Want to delete Win 8 partition on my primary HDD and install Win 8 Pro

[lonewolf66]

Hi I don't want to be redundant here but here is my situation and what I would like to do: Just dont want to mess things up
1) I currently have my my system set up for dual-boot with win7 and win 8 pro in separate partitions.
Here's how my Disk Management looks:

What i would like to do is delete the win 8 partition and restore all that space back to my win 7 partition

2) After i do that I have a second HDD that has Win 7 pro(upgrade) on it from an HP system that I had that the MB was damaged in a lightning storm. I would like to install win 8 pro(retail) on this drive(clean install) and set my system to dual-boot from the separate HDD's.

My concern is what is the best way to do this and I do not want to mess up my MBR or anything when i do this.
Thx if you could help me

 

[FuturDreamz]

Here's what I'd do:
Delete K and extend C:

use a utility such as EasyBCD (scroll down for the free version) to remove the reference to K from your MBR, and to set the timeout to 0 (to bypass the OS selection menu on the hard drive)

completely remove the first drive, then connect the second drive and install (delete all partitions first)

connect the first drive again.

Now you can select your boot disk through your computer's BIOS. If you want to do it through MBR, then use EasyBCD.

 

[whs]

+1, I can only emphasise to make 2 independent installations by disconnecting disk1 with Win7 when you install Win8 on disk2. Switching the boot sequence with the BIOS is a lot faster than via the double boot - for the Windows 7 system that is. It is also less messy regarding the bootmgr.

 

[lonewolf66]

Just to fully understand my first HD will be back to its original form without losing any data with the steps you have given me. Then I will unplug this HDD from my motherboard sata port. Plug in the second HDD to that same sata port and reboot. Then insert my win 8 pro upgrade disk and REBOOT to do a clean install on this HD.
Then plug in the first HD to sata 0 and the second HD to sata 1 then reboot and from bios choose what drive i want to boot up to.

 

[whs]

Correct. Except you need not change the Sata port for the second HD. Just unplug the first (win7) HD when you install on the second HD. This way you avoid that the BCD of Win8 is written to the first HD - it will get it's own bootmgr with it's BCD on the second HD.

Then replug the first HD and enter the BIOS boot sequence (after power-on) to select from where you want to boot.

 

[lonewolf66]

Here's what I'd do:
Delete K and extend C:

use a utility such as EasyBCD (scroll down for the free version) to remove the reference to K from your MBR, and to set the timeout to 0 (to bypass the OS selection menu on the hard drive)

completely remove the first drive, then connect the second drive and install (delete all partitions first)

connect the first drive again.

Now you can select your boot disk through your computer's BIOS. If you want to do it through MBR, then use EasyBCD.

Ok so after I connect the 2nd HDD with win 7 pro on it I want to delete all the partitions on it has thrown me off a little... ???? And also how do I then upgrade this drive to win 8 pro...sorry confused

 

[gregrocker]

To get the cleanest slate on the new Win8 install I would wipe it first from Win8 installer Command Line using Diskpart Clean Command. To access it enter the Repair Options after booting the installer. Make sure all other HD's are unplugged first.

Then follow Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade.

In addition to the excellent advice you've already gotten I'd set the preferred OS to boot first in BIOS setup, so you only need to access BIOS Boot Menu key to boot the other.

If you prefer having a Windows Dual Boot menu, install EasyBCD (click Download - no Name or Email required) to add it from Win8.

 

[FuturDreamz]

Since this drive was originally on another computer, the current install won't exactly work with the new system. Deleting all partitions ensures that you are starting fresh with now weird partitions.

 

[lonewolf66]

Correct. Except you need not change the Sata port for the second HD. Just unplug the first (win7) HD when you install on the second HD. This way you avoid that the BCD of Win8 is written to the first HD - it will get it's own bootmgr with it's BCD on the second HD.

Then replug the first HD and enter the BIOS boot sequence (after power-on) to select from where you want to boot.

ok i deleted and extend my c : drive with disk mng and it worked. then i opened EasyBCD and their was no reference to drive K anywhere... just showed my c: drive with windows 7?? an I ok to reboot now?

 

[lonewolf66]

I just cant mess this up...Will my MBR be ok>?

 

[gregrocker]

Yes, as long as the boot files and Active flag remain on System Reserved boot partition as shown by the System Active flags..

But always have your WIn7 DVD or System Repair Disk standing by when doing partitioning operations.

 

[FuturDreamz]

The use of EasyBCD should only remove the reference to a nonexistent partition. My understanding of your setup is that once K is deleted, when your computer reboots it will act the same as before, except the boot option for Windows 8 does not boot anything.

On the other hand, Window 8 problably overwrote the MBR with a version that EasyBCd doesn't recognize. It should still work, but until you replace the MBR you will have a nonexsistant option in the boot menu.

This may be informative reading material: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/210983-dual-boot-delete-os.html

 

[theog]

Dual Boot Windows 7 and Windows 8 - Delete Windows 8

 

[whs]

What happens when you boot from that drive.

 

[lonewolf66]

I just cant mess this up...Will my MBR be ok>?

OK first of all I would like to thank you all for all your excellent free advice but of course i would have messed something up:sarc: All went well but 2 things :
1) I need another sata cable cuz the 1 i have is too short Easily fixed!
2)here's the bad part,,, When I booted up the 2 hdd to do the win 8 pro install on it (booted from the win8 dvd). then i went into the install now screen , went to custom install to do a clean install . They're were to partitions on that HDD. 1 was system reserve 2nd was the rest of the HDD. So I deleted the system reserve then I loaded Win 8 on to that drive (all went well I thought) until the system rebooted and Win 8 started to load.
It said " getting system ready" for a bit then this light blue screen came up and said they're was an error code
(ie: 000000000001) then it begun to be locked in this loop of rebooting . I shut down for the night cuz it was late and hooked my first HDD back up( btw all is well with my first HDD.) thx
Anyway to get my System Reserve back on my #2 HDD.. I think that is where my problem is????When Win 8 trys to load. Any help would be appreciative. Thx