| Question about formatting a partitioned drive.
Posted: 9/14/2009 8:58:27 PM | | I have a dual boot system xp/vista. both on a partitioned hard drive. I don't use vista much installed it to check it out but preffered xp All I use vista for is microsoft tinker which I can put on windows 7. So I want to try windows 7. So my question. If I format my partition with vista does it pose any risk to my partition with xp being on the same hard drive.. | |
|
| |
| |
| Question about formatting a partitioned drive.
Posted: 9/14/2009 9:36:16 PM | When it comes to setting your active partition from windows, I'd be interested in finding that out too...
One thing to be aware of is that if you wipe out the partition that has the windows boot loader, you won't be able to boot anything. OTOH, the installation for Win 7 may reinstall it, but you never know... | |
|
| Question about formatting a partitioned drive.
Posted: 9/14/2009 9:50:25 PM | | Xp was the first os I installed so I am asuming it has the boot loader how do you double check. thats in the bios settings is it not. I think I recalll seeing it there. | |
|
| Question about formatting a partitioned drive.
Posted: 9/14/2009 10:17:25 PM | | Get a Linux live CD to do the partitioning for you.Just google partition editor ,and get a linux based one (make sure its under the GNU license so that you know it's not spyware/virus), then download it, and boot your computer from the CD. From there, it's pretty straightforward, though you might want to make sure that you have full instructions. Otherwise just pop in the Windows 7 CD, then use the unwanted partition for the new install. | |
|
- don
|
Joined: 4/23/2009
Msg: 7 | |
| Question about formatting a partitioned drive.
Posted: 9/14/2009 10:44:10 PM | I prefer editing partitions with 'GParted'...it's a Live CD, you can delete, create, grow, shrink, etc... partitions with it.
What I would do:
NOTE: Don't delete any other partitions other than NTFS... you might have a little FAT partition that may contain OEM info needed for your system, don't delete it.
(take note of the partition you want to keep...size/details)
1) Boot from the GParted Live CD
2) Delete the partition that you want to put Win7 on
3) Create an Unformatted partition in the free space.
(if you want to make a shared partition, now is the time to make it....use ntfs-but 4 primary partitions max)
4)Tell it to Apply or Write Changes , reboot & boot from your Win7 CD
5) It will automatically recognize the existing Windows partition and you can tell it to install on the free space (you may need to format it w/ntfs 1st) and follow the prompts........
-done-
* I would do it this way because GParted gives you a clear idea of what is what so there aren't any mistakes.
Windows likes to use free space to install on so thats one reason I said to leave it unformatted, the other is so you don't accidentally write over the wrong one | |
|
| |
| Question about formatting a partitioned drive.
Posted: 9/14/2009 11:37:48 PM | | I always used partion magic are these other programs better. Don't know why I need a partition program to format a drive I can boot with windows xp and format by left clicking the drive or are your methods safer | |
|
| Question about formatting a partitioned drive.
Posted: 9/14/2009 11:40:47 PM | | I don't want to edit or change or delete a partition. Just delete its contents which include vista. I want the partition to remain untouched and then load windows 7 not sure how a partition program would help. | |
|
- don
|
Joined: 4/23/2009
Msg: 11 | |
| |
| Question about formatting a partitioned drive.
Posted: 9/15/2009 2:06:30 AM | So let me get this straight...
You have (1) hard drive, with (2) partitions.
(1) Windows XP
(2) Windows Vista
Windows XP was installed first, and then you installed Windows Vista.
Therefore, Windows Vista is controlling your boot loader.
If you run through the Windows 7 setup, you have the option to partition the hard drives, it follows the same setup as Windows Vista did; giving you the option to partition the drive / format the drive or partitions as well.
As long as you don't touch the Windows XP partition, when you format the Vista partition, you should have Windows 7 on it and Windows 7 will take over the master boot record and boot loader, giving you the prompt for Windows 7 / Windows XP booting.
One thing you must take note with, if you decide to remove Windows 7, the boot loader is a pain in the ass to fix.
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/01/17/how-to-uninstall-and-remove-windows-7-or-vista-leaving-windows-xp-on-dual-boot-system/
^ - the above link can help with that should you decide to do so.
Always backup your data, and good luck! | |
|
| Question about formatting a partitioned drive.
Posted: 9/15/2009 3:33:43 AM | | so nt3 killa just want to make sure I read that correctly. Are you saying to leave eveything as is and start the windows 7 install and it will give me the option from there to format the drive then automatically start the win 7 install. Also if win 7 boot loader is a pain in the ass is there anyway tou get win xp to handle the boot loader. | |
|
| Question about formatting a partitioned drive.
Posted: 9/15/2009 8:21:35 AM | When you start messing with XP and Vista dual-boot, you're going to run in to some problems.
The XP loader is the old NTLDR left over from the Win2k days...the Vista/7 loader is an entirely new loader...it will load XP directly..however..if it doesn't have all the internal paths set right...the OS won't boot causing more issues. If you want to run win7, you HAVE to use the vista loader, the XP loader is not capable of loading vista. Most of the time, the Vista loader doesn't and just chains to the XP loader to boot XP.
Your best bet is to find a BCD Editor program that will let you remove the Vista loader and restore the XP loader...this will ensure that not only XP works as if it was the only installed OS, but it breaks the dependencies of 7 needing the Vista BCD Information to properly use .
I will tell you this...get yourself a copy of EasyBCD. I've borked the loaders many many times in the past when i was triple booting linux/xp/7...mostly breaking the ability to boot Windows XP. If you wind up installing Windows 7 and can't boot XP, EasyBCD will allow you to fix it so everything boots properly. You could also use EasyBCD in Vista to remove the vista loader from the MBR, restoring the XP loader as default. Then you could format the Vista partition and install 7 fresh as if vista had never been there.
Seriously....BCDEdit is your friend in this case. | |
|
| Question about formatting a partitioned drive.
Posted: 9/15/2009 10:27:01 AM | All you need to do is stick in the Win7 CD and boot from it
It will show you what fixed disks it can see.
Pick the disk that is the Vista disk
Tell it to delete the partition, then tell it to install, you dont need to partition and format it, the install routine will do it all for you.
simples | |
|
- don
|
Joined: 4/23/2009
Msg: 16 | |
| Question about formatting a partitioned drive.
Posted: 9/15/2009 3:54:51 PM |
Pick the disk that is the Vista disk
Tell it to delete the partition, then tell it to install, you dont need to partition and format it, the install routine will do it all for you.
Just make sure you don't delete the wrong one. (Windows doesn't give much detail on partitions) | |
|
| Question about formatting a partitioned drive.
Posted: 9/15/2009 10:15:56 PM | | Just thaught Id give an update. Thanks for everyones help I was able to successfully delete vista add 7 and my xp remained untouched. I sure do like windows 7 in fact I may end up uninstalling xp in the future but well see. Easybcdedit is sure a nice tool I used it to mess with my booting options its so much easier than the systems bcdedit. Now I just want to try to get microsoft tinker as I liked that game. | |
|
Home
login 
