Moving Win7 Partition to Another Drive

[traceyw]

Hi

I am using Win7 Home Premium N and XP Home on a dual-boot system but I want to move my Win7 partition from one drive to another but am not sure how to do it. Currently XP is on partition C: and Win7 on partition O: and essentially, what I want to do is to move partition O: to my main drive where space is already available for this to be done.

I have seven drives on my system amounting to 6.5Tb (2Tb on external drives) and currently Win7 is on a partition on one of the internal 1Tb drives. However, I would like to free up the space being used and place Win7 in a separate 50Gb partition at the end of my main drive (500Gb). Since I pre-partitioned the current Win7 partition before installation, I do not have the 'hidden' partition I've read so much about.

I have an old DOS version of Ghost on a boot CD and can readily back up the current Win7 partition ready for recovering to the prepared partition on my main drive. Once transferred I then want to delete the current Win7 partition. However, I know there is more to it than this! I am quite happy to reletter the partition to drive O: since I have software installed on the Win7 partition which is referred to in the registry. All this I'm fairly confident about doing - but it is operations involving the boot manager that I am completely unsure of. How does the system know where the boot info is located? What points it to the right partition/drive? Does it refer to the drive and/or partition? Is there anything else I just may have overlooked? Finally, should I perhaps just leave it where it is until I'm ready to do a reinstall on the appropriate partition?

A lot of questions I'm afraid but I would appreciate some help as I'm fairly new to the question of dual-boot systems and boot management. Thanks very much.

Tracey Woodmason

PS I have been looking for info on this in all sorts of places but have not so far found the answers to my questions. Sorry for any inconvenience if the info I'm looking for is already on this, or another, site. It's just that I've not found the info so far and any help being pointed in the right direction would be appreciated. Thanks. I also trust this is the right forum for this message.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello, Welcome to the Forums!

Certainly, this is the right place to post. With the number of members we have, your question is almost guaranteed an answer.

Go ahead and move the partition using whatever tools you want. You are right, there will be issues after that. Fortunately, it is simple to fix these.

After you move the partition, run a Startup Repair 3 times, fewer is it works sooner.

If that does not work, post back. There are other tools we can use to repair it.

~Jonathan

 

[Saltgrass]

Could you attach a picture of your Disk Mangement Window and possibly a printout of the bcdedit screen if you open an administrative command prompt and type:

bcdedit

Do this from within Win 7.

 

[gregrocker]

Hi Tracey - You can attach the requested Disk Management and bcdedit screenshot using the cool new Snipping Tool in Start Menu, attaching file with paper clip in reply box

Then we can advise you better what exact steps are needed.

 

[traceyw]

Hi

Thanks for the replies folks. I hope they're not too small to read but I attach screenshots of my disk layout and BCDEdit screen. Hopefully it'll be more clear as to what I want to do if you relate it to my initial post. As you can see, Win7 is on disk 4 but I want to move it to the end of disk 1. I should also add that since my initial post I've absorbed the space made available at the end of disk 1 into my video partition (G but I can quite easily create that space again.

Part of the reason for wanting to do this is that currently disk 0 is a data storage disk of 1Tb but that in turn is backed up to a partition of only 950Gb the remaining 50Gb being taken up by Win7.

Again thanks for your help.

Tracey Woodmason

PS: I assume that Disk 0 is showing up as disk 0 since it is attached to a SATA add-in card as my mobo only has four SATA connectors.

 

[Saltgrass]

Just some comments and observations:

Your boot files are in the C: partition, so moving the Windows install would not effect those.

You would have to edit the BCD store to change the O: to G: --can you edit the store and can you set it back to O: if necessary using a command line?

You will be moving the install into a logical partition, which can never be made active. If you decide to take XP out for some reason, you would still need a primary partition to boot from.

I personally like having my OSes on separate, independent hard drives so I can remove one for whatever reason and still have the other.

If you want to wait till some of the others come back, probably a good idea. You might try moving the files, and make sure you move the hidden system files as well and then change the BCD store as indicated. If you need to change it back, you can use the Win 7 Install DVD by booting to it and possibly startup repair or using bcdedit.

 

[traceyw]

Hi Saltgrass

Thanks for the reply. As far as the partition I would create is concerned, that would be a primary partition appearing AFTER G:. This would be done using Acronis Disk Director from XP to reduce the current size of G: by 50Gb and then using the space freed up to create a primary partition of 50Gb into which Win7 would be placed. The reduction in the size of G: is no real hardship as there is plenty of spare space available - I've never used it all and what does go on it is only transitory.

As for editing the BCD store I really don't know if I can edit it or not. If you're talking about using BCDEdit then I think it'll be a case of using EasyBCD as I understand this does just about everything that BCDEdit does and more. Whatever, if you don't mind, I'll wait until the others come back to the forum and see what they have to say before I do anything.

Generally I get the feeling there are some people who have no problem at all in moving their Windows partition. However, as I said in my initial post, I'm new to the idea of dual-booting and I definitely don't want to make a mess of it. I'd sooner wait to see what others have to say so I can consider all comments/advice as well as the implications of moving Win7. It's NOT something I'm approaching without a great deal of thought and care!

Tracey

 

[gregrocker]

We help with these resize/move operations all the time here with nearly complete success as long as the steps are followed.

But resize/move ops can fail so back up your files on the HD's involved, including a Win7 Backup image so you can start over if necessary after reimaging the HD in 15 minutes.

Wouldn't you rather have the Win7 partition in the lower address of the HD where the laser is parked, for faster read? Please consider that and let us know.

Whichever you decide, logical partition would need to be shrunk to make unallocated space for the Win7 partition to be copied into, where it will remain Primary Active boot partition. Copying may require the MBR to be repaired which is achieved by booting the Win7 DVD or Repair CD to run Startup Repair 3 times.

The best tool in Win7 to achieve resize, move and copy operations is bootable Partition Wizard CD. Norton Ghost is fine if you prefer it for copying.

We can advise you the exact steps once you make a final decision where you want Win7 placed.

 

[traceyw]

gregrocker

Thanks for your reply and you've certainly given me food for thought. I suppose I could move Win7 to a partition next to drive C: and still have the same drive letter, i.e. O:, thus retaining the integrity of the programs I have installed on other drives. Must admit I hadn't really considered that but will sleep on it overnight and get back to the forum in the morning but I suspect that will be the way I shall go.

I'm afraid I am one of those people who like to be sure I have all the tools I need in case of an emergency and as part of that preparation I already have Partition Wizard together with an associated boot disk. As I said in an earlier post, I already have Acronis Disk Director Suite but it doesn't work in Win7. Neither does the TrueImage version I use so I also have Todo Backup (a free disk imaging program). Nevertheless, I suspect I would probably use Disk Director from within XP to make space available.

As for carrying out partition resizing exercises, I must admit to having done it many times, plus I ALWAYS make a backup of all my main partitions (including XP and Win7) every Saturday using TrueImage. In addition I also backup XP and Win7 from DOS using the old version of Ghost I spoke of. I generally make sure to retain at least five such backup sets although this only includes drives C: to F:. Perhaps its time I started backing up G: as well.

Anyway, will get back to the forum in the morning.

Tracey

 

[traceyw]

Hi gregrocker

I've now had a chance of thinking about your suggestion and yes, I think I'll go with it. So, this morning I shall make sure I spend some time making 50Gb of space for Win7 immediately after my drive C:. I'll also copy my Win7 partition into the space made available using Partition Wizard. Since I know how to that perhaps you could give me advice as to where I go from there. As I said at the very outset, its the operations involving the bootloader that bother me. How do I tell the system where Win7 is located? If its any help, I do have the beta version(!) of EasyBCD installed which also deals with Win7. Thanks for all your help.

Tracey

 

[gregrocker]

Here's another new copy option to consider: Paragon Backup & Recovery 10 Free Edition

After copying Windows 7 into space you made for it on DISK1, check BIOS boot order to confirm DISK1 is first HD set to boot, after DVD drive.

Now delete Win7 partition from DISK4.

If dual boot is not functional, attempt to boot into XP, in EasyBCD 2.0 remove Win7 listing, Add again by name, type and drive. EasyBCD requires Net Framework 2.0 to run in XP.

If any problems remain, post back a screenshot of Easy listings: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9717-screenshot-paint.html

 

[traceyw]

gregrocker

You're latest message has me a little confused. I did the required partition changes to my first drive this morning such that a copy of my Win7 partition is now in a partition next to C:. However, so far I haven't changed its drive letter so the partition is currently drive H:. Having read your message it sounds as though you are telling me to just go ahead and delete my current Win7 partition, i.e. O:, and everything should be OK. However, don't I have to tell the bootloader where the new partition is or is it in order to just re-letter the partition to O:. Snag with that is that I thought the bootloader contained info regarding the drive/partition number on which Win7 is located. I would therefore expect the bootloader to still try and boot up from Win7's original location on drive 4. Surely, somehow I now need to tell the bootloader it is in partition O: on drive 1. Sorry to be a pain but please bare with me.

Tracey

Before installing Win7 I'd booted into WinXP for many years and since XP and Win7 are on adjacent partitions, I don't have to check if drive 1 is the first boot device after my DVD drive. It has been for years.

 

[gregrocker]

You cannot change the drive letter of an OS partition.

Delete the old Win7 partition and report back what starts up.

 

[SIW2]

Hi Tracy,

Not sure where you are up to now.

Did you create a Primary partition on the immediate right of XP and copy win7 partition into it?



If you used partition Wizard - that won't have updated bcd - Paragon would have done.

So - you need to run startup repair from the 7 dvd - it should locate all the installed o/s - highlight the new one and select startup repair ( it will probably automatically do startup repair without you needing to select it. )

You should then have an additional entry on the boot menu. If you select the new one - don't be surprised to boot into the new 7 partition which will call itself O and give some other letter to your original O.

It will do that when you boot into it - but will still be H when viewed from elsewhere.

You can check in Disk Management if you are not sure which partition you are booted into - the partition listed as boot is the one you are currently in.

If you wish to remove the original win7 installation , Open Easybcd, make sure the original win 7 install is not the Default entry, and delete it.

You can then delete the original 7 partition , if you like.

 

[traceyw]

Hi everyone

I did exactly as gregrocker said and had hell and all trouble getting back to even running XP. Took around 4.5 hours just to get that far and as far as I am concerned this is simply because I didn't tell it where to find the new partition for Win7 (I did query it but was told to do what I had been instructed). However, having now got back up and running with XP, I'm now struggling to get Win7 running.

Win7 appears to start normally and says its "Preparing the Desktop". However, when it finishes it simply displays a blank blue window and down in the bottom right it displays the message "This copy of Windows is not genuine" (but I know it is since I've activated it and downloaded files from MS after they've checked my copy is genuine) and it gets no further than that. I have absolutely no access whatsoever to any programs or files and I can't even reboot other than to press the RESET button on my PC and boot into XP.

I think if I could just get past this blue screen and the not genuine message I should be OK - but how do I do that? Perhaps I'll try a repair using the Win7 install disk and see how that goes.

Well I tried a repair using the Win7 DVD but still no joy, still the plain blue background with message in the bottom right corner. Any more suggestions anyone?

Tracey

 

[SIW2]

Hi Tracy,

Is it the newly copied Win7 install you can boot to - but it won't load?

If that is the case, use FREE Rescue Kit Express | PARAGON Software Group

Boot the Paragon cd - select Normal Mode , then Boot Corrector.

Correct drive letters in the system registry. Assign O to the NEW copied 7 partition.



Release the letter O first, if necesssary.

( Yours may look slightly different , as I am using v10 Server edition - you will get the idea - when you see it)

 

[Saltgrass]

Comment removed

 

[gregrocker]

Tracey, was hoping you'd see SIW2's post #14 as he gives the correct way to proceed rather than changing the drive letter which I've only known to bork the OS.

Now he posts the latest tech to sort out your Win7 which won't start. Sometimes Win7 reacts with "Not genuine" when moved using imaging.

SIW2 is my teacher so I rested easy knowing he left you with the last advice before your tricky copy operation. We also could have walked you through the "hell" you say you went through if you'd been able to get online then.

When a similar situation happened to me during beta dual booting, I accessed Task manager>New task to Run a WIn7 http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R triggering the DVD drive by running D:setup.exe. This reconfigures the boot correctly.

But please follow SIW2's latest advice as he is our top expert on these issues here.

 

[traceyw]

Hi everyone

I'M UP AND RUNNING WITH WIN7. Yes honestly! After all the worry and, yes, I'd go as far as to say panic, this morning, I'm now up and running with my new Win7 partition on my first drive instead of my fourth. I can now vouch for the effectiveness of the free Paragon Rescue Kit - it does do the job.

Before I could reallocate O: to the new Win7 partition I first had to release the drive letter but that was straight forward enough. I also had to change another drive letter which had been changed. On rebooting, I became a little concerned when Win7 came up and warned me about using non-genuine software but I told it to continue and it finished up booting fully. Once I'd got that far the first thing I did was to download a big file from Microsoft. This can't be done until and unless they check you have a genuine copy of Windows. It passed that OK and I downloaded the Media Feature Pack. Yes, I've already got it but it allowed me to check that MS were OK with my OS.

So overall I'm a happy and very relieved bunny. The final message from SIW2 did the trick and I can't thank him enough. Yes, I could have done without the worry this morning but now I seem to be OK. In fact I'm writing this message in Win7 so I guess I'm OK. So guys, thanks for all your help and assistance - and I've learnt a lot over the past few days that may be valueable in the future.

Thanks everyone and I think this thread can now be put to bed - unless anyone else has any comments to make.

Tracey

gregrocker
Thanks for your last message. It gave me the confidence to do exactly what SIW2 said and you were right to advise me to do so. What he said to do worked so very many thanks.

 

[SIW2]

Hi Tracy,

Glad to hear it. You did well as that is a daunting experience.