Odd Re-Installation Issue

[thetinysambo]

Hiya. Brand new laptop, with Windows 7 installed already.

Plugged in a USB device which somehow corrupted my USB drivers. Cue much faffing around, then decide to re-install Windows 7 from the CD provided. (Attempting a repair with the drivers CD did nothing.)

Re-installation complete but I now have a partitioned hard drive, one is labelled as C: Recovered and the other is D: OS.

I can use my USB ports and everything just fine on my C: drive, but the space is minimal. Can't use USB ports on my D: drive boot up, but have loads of space.

All I want to do is re-install Windows 7 and just have ONE drive, with working USB drivers.

Any thoughts? Help is most appreciated. (Am connected via my parents wireless internet, figure I corrupted my USB drivers by attempting to install my USB modem which I later found out isn't supported by Windows 7 - epic fail.)

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello, Welcome!

Can you try backing up everything to your D partition, then shrinking it as much as possible?

Then you can try a clean install onto your C partition.

 

[gregrocker]

If you reinstalled, I am assuming you have a Win7 DVD rather than recovery disks from your computer maker.

If so, back up your files and boot from the Win7 DVD, select Custom install, then use Drive Options (Advanced) to delete all partitions, Create new one(s) as you wish, then format at least the first partition before installing Win7 there.

Afterwards, find any favorite apps or driver missing in Device Manager via Windows Updates, drivers/apps disk or on the Support Downloads page for your model computer.

 

[thetinysambo]

Looks like it's a Recovery CD from Dell, as the Custom Install wouldn't let me do anything except choose which Drive to install Windows 7 on.

I can't format either drive, Windows won't let me.

 

[thetinysambo]

Further info - USB slots now work on both partitions of my harddrive.

Essentially all I want to do now is combine my 2 harddrive partitions and just have one Windows 7 OS at bootup (ie so I don't have to choose between them!)

 

[richc46]

Further info - USB slots now work on both partitions of my harddrive.

Essentially all I want to do now is combine my 2 harddrive partitions and just have one Windows 7 OS at bootup (ie so I don't have to choose between them!)

2 free applications to change partitions is partition wizard and gparted. Google, find the website and give it a try. You can also type search in by the search, and then go to create new partitions. But that may not work because you will be using the partition in questiion.

You can use our tutorial section and get information on partitions. They are very good.


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2674-partition-volume-create-new.html?ltr=P

 

[thetinysambo]

Partitions are all very well and good, but I don't want any - I just want one harddrive, no partitions at all! Thanks for your help thus far, it is most appreciated!

 

[richc46]

Partitions are all very well and good, but I don't want any - I just want one harddrive, no partitions at all! Thanks for your help thus far, it is most appreciated!

Yes, but as far as I know the programs that I suggested can remove partions making just one. I have never tried, but it is my understanding.

 

[thetinysambo]

Ah ok - thank you very much Rich - I shall give it a go when I am actually sober - many thanks for your help

 

[ccatlett1984]

You need to delete the partition that you dont want, then expand the other to take up all the free space.

 

[gregrocker]

Please post a screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map.

Use the cool Snipping Tool in the start menu, attach file using the paper clip in reply box.

 

[thetinysambo]

Ok - picture attached, hopefully!

 

[Jonathan_King]

Are you sure there is nothing on partition D that you want to save? If so, we can try force-deleting the partition.

Type diskpart into the start menu box and select what comes up.
Type list disk
select disk n n being the number of the disk in focus.
list partition
select partition n n being the D: partition
delete partition override

Either it works or it doesn't. Worth a shot.

 

[gregrocker]

First we need to verify that you have a bootable Win7 DVD there to use for Repairs.. It sounds as if you do if you got a Custom screen showing partitions to install to.

Put the DVD in the drive, restart the computer and select the F-key given on the first boot screen for Boot Menu -normally ESC, F10 or F12. Then attempt to boot the DVD.

You may need to Enter BIOS using the F-key given for that (usually F2) to set the DVD drive to boot first.

Just verify that the DVD will boot, then enter the Repair My Computer console to see what it finds, cancel out, restart the computer and post results.

If not browse the files on the DVD to see what is there.

If you do not have a bootable Win7 DVD with Repair console, then you will first need to make a System Repair CD in the Backup Center as it is used to repair or rewrite the MBR to the resized Win7 partition.

Now determine if the Recovery partition is still working, as it is normally disabled with a new install. Try opening it by typing Recover in start box. Then try rebooting the computer, selecting the F-key given on the first screen for Recovery to see if it starts up and wants to run.

Now at reboot tap the F8 key to see if there is a Repair my Computer link in the Menu there. If so, start it and see if it boots into the Win7 Repair console and that it is functional.

If neither work then you no longer need the Recov or EISA partitions at the beginning of your drive, but will use your Win7 DVD or Repair CD (created in Backup center) to do repairs or Recover Using a Backup Image.

The force override DISKPART commands Jon gives above will be needed to delete that EISA partition at the beginning of your HD which is also likely disabled if you clean reinstalled Win7.

The Recovery drive can be deleted and it's space recovered into your Windows 7 partition using the best tool for this, free Partition Wizard bootable CD. I will give you step-by-step.

 

[thetinysambo]

Thanks Jonathon - there's nothing on this laptop as it's brand new! I haven't put anything on it as things were a bit wrong from the get go!

 

[thetinysambo]

Ok guys - just a few questions from my end.

Would it not be best to delete the C: partition as it's the smallest? (That and I can't actually appear to delete anything from it anyway)

The CD from Dell states that it's the Windows 7 Installation Disc and I've used it several times to re-install my Win7 - although each time I've only ever started the process within Windows itself.

And just to be doubly sure - it's the 'bootable CD' download I want right?

 

[Jonathan_King]

If you deleted the first partition, things would get messy later on, because then you would have a chunk of unused space before your Windows installation. It is much easier to extend a partition than move it.

 

[gregrocker]

Ok guys - just a few questions from my end.

Would it not be best to delete the C: partition as it's the smallest? (That and I can't actually appear to delete anything from it anyway)

The CD from Dell states that it's the Windows 7 Installation Disc and I've used it several times to re-install my Win7 - although each time I've only ever started the process within Windows itself.

And just to be doubly sure - it's the 'bootable CD' download I want right?

Yes, you want the bootable Partition Wizard CD in order to delete the C Partition, mark Win7 Partition active, then Resize Win7 into the deleted space of EISA and Recovery.

Please try booting from the Win7 DVD using the steps given in my earlier post to determine if it can be used for repairs in this process.

And try accessing the recovery partition as given above to see if your reinstalls disabled it.

Are you wanting to reinstall Win7 again or is the current install ok?

 

[thetinysambo]

Okedoke - no deleting the C drive part of the partition!

Will now attempt boot from the DVD!

 

[gregrocker]

If you deleted the first partition, things would get messy later on, because then you would have a chunk of unused space before your Windows installation. It is much easier to extend a partition than move it.

This is what Partition Wizard is for.

Once OP confirms EISA and Recov partitions are disabled, as they normally are after clean reinstall, then deleting them frees up space for Win7 partition to occupy.

Bootable Partition Wizard can mark the Win7 active, then Resize it into the delete partitions' space.

Then you only need to boot Win7 DVD Repair console, or System Repair CD, to run Startup Repair 3 times to rewrite the MBR to the newly resized Win7 partition.