIn7 DVD or System Repair Disk ready to run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times after confirming the 100mb System Reserved (preferred) or Win7 partition is Active: Mark Partition Active.

There will always be reasons why the clone or image might not start up and needs the multiple tests and fixes automated in Startup Repair, even fully rewriting the boot files which takes more than one pass.

Be sure the correct System Active partition is also set Active in Acronis Options, drive letter set to Automated, and copy the MBR and Track0 to the HD. Even then if it fails to start it may need to have the Active flag replanted showing which partition is to boot the OS. It will not repair and start if the Active flag is not set correctly.

 

[TheSpirtOfRadio]

yes but ive cloned many times before.

 

[gregrocker]

So what is your question exactly?

 

[TheSpirtOfRadio]

why acronis fails to read MBR during clone after reboot. It gets about 15 -20 mins into clone then my computer either shuts off or the monitor shuts off and no HDD light activity and I have to force a shutdown.

 

[gregrocker]

If the cloning is completed, are you unplugging the source HD and setting the clone HD first to boot?

If so confirm the Win7 partition or its 100 mb boot partition is Partition Marked Active
then run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times until it boots.

Clones and recovered images sometimes need repair.

 

[TheSpirtOfRadio]

No, cloning is not completed. like i said after acronis restarts my computer to start the clone process it says "failed to read MBR" then it gets about 15 -20 mins into clone and stops.
I appreciate your help btw.

 

[gregrocker]

Have you tried using the Acronis Boot Disk to clone?

 

[TheSpirtOfRadio]

no but i have tried bootrec, chkdsk, and diskpart in the recovery console and no luck

 

[gregrocker]

Why are you running those repairs? I gave you exactly what repairs are required when a clone will not start. Have you run these repairs?

If the cloning is completed, are you unplugging the source HD and setting the clone HD first to boot?

If so confirm the Win7 partition or its 100 mb boot partition is Partition Marked Active
then run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times until it boots.

Clones and recovered images sometimes need repair.