Solved Problem reverting from Dual Boot to Single Boot

[Nosmas]

My situation is almost identical to that of the OP in http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/22578-convert-dual-boot-single-boot-2-hds.html.
I have 2 HDDs both of which are partitioned so that the OS and data files are on separate partitions. Windows 7 Home Premium is on a 500GB SATA (i.e. serial) HDD (C: drive) and XP is on a 80GB IDE (i.e. parallel) HDD (D: drive). The BCD file originally looked as follows: -

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
 
C:\Windows\system32>bcdedit
 
Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
device partition=D:
description Windows Boot Manager
locale en-US
inherit {globalsettings}
default {current}
resumeobject {86be99a0-2331-11df-9307-ebb202f71558}
displayorder {ntldr}
{current}
toolsdisplayorder {memdiag}
timeout 30
 
Windows Legacy OS Loader
------------------------
identifier {ntldr}
device partition=D:
path \ntldr
description Earlier Version of Windows
 
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {current}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description Windows 7
locale en-US
inherit {bootloadersettings}
recoverysequence {86be99a2-2331-11df-9307-ebb202f71558}
recoveryenabled Yes
osdevice partition=C:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {86be99a0-2331-11df-9307-ebb202f71558}
nx OptIn
 
C:\Windows\system32>

As I no longer require XP and wish to either wipe the D: drive or even physically remove it from the system I used BCDedit to remove the Legacy OS Loader. As expected I no longer get the option to choose which OS to boot into and therefore boot straight into W7.

However when I use the W7 DVD to do a Startup Repair the System Recovery Options window shows W7 in Location D: and although I have run the repair a number of times I have been unable to make the C: drive the ‘System’ partition. In Computer Management, C: shows as Healthy (Boot, Page File, Active, Crash Dump, Primary Partition) and D: shows as Healthy (System, Active, Primary Partition).

I then used DISKPART to make D: inactive, and actually saw D: change to show as Healthy (Active, Primary Partition) when I entered the command. However when I next ran the Startup Repair it showed no OS, and the radio button for ‘Restore your computer using a system image you created earlier’ was already selected. I then selected the alternative radio button ‘Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows. Select an operating system to repair. If your operating system isn’t listed, click Load Drivers and then install drivers for your hard disks.’ I couldn’t find any drivers so clicked on ‘Next’ then selected ‘Startup Repair’ only to find that D: had been made Active again (in Computer Management), and when the Startup Repair was run again it showed Windows 7 Location as D:.

Can someone please tell me if I am doing something wrong, or is there some other procedure that I should run in order to make C: the ‘System’ partition?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Nosmas, welcome to Seven Forums!


Before we make any specific recommendations will you please post a snip/screen-shot of the entire disk management drive map with a full description as to which drive/partition is which, so we can see what you have going on as there may be a fairly simple way to resolve the situation.

In the Windows start menu right click computer and click manage, in the left pane of the "Computer Management" window that opens click disk management and post a maximized snip of that.

How to Upload and Post a Screenshot and File in Seven Forums

​

 

[theog]

Can you post your specs.
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/22550-filling-out-system-specs.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/6936-dont-know-what-hardware-you-have.html
VistaForums SysInfo Tool - Vista Forums

 

[Nosmas]

Hi BFK - many thanks for your very prompt reply. I have attached the screenshot as requested and I think the descriptions are self explanatory when read in conjunction with my original post. Looking forward to hearng further from you.

 

[theog]

Physically disconnect the old HD.
Make the Win dows 7 HD, disk0 & first HD boot in BIOS.



http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html?ltr=S
Note: You may need to do startup repair 3 to 4 times.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Disconnect Disk 0 XP and set Disk 1 as the second boot device after the CD/DVD drive in the BIOS and run the 3 separate startup repairs outlined in this tutorial at the link below.

Windows always wants to make the first partition on Disk 0 as the "System" partition.

Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

​

 

[theog]

If you have problems with Startup Repair,
Use the Rebuild BCD in this tutorial:
How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows

 

[gregrocker]

You must mark Win7 partition Active first before running Startup Repair up to 3 separate times from DVD or Repair CD to write the System boot files to Win7 partition: Partition - Mark as Active

You can mark 7 Active from XP or Win7 but would power down to unplug XP HD before running the Repairs, swap the DISK0 cable to Win7 HD and make sure it's set to boot first in BIOS setup.

After Win7 starts on its own you can plug XP HD back into Disk1, then if you need to boot it use the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first boot screen. When you're ready to delete it you can use Command Line Diskpart "Delete Partition override" command: DiskPart Command-Line Options

 

[Nosmas]

Many thanks to BFK, theog, and gregrocker for all your ideas. Apologies for the delay in responding but had some distractions.

Did as suggested in BFK's post (#6) and after three runs of the Startup Repair am now booting into W7 and Disk 0 shows Healthy (System, Boot, Page File, Active, Crash Dump, Primary Partition).

However I now have another problem - cannot see any of my emails in Windows Live Mail nor can I access any new mail, although I can see and read it on my ISP's web server. When I set up WLM I did alter the location of the Store but at the moment cannot remember exactly where, but almost sure it was a sub-folder of Data Files folder on M: drive!!! I am wondering if changing to Single Boot has affected WLM in some way, as I notice that BCD file shows one entry in the Windows Boot Loader as: -

"description Windows 7 Home Premium (recovered)"

Why "recovered"? Any thoughts please?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Good to see you got it sorted and thanks for the update.


Perhaps you should click this link to start a thread about your mail over there.

 

[theog]

"description Windows 7 Home Premium (recovered)"
Why "recovered"? Any thoughts please?

You have recovered your OS.

Well done.

 

[Nosmas]

theog thanks for your reply. Does the 'recovery' imply that changes may have been made at the same time? I don't understand why WLM is no longer functioning. Emails are obviously getting to my ISP's web server as I can view them on there, but WLM is unable to access them. Also WLM seems to be unaware of the email accounts I set up but my ISP Support person was able to see those accounts at his end. I will continue to research this problem and will probably start a new thread, but would appreciate any ideas you may have.

 

[theog]

AS BFK said, best to start a new thread.