Uninstall/Remove XP from Dual Boot

[tonidavid5]

Hi,

This is my first post here although I've been reading you for quite some time now.

I had XP 32 bits originally installed and later implemented a dual-boot setup by installing Seven 64bits to another partition of the same physical HDD. Everything is been working fine until one day, probably after either a Seven system update or a XP system update from Microsoft, the dual boot only starts Seven correctly. XP doesn't seem to start-up anymore.

So, either I recover access to XP (desired option) or I completely remove XP from the HDD, remove the dual boot, and use the free disk space to add it to the current Seven partition.

I'm seeking guidance as to how to recover the XP or the steps to follow to remove it.

I have already downloaded easyBCD and Partition Wizard bootable CD.

This is what EasyBCD shows as info:

There are a total of 2 entries listed in the bootloader.

Default: Windows 7
Timeout: 30 seconds
Boot Drive: D:\

Entry #1
Name: Versi¢n anterior Windows XP
BCD ID: {ntldr}
Drive: D:\
Bootloader Path: \ntldr

Entry #2
Name: Windows 7
BCD ID: {current}
Drive: C:\
Bootloader Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe​

This a snapshot of my disk management:


XP is in the active, primary partition and SEVEN is in the logical partition.


Thanks for your help!

David

 

[gregrocker]

The problem is that in order to recover the System Active boot files back into Win7 partition from the XP partition, you'd have to convert the Logical partition to Primary using Partition Wizard since Logical partitions cannot host System boot files.

However you can't convert without deleting all of the subpartitions of the Extended Logical partition first.

So what I would do is construct a 200mb System Reserved boot primary partition such as is issued during Win7 install to unpartitioned HD. This will host the System boot files as well as conveniently place the Win7 Repair console (otherwise only on DVD or Repair CD) on your F8 Advanced Boot Tools menu.

In order to achieve this back up your files, download and burn to CD free Partition Wizard bootable CD: Free Download Magic Partition Manager Software - Partition Wizard Online

Boot PW CD, rightclick XP partition to Delete, OK.

Now rightclick extended Logical partition C, select Resize, drag left grey border to the left to leave only 200mb of Unallocated space, OK.

Now Create a New 200mb Primary partition formatted NTFS in the 200mb space, OK. Rightclick it again to Modify>Set to Active, OK.

Now boot the Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times to write the System Boot files to the new System Reserved partition. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

 

[tonidavid5]

Thanks Gregrocker for your quick reply. I'll try your steps this weekend.

Will I need to reinstall device drivers after the Windows 7 repairing?

 

[gregrocker]

No, all the Repair Install does is write the System Active boot files to the Win7 partition since they are now on the XP partition. It doesn't affect the OS other than that.

 

[cguisebrown]

Please have a look at the disk management profile and guide me

Have been nervous about removing the xp dual boot for probably nearly a year. Now I can see why.

If you can review the disc management profile and guide me that would be really great.

I have attached the screenshot of the disc management profile


thx