Removing triple boot

[edenforge]

Hi folks,
I need some advice please;
My machine is currently set up with 3 HD's as follows:
drive 0: has XP Pro on it
drive 1: has Win 7 32 bit on it
drive 2: has Win 7 64 bit on it
These are set up in a triple boot configuration, as I only use Win 7 64 bit now I would like to remove the other two OS's to recover some disk space if this is possible.
Can someone please advise on the easiest way to go about this??
Thanks in advance,
Bob

 

[DavidE]

Please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Management drive map and listings:

1. Type Disk Management in Start Search box.
2. Open Disk Mgmt. window and maximize it.
3. Type Snipping Tool in Start Search box.
4. Open Snipping Tool, choose Rectangular Snip, draw a box around full map and all listings.
5, Save Snip, attach using paper clip in Reply Box.

Tell us what is on each partition.

Do you use a multi OS boot selection screen that lists all OS's every time you boot up?
Or, do you use the "one-time" BIOS boot selection screen by hitting a key at start up to choose the OS/HD to use?

I'm no install expert so i can't tell you what you need to do, but providing this info should help the experts here give you the best advice.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Management drive map and listings:

1. Type Disk Management in Start Search box.
2. Open Disk Mgmt. window and maximize it.
3. Type Snipping Tool in Start Search box.
4. Open Snipping Tool, choose Rectangular Snip, draw a box around full map and all listings.
5, Save Snip, attach using paper clip in Reply Box.

Tell us what is on each partition.

Do you use a multi OS boot selection screen that lists all OS's every time you boot up?
Or, do you use the "one-time" BIOS boot selection screen by hitting a key at start up to choose the OS/HD to use?

I'm no install expert so i can't tell you what you need to do, but providing this info should help the experts here give you the best advice.

Yes please post that screenshot please. Did you copy important files from winx pro and win7 32bits to win7 bits already? I mean important documents, music, images etcetera. If not done yet... do it please if you wanna keep them.

Next thing to do (when booted in win7 64bits!) is http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html
This moves the bootstuff (bootmgr and bootmenu) to the C drive (I think it was on winxp partition). If succesfull, reboot and post diskmanagement screenshot

 

[edenforge]

Please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Management drive map and listings:

1. Type Disk Management in Start Search box.
2. Open Disk Mgmt. window and maximize it.
3. Type Snipping Tool in Start Search box.
4. Open Snipping Tool, choose Rectangular Snip, draw a box around full map and all listings.
5, Save Snip, attach using paper clip in Reply Box.

Tell us what is on each partition.

Do you use a multi OS boot selection screen that lists all OS's every time you boot up?
Or, do you use the "one-time" BIOS boot selection screen by hitting a key at start up to choose the OS/HD to use?

I'm no install expert so i can't tell you what you need to do, but providing this info should help the experts here give you the best advice.

Yes please post that screenshot please. Did you copy important files from winx pro and win7 32bits to win7 bits already? I mean important documents, music, images etcetera. If not done yet... do it please if you wanna keep them.

Next thing to do (when booted in win7 64bits!) is http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html
This moves the bootstuff (bootmgr and bootmenu) to the C drive (I think it was on winxp partition). If succesfull, reboot and post diskmanagement screenshot

OK, screenshot (Bob.png) should be enclosed.
This was when booted into Win-7-64 which is shown as C but will be drive 1.
Documents folder is currently on Disk 0 wich is shown as D
The program folders for 64 bit are on C (drive 1)
XP is on Drive 0 (D)
The Windows multi boot menu comes up at startup.

Will documents etc be deleted?
Bob

 

[gregrocker]

Both Win7 OS's are booting off the the XP partition. To keep Win7 64bit, power down to unplug all HD's , swap XP HD data cable to Win7 64bit HD so it becomes Disk0 and remains HD set to boot first in BIOS setup (after DVD drive).

Then boot into Win7 DVD System Recovery Options or System Repair Disk to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times until Win7 64 bit starts up on its own and now holds the System flag.

You can then plug back in the other HD's, move the data off to wipe the other two OS HD's using Diskpart Clean Command, repartition in Disk Mgmt.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Now do: (when booted in Windows 7 64bits!) is Bootmgr - Move to C:\ with EasyBCD
This moves the bootstuff (bootmgr and bootmenu) to the C drive (it was on winxp partition). If succesfull don't reboot but post a new screenhsot of diskmanagement

 

[gregrocker]

Once again: using EasyBCD to move the boot files to Win7 will not write System Recovery Options
to F8 Advanced Boot Options and therefore is not a best practice. This is why we have recommended here running Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times since before Win7 was even released. It runs multiples tests and fixes to check all parameters.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Sorry greg... I forgot that

 

[gregrocker]

No prob.

 

[edenforge]

Hi all,
Many thanks for the advice, I've got some things to do before I can put it into practice so I'll hopefully get back with any more queries towards the end of the wekk.
Thanks again
Bob