HP Laptop upgrade from Vista - 4 frustrating failures!!

[SIW2]

1. If you just need to save an image of the 7 partition -from within 7 , go to Disk Management then rt click 7 partition and mark it Active.

2. Open an elevated command and type:

bcdboot c:\windows /s c:

then press enter.

Close cmd prompt.

3. a) You should find Windows Sys image GUI will allow you to image only C: partition.

Don't forget to mark the original active partition (which I assume is F ) active again once you have made the image.

OR , instead of a) open an elevated command and type:

WBADMIN START BACKUP -BACKUPTARGET:G: -INCLUDE:C: -QUIET

(replace G with the letter of the drive you want to store the backup image on)

Then press enter.

 

[SIW2]

You can browse the contents of the HP recovery partition ( and copy out anything you like ), by using the Paragon File Transfer Wizard.

It is available FREE on the Paragon Rescue kit Express ( that is a boot disc - so in bootable form only)

OR in the FREE Backup & Recovery 10 Free

Which is an installable app. that will allow you to image any partition of your choice - store the image in any location of your choice- and restore it to any location.

It includes the File Transfer Wizard, and you can also run off a boot disc with all the functions of the installed app.

 

[jecook]

The automatic option to backup the computer says that the 160Gb Ext drive is not big enough, this is because it includes the C and F drives automatically. So I have to select which folders to backup manually in order to exclude the C drive, where I am not sure is whether manual selection of the F drive (W7) will be a suitable backup.

Jon

 

[SIW2]

Usually you can mark the Recovery partition Active and boot straight into the oem recovery program.

Even if there is no .iso , often the installation files are on there and can be made into a bootable .iso with vlite, or similar.

Is there a way to test marking Active to know if it will work if Recov partition is kept? If so, can you bail out of the process after testing it so far?

Could marking recov active derail the boot?

The install files you refer to: full recov or just Win7? How would they be recognizable to OP if recov?

Hi Greg,

Often the F11 ( or whatever) key just hands the Active flag to the recovery partition.

It is a mini boot manager. Installing another o/s will overwrite it as it will be on the first track of the HD.

Manually marking the partition active achieves the same result.

If you continue with the oem restore process - obviously you are back to factory condition and it will hand the active flag back to the original partition as part of that process.

You can test it - just exit the recovery program instead of proceeding with the recovery. OEM's vary as to how their recovery apps work, and what options they offer - so be careful what you select.

If you can find the installation files in the recov partition - the same as you find on the dvd- you can make a bootable dvd from those with vlite.

 

[SIW2]

In that case , mark C active, do the bcdboot command - it will let you image only C.

The automatic option to backup the computer says that the 160Gb Ext drive is not big enough, this is because it includes the C and F drives automatically. So I have to select which folders to backup manually in order to exclude the C drive, where I am not sure is whether manual selection of the F drive (Windows 7) will be a suitable backup.

[In fact it will let you image just C as a result of marking it Active. However, I strongly recommend you do the bcdboot command ]

 

[jecook]

SIW2 - Looking at your instructions re creating a backup image of the Win 7 partition:

1. If you just need to save an image of the 7 partition -from within 7 , go to Disk Management then rt click 7 partition and mark it Active.

2. Open an elevated command and type:

bcdboot c:\windows /s c:

then press enter.

Close cmd prompt.

3. a) You should find Windows Sys image GUI will allow you to image only C: partition.

Don't forget to mark the original active partition active again once you have made the image.

OR , instead of a) open an elevated command and type:

WBADMIN START BACKUP -BACKUPTARGET:G: -INCLUDE:C: -QUIET

(replace G with the letter of the taget partition )

Then press enter.

I am probably being a bit dim but the instructions seem to be for the C drive whereas I have Win7 on F, could you confirm your commands. Also by "elevated command" I presume you mean a command console window (the old DOS box!)

Thanks for the tip on looking at the HP Recovery drive as well, I will have a ook at those utilities.

 

[gregrocker]

SIW2 - VERY COOL!

I used WBADMIN START BACKUP -BACKUPTARGET:E: -INCLUDE:C: -QUIET to save Win7 Backup image of only C: drive to D: Recov partition. Then I saved it again to external G:

Just run a CMD as Admin.

Substitute the first letter given for where you want it stored, and the second letter for your Win7 drive. It will save just the Win7 for you.

 

[SIW2]

You are right - it should be the 7 partition letter- as seen by 7 when you are booted into it.

If that is F, then mark F Active.

Similar to the old Dos box - we don't have Dos anymore .

Type cmd in start search - when the familiar black box pops up, Rt click it and select Run As Admin ( that elevates it )

The command is then:

bcdboot f:\windows /s f:

press enter.

I am probably being a bit dim but the instructions seem to be for the C drive whereas I have Windows 7 on F, could you confirm your commands. Also by "elevated command" I presume you mean a command console window (the old DOS box!)

Thanks for the tip on looking at the HP Recovery drive as well, I will have a ook at those utilities.

 

[SIW2]

Glad you like it Greg,

I have to crash out now, so I leave this in your capable hands.

Goodnight all.

SIW2 - VERY COOL!

I used WBADMIN START BACKUP -BACKUPTARGET:E: -INCLUDE:C: -QUIET to save Win7 Backup image of only C: drive to D: Recov partition. Then I saved it again to external G:

Just run a CMD as Admin.

Just substitute the first letter given for where you want it stored, and the second letter for your Win7 drive. It will save just the Win7 for you.

 

[jecook]

I will use the utilities to have a look at the HP recovery partition and see if I can then extract the necessary to DVD. However given the successful dual boot install I figure that as long as I have the few drivers I needed from Vista backed up (i.e Vista Windows/System32/Drivers folder) can I just install from the DVD again on to the C drive and then remove the F partition/

I may have mislead you about the win7 backup, I did not notice the menu on the LHS of the window (and just went into the backup setup menu on the main page, so I am now looking at what happens if I try to create System Image, it is taking a long time, looking for a backup device which although I now have two ext 160Gb drives attached. I assume this is due to the fact that it is still trying to find a volume with space for both C and F drives instead of just F.

 

[jecook]

Similar to the old Dos box - we don't have Dos anymore .

Oops there was an age giveaway.

Ok thanks guys I think I more or less have enough advice and tips to get on with while you guys get a rest.

 

[jecook]

So far so good, I have copied all the Users data, Windows/System32/Drivers and the SwSetup directories to one of the external USB drivers, have also installed Paragon Backup & Restore and have backed up the Recovery Partition to DVD, and also used the file transfer wizard to copy all the folders/files to another partition on the Ext USB.

Then I will need to backup the Win7 partition, and at that point should be able to consider removing the original Vista Partition. I guess this should done with Windows7 Backup and Restore using SIW2 instructions.

Would there be any advantage in making a System Repair Disc at the same time?

 

[SIW2]

The System repair disc has exactly the same recovery options as you get on the installation dvd.

If you have the dvd - there's no point.

You would be better making a copy of the installation dvd - in case yours gets damaged.

 

[gregrocker]

You'll need to use Partition Wizard bootable CD and your Win7 install DVD or Repair CD.

Boot into PW and rightclick Modify>Set active Win7 partition. OK each step but wait til last to Apply.

Now rightclick Modify>Set inactive Vista partition, then rightclick Delete Vista partition (ignore warnings).

If you tested Recov partition and it won't boot, then rightclick Delete it now.

Now rightclick Resize Windows 7 partition, dragging the left border all the way over against the left side of the HD. Apply all steps.

Now boot into Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, click through to Recovery Tools and run Startup Repair 3 separate times as it needs to test, attempt to repair and then rewrite the MBR to Win7.

You can later test if the Vista Recovery partition is still functioning by tapping the key given for Recovery on the first bootup screen. If not, I'd delete it.

If you have any further questions or need help with this, I will be back at 7pm PST Tues

 

[jecook]

Regarding making a Win7 Image with the Win7 DiskManagement program SIW2 said:

1. If you just need to save an image of the 7 partition -from within 7 , go to Disk Management then rt click 7 partition and mark it Active.

I have looked at Disk Management options when right clicking on the various partitions and when I Rt-Click on the partitions, only C Partition (Vista) has the option to be made active and that is currently greyed out. This option does not appear on the F Partition (Win7) Rt-Click menu.

I have made a backup of Win7 Partition with 'Paragon Backup & Recovery' but still have not been able to do a Win7 Backup image of the Win7 Partition.

 

[SIW2]

Do you have 7 on a logical drive?

If so, the only way to make Windows image it alone is with the cmd line.

 

[jecook]

At present Win7 Partition is logical, can I use Partition Wizard to set it to Primary? That seems to be the only way to allow it to be changed to an active partition.

 

[SIW2]

Yes, you could do that.

I just went back thru the thread to find your screenie:

 

[jecook]

Ok I will give that a whirl - fingers crossed.

 

[jecook]

That seemed to do the trick I can now mark as active so I should be able to go back to your thread and make the Win7 Backup Image and should then be ready for the final steps to get rid of Vista.