Inadvertent dual boot

[Merasl]

I'm sorry I've got out of my depth in my installation of Win 7 student download edition, Vista 32 bit Home Premium to Win 7 Professional 32bit. I understood I had to do a custom install and after selecting that option I simply followed the installation defaults for selection of Hard disc partition. My intention had been to get rid of Vista and replace with Win 7 but now when I boot up I get the options of either Vista or Win 7. All my programs and files remain in the Vista boot, but I am unable to install many programs into the Win 7 boot because they default load to my D (Recovery) partition which is too small:
My hard disc spaces are now shown as Disc C 56.3 Gb of 450 Gb and Recovery D 212Mb of 14.9 Gb.

Please can anyone tell me in simple terms how to get out of this mess and replace Vista with Win 7? I have used Windows easy transfer to load my files onto an exrenal hard disc.

Many thanks

 

[Dave76]

Welcome to Seven Forums.

Well it looks like your Dell recovery partition is lost, it's very difficult to get it working again.

Do you happen to have backups?

If possible restore your entire hard drive. You might be able to salvage your recovery partition.
Did you get the Vista re-installation DVD?
It might be useful later.

If the first number of your D drive is the free space it won't run very well in there, if at all.

You need to restore from a backup if possible, then install Win7 Pro again, into the c drive.

If you don't have backups, look in Disk Management and tell us which partition is marked Active.

 

[Merasl]

Many thanks for your reply. Yes I have a reinstallation cd for Vista home premium. I take it you are saying I should wipe my hard disc and reinstall Vista? Can you please point me to a source on how to do it?

Thanks again.

 

[Dave76]

The Dell re-installation DVD will be useful if you decide to sell the computer or Dell wants you to put the original OS on for the hardware warranty, they probably won't but it is in the fine print.

Which Partition is marked Active in Disk Management?

Is your Win7 Pro and upgrade version or full version?

You were going to wipe Vista and Clean/Custom install Win7 Pro?

Did you backup all your personal files from the Vista partition?

If everything is ready, you will need to do a Custom/Clean install of Win7 Pro.

How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7

In step #8 format the entire hard drive, so you will get rid of the Win7 on the D drive.

I would make 2 partitions, first 70 or 80 GB for the Win7 Pro and the second for all your personal data. this will make it much easier to re-install or upgrade in the future. All your data will remain safe if you need to re-install or repair your OS. This will also make backing up easier.

 

[Merasl]

Thanks for your very prompt reply.
Which Partition is marked Active in Disk Management?
Sorry I do not know how to find that out. In my computer the Recovery D drive is shown in Red whereas other drives are shown in blue, both when I boot up from Vista and when I boot from Win 7. Windows and Windows.old are shown in the recovery D drive
Is your Win7 Pro and upgrade version or full version?
Upgrade
You were going to wipe Vista and Clean/Custom install Win7 Pro?
I originally did a custom install of Win 7. Presumably the wrong partition was selected from the install options?
Did you backup all your personal files from the Vista partition?
I backed everyting up to an external drive using Windows Easy transfer before I even downloaded Win 7.
If everything is ready, you will need to do a Custom/Clean install Win7 Pro.
If I have understood correctly I now need to refomat my hard disc, then reinstall Vista, then Custom install Win 7, Is that right please?

Thanks again

 

[Dave76]

Your welcome.

I'll try to unfold what has been discovered today.
Many people, not all, have been able to do a Custom/Clean install with the Upgrade version of Win7.
It has been reported that the Student Win7 Pro from Digital River is a Full version.

This will allow you to do a Custom/Clean install.

If MS will have an issue with using a Upgrade Version of Win7 and doing a clean install with no XP/Vista installed and activated, say, from a validation check is un-likely but not impossible.

Your choice.

The previous post with the tutorial on Clean install will do the Custom install as with the Full Version.

To do the Upgrade install use this tutorial.
Upgrade Install with Windows 7

I can't honestly give an opinion as I am using a Full version from TechNet.

If you have any other questions, just reply here.