I want to delete my XP partition on a dual boot system

[Lessthantito]

I want to delete my XP partition and reclaim the space for my Win 7 partition that I already have installed and I want to move my 7 partition to the front of the drive. My PC started out with XP and I installed 7 in a separate partition, when I boot up 7 is the OS selected to boot.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4480276175_78d683216c_b.jpg
here is a screen shot of my drive broken down C:XP;E:Media;G:Win7;
I want to delete C: and move G: to the front
will I have to move any Boot info from the XP partition to the 7 part and if so what files do I need to copy I looked in the 7 root folder and I did not see any boot files/folders but I did on the XP part

 

[gregrocker]

Use free Partition Wizard bootable CD. Back up your files and a Win7 Backup Image as copying operations can fail. You will also need your Win7 DVD or Repair CD.

Boot PW CD, allow files to (strangely) load , select 1 for Screen Res, rightclick C: to Delete, OK.

Next right click G: partition, select Modify>Set to Active, OK.

Again right click G: partition, select Copy, follow prompts to copy G: into the space where C: was, click OK. Verify G: is still marked Active. Apply all steps.

System MBR must be recovered into Win7 now by booting Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, clicking through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots as it will attempt to repair and finally write the MBR to Win7.

Others may suggest using imaging software to copy over the partition which is another option.

 

[karlsnooks]

I want to delete my XP partition and reclaim the space for my Win 7 partition that I already have installed and I want to move my 7 partition to the front of the drive. My PC started out with XP and I installed 7 in a separate partition, when I boot up 7 is the OS selected to boot.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4480276175_78d683216c_b.jpg
here is a screen shot of my drive broken down C:XP;E:Media;G:Win7;
I want to delete C: and move G: to the front
will I have to move any Boot info from the XP partition to the 7 part and if so what files do I need to copy I looked in the 7 root folder and I did not see any boot files/folders but I did on the XP part

Run DISKMGMT.MSC and using the snipping tool, take a snapshot of Disk Managment's dissplay. Then upload the pic in your next post. Before I make any suggestions, I need to be 100% sure of how your disk is presently partitioned.

 

[woebetide]

Copy the BOOT folder and bootmgr to your 7 partition, before you move anything.
When you boot in 7, is the 7 partition C: ? (can be another letter if you installed from within XP)

Or , in win 7 run a cmd as admin and type bcdedit, screenshot of that would be fine.

 

[gregrocker]

It isn't necessary to copy the boot files which will be for XP-Win7 dual boot.

Startup Repair is fully automated with all of the commands to recover the MBR into Win7 correctly, if run at least three separate times with reboots. The only way it wouldn't work is if the partition is not marked active.

 

[karlsnooks]

<tito,

In case you don't see bootmgr, the reason is this is a system, hidden, read-only file in the root directory of the Win7 system partition.

the \boot directory is also directly under the root.

 

[Lessthantito]

Do I need to change my file view options before I try and find DISKMGMT.MSC and can't I just printscreen to get a pic of the drive info?

 

[Jonathan_King]

Nope, just type it into the start menu and press enter.

 

[Lessthantito]

here is a screenshot of my partitions. Recently my XP has been crashing for no reason and I wanted to reinstall it but I don't want to format and all and then not be able to boot into Win7 because it's my main OS I only use XP for my Home surveillance setup my video card is incompatible with Win7

 

[gregrocker]

The problem is that G: Windows 7 is Logical and will need to be converted to Primary before it can be marked active to recover the MBR into it from XP and copy it into first part of HD.

To achieve this, back up files, boot free Partition Wizard CD, select 1 for screen resolution, rightclick XP partition to Delete, OK. I would also rightclick OEM partition to Delete as well.

Next rightclick (extended) Logical partition to Modify>Convert to Primary, OK. Then rightclick Win7 partition to Modify>Set to Active, OK.

Next rightclick Win7>Copy to new Unallocated space in first part of HD, OK.

Confirm Copied first partition is now marked Active. Rightclick old Win7 partition>Modify>set to inactive, OK. Apply all steps.

Now boot Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots as Win7 will write the MBR to new first partition. After Win7 starts up, confirm performance and then you can delete old Win7.

 

[Lessthantito]

where can I get Free Partition Wizard CD or ISO to burn to CD?

 

[DocBrown]

Not sure if this is the .iso

|MG| Partition Wizard Home Edition 4.2.2 Download

 

[Jonathan_King]

Doc's ISO will probably work, but if it doesn't, here's a direct, official link to the ISO: http://www.partitionwizard.com/download/pwhe42.iso

Found here: Free Download Partition Wizard

 

[Lessthantito]

I got the ISO burned to disk and set everything up it all seems pretty straight forward thanks for the help I'm going to attempt to do this in the morning wish me luck

 

[gregrocker]

Good luck. Remember that copying operations can fail so back up your files and a system image so you can easily start over.