Installing Windows 7 with one partition?

[PCbuilder]

Hello,
My first post and quick question please to the experienced community here. I have Windows 7 64 bit Home Preminum installed and did a ‘standard’ clean installation on the computer I just built. This was a novice mistake of course. First time Windows 7 user and I was uninitiated about the ‘System Reserved Partition’ that joyfully comes with each installation unless steps are performed during/prior the installation to consolidate the installation into one partition...which is my preference.

I found the following excellent tutorial on how to perform a clean installation of Windows 7 that also addresses how to install with a single partition:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html?filter%5b2%5d=General%20Tips

Just below is an explanation of how to install Win 7 with one partition:
· If you do not want to have the 100 MB System Reserved partition and only the Windows 7 C: partition on a HDD after installation, then select a formatted partition or drive to install Windows 7 on. If there are any partitions on the disk, you won't get the 100 MB System Reserved.

So my simple questions are after performing the following:

• Install fresh unformatted hard drive.
• Perform full format of hard drive with a single partition.

Do I?
a. Make sure Disk Management has assigned a letter to this single partition?
b. Do I mark this partition as ‘active’ ?

…should I also perform steps a & b prior to installing Windows 7?

Many Thanks.

 

[gregrocker]

There are no problems with the System Reserved partition so I would just ignore it. If you have some other reason to avoid it then use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to pre-partition your HD making the first partition for Win7 an NTFS Primary partition with no drive letter assigned.

To do this manually with the installer using DISKPART At PC Startup follow Step 2 here: SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Follow these steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which are the same for retail.

 

[Bongo]

Welcome to the Seven Forums
You have said it is already installed you might want to look at these two tutorials that will show you how to move and delete that 100 MB partition.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71363-system-reserved-partition-delete.html
Jerry

 

[PCbuilder]

Thanks a lot guys. Greg..you are right...there are no problems with it per se...just complicates my DM and Computer files...as I run 3 hard drives = 6 partitions which could be three.

Bongo...I have seen how to remove the Systems Reserve partition in other threads...and likely won't go there..believe a clean install is more straight forward.

I appreciate the advice and thanks again.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

So my simple questions are after performing the following:

• Install fresh unformatted hard drive.
• Perform full format of hard drive with a single partition.

Do I?
a. Make sure Disk Management has assigned a letter to this single partition?
b. Do I mark this partition as ‘active’ ?

…should I also perform steps a & b prior to installing Windows 7?

If you do the formatting and partitioning operations using the diskpart command during the install, you shouldn't have any issues.

The steps are done DURING the install.

You'll end up with a single C and no system reserved.

Make the partition and format it in diskpart. You should not need to do a "full" format. Format=ntfs quick should suffice.

Mark it active in diskpart.

You can assign a drive letter of C in diskpart if you want to, but it is not necessary.

After you exit diskpart, you will be dropped back into the Windows 7 install. When you get to the screen asking where you want to install Windows 7, direct the installer to the partition you just made.

 

[PCbuilder]

So my simple questions are after performing the following:

• Install fresh unformatted hard drive.
• Perform full format of hard drive with a single partition.

Do I?
a. Make sure Disk Management has assigned a letter to this single partition?
b. Do I mark this partition as ‘active’ ?

…should I also perform steps a & b prior to installing Windows 7?

If you do the formatting and partitioning operations using the diskpart command during the install, you shouldn't have any issues.

The steps are done DURING the install.

You'll end up with a single C and no system reserved.

Make the partition and format it in diskpart. You should not need to do a "full" format. Format=ntfs quick should suffice.

Mark it active in diskpart.

You can assign a drive letter of C in diskpart if you want to, but it is not necessary.

After you exit diskpart, you will be dropped back into the Windows 7 install. When you get to the screen asking where you want to install Windows 7, direct the installer to the partition you just made.

Thanks for the explanation ignatzatsonic...appreciate it.

Can you define to me 'when' during the Windows 7 installation process I should enter the diskpart phase of properly setting up my hard drive?

Many thanks.

 

[gregrocker]

Access Diskpart from the installer as I linked earlier, this way: DISKPART At PC Startup

 

[PCbuilder]

Thank you Greg. Sorry I missed that earlier. Makes perfect sense. I will study up on how to use the Diskpart utility to create the right disk format to install only one partition of Windows 7.
Thanks again for your help.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Can you define to me 'when' during the Windows 7 installation process I should enter the diskpart phase of properly setting up my hard drive?

Very early--the screen which asks you to choose your desired language.

At that point, hit shift F10 on the keyboard. That will drop you into a command prompt. Type diskpart at that command prompt.

Here are the commands.

These commands assume you have ONLY ONE hard drive connected.

Diskpart (to open diskpart)

List disk (This shows you which disks are available; should show only 1 disc; probably disc 0)

Select disk 0 (if that was the disk shown by list disk; if not, substitute the disk that was shown)

Clean (this wipes the drive of whatever is on it; you can omit this if it's a never used disk)

Create partition primary (this creates a single partition covering the entire disk; you can later resize this partition if desired in Windows Disk Management after installation)

select partition 1 (this selects the partition just created)

active (makes partition 1 active)

format fs=ntfs quick

exit (to exit diskpart)

exit (to go back to Windows installation)

Continue with the install. When you come to the screen asking about where you want to install Windows, direct it to the partition you just made. Windows will assign the C drive letter and continue.

You should end up with a single C partition, no System Reserved.

 

[PCbuilder]

Perfect...Thanks so much ignatzatsonic. I was just getting ready to ask what are the best steps once in Diskpart as this isn't intuitive for the novice and you just informed me.
I sure appreciate your help.
Kind Regards.
PS: what you defined would be a great adjunct/sticky to Greg's tutorial. You guys know your stuff.

 

[gregrocker]

It's easier to use the installer to Delete/Create partitions, and the Clean command is only really needed if there are installation problems related to boot sector code needing overwriting.

Yours is a rare case because you don't want System Reserved when most users don't care. But we are still glad to help.

 

[PCbuilder]

You have helped a lot Greg and perhaps I have to get over Windows 7 installing the separate System Reserve partition. Would say for most that install Windows 7 like you say that just following the installer is definitely the easier path. I am trying to increase my knowledge of different options including a better understanding of the MBR and independently booting different hard drives etc I have been experimenting with.
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.