Solved My Win 7 Disk has 4 partitions, (2Drive letters) want to dual boot

[dohouch]

Would like to try out win 8, before committing.



Can I use one of these unassigned partitions, a=100Mb, b=1GB? Obviously I would have to increase them in size and assign drive letter. Was thinking 40960MB for trial Win 8 install

What is in these spaces?

 

[Kaktussoft]

only try..not permanent?

100MB=system reserved. It's the boot partition with bootmgr and bootmenu
48GB=RECOVERY. Used to restore to factory settings in case you have severe problems. I don't understand why it has so much free space!
1GB: Special for recovery as well. Maybe drivers for recovery.

You want to keep 1GB and 48GB partition? They are useless most of the time! If you hardrive becomes faulty that isn't working as well. And if it is working... you go back to factory settings... AND YOU LOSE EVERY PROGRAM, DATA AND ALL SETTINGS!! You better backup to external disk. Do you have one?

You can get rid of 100MB partition if you want. I can give you instructions how to move it to BOOT (C)

At least one of those partitions must be deleted. Maximum number of partitions is 4!
Also what's possible: 3 primary partitions and 1 extended. In extended parition can be a lot of logical partitions.

Tell me what you want

 

[Kaktussoft]

First create a system repair disc. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html
You need it later in the process

 

[dohouch]

@Kaktussoft, thank you for reply, explanations and offer of further help.

I want the choice at boot to select either Win 7 or Win 8. I don't want to addle my old head with logical partitions on extended partitions, et al. You may be asking me to make choices about areas that are completely beyond my needs.


Thanks

 

[Kaktussoft]

Allright I let you change as less as possible

• download partition HOME FREE from Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online and install it.
• Now make your C drive (the largest partition) logical How to set partition as Logical with partition manager? Partition Wizard help.
• apply the change. Most likely you have to reboot.
• Shrink the C partition so make space for win8. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2672-partition-volume-shrink.html. There's a lot of unused space so create enough "unallocated space" for win8
• post screenshot of disk management

 

[dohouch]

@Kaktussoft; again thanks, looks like I will have to do some head-scratching after all.

Ran mini partition wizard, tried to modify C: set as logical, and got alert "

OH I chose No

 

[Kaktussoft]

@Kaktussoft; again thanks, looks like I will have to do some head-scratching after all.

Ran mini partition wizard, tried to modify C: set as logical, and got alert "

OH I chose No

choose YES! system boots from 100MB partition... so no problem at all. 100MB partition is ACTIVE.

 

[Kaktussoft]

If you don't feel safe.... you can always revert back so make it primary later in case of severe problmes. use Partition Wizard Bootable CD allows user to manage partition directly with partition manager bootable CD. for it

 

[dohouch]

So have backed up HDD, have downloaded "Bootable Mini-partition Wiszard".

So if you still have the time, what do I end up with after I make the Primary C to logical. Do I end up with 3 partitions, or what are the next steps, and how many steps are there?
Thanks

 

[Kaktussoft]

So have backed up HDD, have downloaded "Bootable Mini-partition Wiszard".

So if you still have the time, what do I end up with after I make the Primary C to logical. Do I end up with 3 partitions, or what are the next steps, and how many steps are there?
Thanks

You end with 3 primary partitions and one extended. In that extended is your current C. But if you shrink C there's room for antoher partition. Be sure you shrink C as explained in tutorial, so shrink the large partition

See #5

After doing what is explained in #5 you can boot from win8 installation DVD and install win8 in the "unallocated space"

 

[Kaktussoft]

You have a good backup? How did you make it?

 

[dohouch]

Thanks for getting back to me.

You end with 3 primary partitions and one extended. In that extended is your current C. But if you shrink C there's room for an other partition. Be sure you shrink C as explained in tutorial, so shrink the large partition

So 3 partitions +Extended=4.

So how can I

But if you shrink C there's room for an other partition.

=5(3 primary+1 extended +another for Win 8)

I'm lost now.


ORRRRRRRR -- If I have a "System Repair Disc " could I not remove the WinPE partition?

 

[dohouch]

You have a good backup? How did you make it?

within win7 "backup and restore"

 

[Kaktussoft]

Thanks for getting back to me.

You end with 3 primary partitions and one extended. In that extended is your current C. But if you shrink C there's room for an other partition. Be sure you shrink C as explained in tutorial, so shrink the large partition

So 3 partitions +Extended=4.

So how can I

But if you shrink C there's room for an other partition.

=5(3 primary+1 extended +another for Win 8)

I'm lost now.

Primary partition=real partition
extended partition=a special primary partition (sort of)

So you have 4 real partitions (that's the max)
In that extended partition is win7 now. If you shrink win7 you can create more partitions in the extended partition.

If I give you more info it just confuses you!

 

[dohouch]

Fine and thanks. I need more time to decide whether I'm ready to jump off the high board. You've been a great help.

 

[gregrocker]

To review:

Use Partition Wizard to convert C to Logical. How to set partition as Primary or Logical.

In DIsk Mgmt shrink C to make as much space as you want for WIndows 8. Partition or Volume - Shrink

Buy the Win8 upgrade, download a bootable ISO file, burn to DVD using Windows Image BUrner, boot it to install to the space you made from C. You may partition it during install using Drive Options.

Decide if you want to keep Win7 before activating 8 since under the EULA you give up Win7 license for as long as you are using Win8. So if you decide to keep Win7 you can save Win8 to use elsewhere.

 

[dohouch]

@gregrocker, @Kaktussoft,- Thanks all.
I have a genuine reason for long-fingering this operation . I'm heading off for 3 weeks in a few days and would not be using my machine with Win 8 before 20 December.
I think I can use Win 8 for 90 days before activation, so loosing 30 days from this period, while I'm away is not the way to go IMHO.
thanks all

 

[Kaktussoft]

But you can convert C to logical now in partition wizard. And (after reboot) then shrink C a bit (so make space for win8) in disk management.

 

[dohouch]

@Kaktussoft:-
I ran XP from November 2002 to December 2011. I still have the old box with XP on it. Bought this new box with Win 7 pre-installed.
What I'm saying is, I'm not in the habit of moving partitions and OS's around my HDD as you might well be.

I'll be taking you away from your Christmas dinner, when something goes screwy after 20th December.
tnks

 

[Kaktussoft]

Not moving around at all!! Just shrink it a little. Have a nice christmas and greetings from santa claus