Remove previous win 7 install?

Sparky · 22 Dec 2011 at 19:31

Ive done this before with CMDprompt but cant for the life of me remember how!
Somebody please refresh me.

Paul11 · 22 Dec 2011 at 19:35

what are you trying to do /? reinstall windows?

Sparky · 22 Dec 2011 at 19:43

No ive reinstalled win7 on my ssd but when i boot it sees previous win7 operating systems.

The SSD is only 40GB but with a fresh install of 7 i am left with 7GB spare! I have done this before using cmd but cant remember how.

Paul11 · 22 Dec 2011 at 19:46

cant you just change the boot order in the bios, and then just delete the windows folder on the other hard drive?

Sparky · 22 Dec 2011 at 19:47

The windows install is on the same drive.

Swordfish · 22 Dec 2011 at 19:48

It will be in a Windows.old folder and is not bootable. You will be booting to the new one installed.

Sparky · 22 Dec 2011 at 19:51

Swordfish said:
It will be in a Windows.old folder and is not bootable. You will be booting to the new one installed.

Thats the strange thing, windows.old isnt showing yet the new win7 install has used 30GB. When i boot there are 2 windows 7 installs which explains the use of the 30GB. I need to remove the previous version.

TNGL · 22 Dec 2011 at 19:52

To remove it from the 'boot selection' menu thing, open up MSConfig, click the boot tab and then remove the one you need removing.

Swordfish · 22 Dec 2011 at 19:54

Sparky-F1 said:
Thats the strange thing, windows.old isnt showing yet the new win7 install has used 30GB. When i boot there are 2 windows 7 installs which explains the use of the 30GB. I need to remove the previous version.

OK are you getting two OS listed at the boot screen?

If so you need to edit the boot.ini file as I take you did not fully wipe your drive prior to the install (should be done with SSD's)

Reason you have so much space taken up is that you probable still have a large swap file hibernation file (size dependant on memory installed).

Sparky · 22 Dec 2011 at 19:59

OK now you have lost me

TNGL · 22 Dec 2011 at 20:02

Sparky-F1 said:
OK now you have lost me

Click start (bottom left of your computer screen), in the textbox at the bottom of the menu, type 'msconfig' (without the apostrophes), then click on the 'boot tab', click on the OS that isn't the default OS (it will state that), unless you have multiple partitions and then just click delete.

Swordfish · 22 Dec 2011 at 20:02

When you power on the system, and go past the BIOS screens, do you get an option to choose an operating system - both of which are Windows 7?

Edit: Or use Tingle's method but do not change anything else.

Sparky · 22 Dec 2011 at 20:03

Swordfish said:
When you power on the system, and go past the BIOS screens, do you get an option to choose an operating system - both of which are Windows 7?

Edit or use Tingle's method but do not change anything else.

Yes.

Swordfish · 22 Dec 2011 at 20:06

Sparky-F1 said:
Yes.

OK you did not fully erase your drive before installing Win 7 again. This might give you performance issues on your SSD but more enlightened people here can help you.

Use Tingles method to remove the incorrect OS (this simply changes the boot.ini file I mentioned).

To further save space on your drive at least turn of hibernation as this will save HD space equivalent to your memory installed.

Sparky · 22 Dec 2011 at 20:10

Yeh ive also installed 12GB DDR3 today, would this make the increase in space used justified?

Sparky · 22 Dec 2011 at 20:20

Swordfish said:
OK you did not fully erase your drive before installing Win 7 again. This might give you performance issues on your SSD but more enlightened people here can help you.

Use Tingles method to remove the incorrect OS (this simply changes the boot.ini file I mentioned).

To further save space on your drive at least turn of hibernation as this will save HD space equivalent to your memory installed.

powercfg -h off done and sorted, thanks lads can install BF3 again now.

Swordfish · 22 Dec 2011 at 21:02

Sparky-F1 said:
powercfg -h off done and sorted, thanks lads can install BF3 again now.

Welcome