Removing XP from dual boot

[BJB]

I'm helping someone remove XP from a XP/Win 7 dual boot. The two OSs are on separate physical disks with the boot files on the XP disk. I'm thinking I need to copy bootmgr and the Boot folder to the root of the Win 7 disk, set the Win 7 partition as Active, and change the boot order in BIOS so that the Win 7 disk is ahead of the XP disk. But what should I do about the MBR on the Win 7 disk? And anything else I need to do?

 

[gregrocker]

Please post back a screenshot of http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...nt-post-screen-capture-image.html#post2261610

 

[BJB]

Hi Greg. I'm helping via another forum and had already got that. Here it is -

 

[whs]

Here are 2 options:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/210983-dual-boot-delete-os.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html

 

[BJB]

Yes, I could use EasyBCD, and may well end up doing so, but right now I'm simply trying to remove XP from the boot options so his machine boots straight into 7.

 

[whs]

Without EasyBCD that will be difficult. Copying the bootmgr to the Win7 C partition is easy though. That will also automatically deactivate the XP partition and update the MBR.

 

[BJB]

Thanks. That answers my question about the MBR, but are you saying that having done that the system won't boot into 7?

 

[whs]

It will boot into 7 when you copied the bootmgr to it - and only into 7.

 

[BJB]

Thanks, that's what I wanted to be sure about. If XP still appears as a (non-working) boot option I'll probably suggest EasyBCD as an easy way of removing it.

 

[gregrocker]

Another way is to Mark 7 Partition Active, unplug XP drive and swap its cable to Win7 drive which needs to be in DISK0 position to avoid problems.

Then unplug all other drives to run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html until Win7 starts and bears the System flag.

You can then plug back in the other drive, but mark any but the System partition Inactive: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/197157-partition-mark-inactive.html

If you want to plug in XP to access its data, it can be booted if need be using the one-time BIOS Boot menu key.

 

[BJB]

Thanks for the additional info Greg. Not sure how the other person is with 'going inside' so just see how the first effort goes and keep this in reserve. He has gone very quiet so either he hasn't tried anything yet, or he has tried and now can't boot, or at 84 years of age who knows?