Solved Installed OS on wrong Partition, causing issues

[steven77]

I was installing windows 7 on a computer that had windows XP installed.

I accidentally installed win7 on a different partition (assumed the largest was the one that had XP on it!) so now issues are arising. Note: there is only 1 physical hard drive.

I found a similar thread detailing a solution here: http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...-system-boot-partition-without-reinstall.html

However, while my situation is nearly identical, the problem is that my C: drive is marked as logical while my F: drive is the primary and I haven't found a way to change that.

C: (Boot, Page File, Crash Dump, logical)
F: (System, Active, Primary Partition)

I've been able to make F: inactive, but that doesn't matter because I'm still unable to make C: active since it's logical. Ideally I'd like to have C be everything and F: just be a logical drive, or simply wipe it out and have a single partition.

thank you for any help!

edit: I dl'd a program to try and do what windows wouldn't let me do... now after a few window startup repairs using the win7 install disk I still can't boot so may just have to reinstall the OS. With that in mind... do I install it over the win7 partition or the XP partition for easiest resolution of this matter?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello steven77, welcome to Seven Forums!


So you can get the correct advice, please post a maximized snip / screen-shot of Windows 7 disk management, making sure the Status column in the top section is clearly readable, have a look at this tutorial linked below.

How to Upload and Post a Screenshot
​

 

[steven77]

I won't have access to the computer I'm working on until Monday. However, I think I included all needed information here:

C: (Boot, Page File, Crash Dump, Logical)
F: (System, Active, Primary Partition)

Those are the status' of the partitions from the disk management page.

 

[gregrocker]

Download free Partition Wizard bootable CD, burn to CD with Windows Image Burner, boot to Set C partition as Primary with partition manager, then Set C Active partition -Partition Wizard Video Help.

Next highlight the Win7 HD to run Partition Wizard Rebuild MBR - Video Help. Apply all steps.

Reboot, If Win7 doesn't start then boot into Win7 DVD or System Repair Disk to run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times.

Once Win7 starts and holds the System active flags, post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk mgmt drive map and listings. If you want to keep XP then it might be as easy as just installing EasyBCD (click Download - no Name or Email required) to add XP on the Add OS Entry tab.

If you don't want XP, delete its partition in Disk Mgmt, create a new one.
Partition or Volume - Delete
Partition or Volume - Create New

 

[steven77]

Thank you for the response. I will try those steps on Monday. fyi: I have no interest in keeping xp, my end goal is to have a freshly wiped system with just windows 7 installed and 1 partition or 2 partitions where the 2nd is simply empty and only for data.

 

[AddRAM]

Let us know when you`re ready to go on Monday and we`ll be glad to help.

 

[whs]

The shortcut would be to copy the bootmgr to C: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html

Then you don't need the F partition any more.

 

[gregrocker]

You will not have the Repair My Computer menu on F8 Advanced Boot options if you don't run Startup Repair to write the System Boot files to Win7 partition. No other method checks all parameters involved.

You also must convert C to Primary first before it can be marked Active to accept the System boot files. I gave you the steps to do this in my first post.

 

[whs]

Greg, I knew you were going to say that, LOL. Make frequent images, then you don't need it.

 

[steven77]

The shortcut would be to copy the bootmgr to C: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html

Then you don't need the F partition any more.

I'll try this since I'd like the easiest solution possible and obviously would be nice if I didn't have to burn a DVD to fix it.

However, I have the fear that when I try that option it won't let me since C is specified as logical... in any case I'll let you know if it works on Monday!

You will not have the Repair My Computer menu on F8 Advanced Boot options if you don't run Startup Repair to write the System Boot files to Win7 partition. No other method checks all parameters involved.

I'm sorry but what is this in reply to exactly?

 

[whs]

Make C primary first. Use the bootable CD of Partition Wizard. This is the only download site that functions right now: Partition Wizard Bootable CD - Download

 

[gregrocker]

I gave you the steps required to convert C to Primary first so it will accept the Active flag and then write the System boot files to C. You are correct that this cannot be done to a Logical partition until it is converted.

If you can boot into an OS now you should be able to do these operations from the Partition Wizard Home Edition however it is safest to have the CD for rescue purposes, and you need the Win7 DVD or System Repair Disk anyway to run the required repairs to write the System Boot files to C.

 

[steven77]

Thanks a lot for the help, got it back the way I want now.

I ended up just using the win7 install disk to delete both the partitions... that automatically combined them back into one, then did a fresh install on that partition. Sorry for taking up your guys' time.