Uninstall and Install Windows - current and new HD

k3wt · 21 Nov 2009 at 05:01

Ive got a new hard disk on its way to me thanks to OCUK however im not too sure the best way of going about installing Windows 7 on it.

Currently ive got one large hard disk which has got 4 partitions (2 OS and 2 data). Vista is the one i primarily use and Windows 7 just so that i could try it and see if i wanted to gradually migrate onto. As im sure you are aware it asks me which partition to boot from at startup ie. Vista or 7.

Now.....im sure theres a perfectly simple answer or solution to this but basically the Windows 7 partition i currently have i would like to get rid of because it was only a tester and i wont be needing to boot from it again. So - how do i get rid of it and probably the 'data' partition i created to go with it? Is it a simple case of formatting that partition from My Computer?

Then.... how do i install Windows 7 on my NEW hard disk? A mate has told me to simply unplug the current hard disk, plug the new one in from where the current one was plugged in and just perform an install as i would on a new system. Then switch it off plug the old one back on the next available SATA socket and i should still be able to get the same option on boot up ie. select Windows 7 or Vista.

Is that right? or have i made a really simple task complicated for myself? :confused:

ChileanLlama · 21 Nov 2009 at 07:19

No that won't work.

Your Windows 7 partition has installed boot files on the Windows Vista partition, reinstalling Windows 7 on a new disk will create it's own boot files there, and because you plan to install it without your original C: drive it won't update the boot records.

Probably the best way to do it is to do it is to remove the temporary Windows 7 and use the recovery options with your Vista disk to repair the Vista install (i.e. remove the Windows 7 boot loader and reinstate the Vista files).

Then you can do one of two things, either as you planned and use the BIOS boot options to select which disk to boot from.

Or, install Windows 7 with both disks in the machine, so that Windows 7 can see the Vista install update the boot files and create the dual boot option.

I'd tend to go with using the BIOS option, this keeps it cleaner for the future if you want to delete partitions and makes both OS's work independently of each other. Particularly if you get to a point where you no longer run one of the OS's it's nice to be able to just wipe the entire drive without it messing up your other OS and needing to repair to the boot for that.

k3wt · 21 Nov 2009 at 14:34

Hi

Thanks for that. Im sure it makes complete sense but im confused

So if 'repair/recover' my Vista install will i lose data? The at which point do i delete Win 7 on my current drive?

OR

do i put the new disk in and install Win 7 straight off. then go and delete the old Win 7 which i wil no longer use?

Am i along the right lines in thinking that?

cheers

ChileanLlama · 21 Nov 2009 at 14:51

Hi,

The problem you have is that your test Windows 7 has put it's own files on to the Vista partition. You need to remove these so that when you delete the test partition Vista can boot on it's own. At the moment your Vista partition is dependent on the Windows 7 partition and vice versa.

You can google how to fix this, which you'll need to do, but here's one guide I found; http://www.lytebyte.com/2009/05/06/...rom-dual-boot-and-clean-install-windows-7-rc/

This will not destroy your Vista install, but remove the ability for you to boot to the test Windows 7. You can then delete the Windows 7 test partition once your satisfied all is working.

Doing a Win 7 setup before this will create a third option in the boot menu, i.e. Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 7 as it will detect the other 2 OS's.

Now for your new OS. You have two options;

1. Install with your Vista drive in place, this will create the MS Dual boot menu, but Windows 7 will change your Vista install so that it can boot from either OS. Basically the situation you seem to have now. If you have long term plans to keep both OS's then this is fine.

Or

2. If you want to keep both OS's self contained and not dependent on each other for booting I would remove your Vista disk and setup Windows 7 on your new disk. Then use the BIOS boot options to choose which disk to boot from. This is probably far safer, as if you have a problem on your Vista disk using option (1) then neither Vista or 7 can boot. The downside it is a little bit more awkward when you want to choose which drive to boot from as you have to hit the Fn key to prompt which disk to boot from, rather than the MS Windows boot option menu appearing.

Please remember to backup before doing any of this however - just to be safe

HTH.

k3wt · 21 Nov 2009 at 18:53

Yes thanks thats well written. In your experience would you use that freeware program or just simply delete it from msconfig?

i intend to follow option 2 by removing the disk so i can boot via BIOS

oh and also how much do you think is necessary to keep 'free' on c:just so i know how much to allocate/format. would u say 25% is a good amount?

Thanks in advance

ChileanLlama · 21 Nov 2009 at 19:16

TBH, if it was me I'd just backup, trash my disks and reinstall from scratch or a prior image. For you I'd go with what you're most comfortable with. Sorry if that's not much help.

It's difficult to judge on a %age basis. When I used to use partitions I tended to have a 100gb partition for Windows and applications, with games on a separate partition. That usually gave me plenty of breathing space. But for Windows 7 alone it will fit nicely in 30-40gb. It's difficult to asses when I don't know how big your drives are, how you plan to organise your data and what sort of apps/games etc you may want to install on your C:\

Sorry I've not been much help there

TheTard · 23 Nov 2009 at 16:49

Personally, i would think it's easier to boot up vista ob your old hard drive and delete the patition with windows 7 on it then turn off the PC and unplug that HDD. Then install windows 7 on your new HDD and once there, if you want to format the old HDD then do that, or you could keep vista on one HDD and windows 7 on another.

k3wt · 23 Nov 2009 at 16:53

TheTard said:
Personally, i would think it's easier to boot up vista ob your old hard drive and delete the patition with windows 7 on it then turn off the PC and unplug that HDD. Then install windows 7 on your new HDD and once there, if you want to format the old HDD then do that, or you could keep vista on one HDD and windows 7 on another.

isnt that whats been mentioned? :confused:

ChileanLlama · 23 Nov 2009 at 17:31

TheTard said:
Personally, i would think it's easier to boot up vista ob your old hard drive and delete the patition with windows 7 on it then turn off the PC and unplug that HDD. Then install windows 7 on your new HDD and once there, if you want to format the old HDD then do that, or you could keep vista on one HDD and windows 7 on another.

You can't just delete Windows 7 from the old HD as it will have altered the Vista MBR, which would stop Vista booting without doing the repair first.

k3wt · 23 Nov 2009 at 18:40

ChileanLlama[/QUOTE said:
Cheers ChileanLlama u da man!

I used the link you posted above and re-wrote the bootfiles for Vista with it. Formatted, removed the partition and extended it back to Vista

Just waiting on my new caviar black to arrive 2moro but i wont be in... He'll probably leave it in the bin or something

k3wt · 23 Nov 2009 at 18:47

oops i spoke to soon. i cant seem to 'delete' the partition Windows 7 was on. tried a reboot and wont seem to do it.

so at the moment this is how my drive looks

b: Win 7 (which ive formatted)

c: Win Vista (current boot partition)

d: DVD drive (yes its annoying)

e: Vista Data partition

Its just given me a notification....

The partion b: simple colume is currently in use. to force the deletion of this partition click YES

warning: forcing deletion might cause unexpected errors in the application that is using this partition. do u want to continue?

......... what do i do?! :confused:

ChileanLlama · 23 Nov 2009 at 19:15

If you have a backup and can restore then click "yes"

Though you say you've already formatted it, so if it boots to Vista after the format then there should be no problems with you forcing it.

You can move the DVD Drive letter, if you go into Disk Management (Right click my computer and select manage) you can then right click the DVD drive entry and Change Drive Letter. I usually put mine at the back end of the alphabet.