Remove Dual boot - how? Hi
I have Vista on C & I created a partition which became H
I then installed XP on H, and created a dual boot log in using the
utility Vistapro boot
Now I would like to remove the C partition (Vista) & the dual boot
Then I would like to make the XP partition (H) C again
Is this possible & if so what's the best way to go about it?
Martin
©¿©¬
I have Vista on C & I created a partition which became H
I then installed XP on H, and created a dual boot log in using the
utility Vistapro boot
Now I would like to remove the C partition (Vista) & the dual boot
Then I would like to make the XP partition (H) C again
Is this possible & if so what's the best way to go about it?
Martin
©¿©¬
You can't do that.
John
John
“Originally Posted by MartinHi
I have Vista on C & I created a partition which became H
I then installed XP on H, and created a dual boot log in using the
utility Vistapro boot
Now I would like to remove the C partition (Vista) & the dual boot
Then I would like to make the XP partition (H) C again
Is this possible & if so what's the best way to go about it?
<Martin ©¿©¬ @nohere.net> wrote in message
While it is possible to remove the C partition and modify the boot process
so that Windows XP will still boot, the WinXP system drive will remain H:.
Is this what you want?
“ Hi
I have Vista on C & I created a partition which became H
I then installed XP on H, and created a dual boot log in using the
utility Vistapro boot
Now I would like to remove the C partition (Vista) & the dual boot
Then I would like to make the XP partition (H) C again
Is this possible & if so what's the best way to go about it?
Martin
©¿©¬
so that Windows XP will still boot, the WinXP system drive will remain H:.
Is this what you want?
On Fri, 6 Feb 2009 16:58:42 +0100, "Pegasus \(MVP\)
Hi Pegasus, what I would like to do is remove vista,
make the H & C partitions one partition {these 2 partitions are on the
same drive 233gig formatted ntfs} and rename the drive C
Martin
©¿©¬
“ <Martin ©¿©¬ @nohere.net> wrote in message
While it is possible to remove the C partition and modify the boot process
so that Windows XP will still boot, the WinXP system drive will remain H:.
Is this what you want?
make the H & C partitions one partition {these 2 partitions are on the
same drive 233gig formatted ntfs} and rename the drive C
Martin
©¿©¬
<Martin ©¿©¬ @nohere.net> wrote in message
I don't know what you mean with "rename the drive C:". As John John and I
mentioned previously, your WinXP installation will retain the drive letter
H:, regardless of what you do. I also don't think it's a good idea to keep
the OS on such a large partition. My personal preference is to make the
system partition 20..25 GBytes in size and reserve the rest for your data.
This would make it much easier to create a backup image, using an imaging
tool.
Here is what you could do:
1. Back up your important files, including your EMail files.
2. Check that your backup files are useable.
3. Using a partition manager, delete the first partition.
4. Move the second partition to the start of the disk.
5. Extend it if you wish.
6. If it is a logical partition, convert it to a primary partition.
7. Mark it as "active".
8. Boot the machine with your WinXP CD.
9. Get into the Recovery Console.
10. Run the following commands:
fixboot
fixmbr
bootcfg
Note that Steps 9 and 10 could be performed using alternative tools, e.g. a
Bart PE boot CD.
“ On Fri, 6 Feb 2009 16:58:42 +0100, "Pegasus \(MVP\)
Hi Pegasus, what I would like to do is remove vista,
make the H & C partitions one partition {these 2 partitions are on the
same drive 233gig formatted ntfs} and rename the drive C
Martin
©¿©¬
mentioned previously, your WinXP installation will retain the drive letter
H:, regardless of what you do. I also don't think it's a good idea to keep
the OS on such a large partition. My personal preference is to make the
system partition 20..25 GBytes in size and reserve the rest for your data.
This would make it much easier to create a backup image, using an imaging
tool.
Here is what you could do:
1. Back up your important files, including your EMail files.
2. Check that your backup files are useable.
3. Using a partition manager, delete the first partition.
4. Move the second partition to the start of the disk.
5. Extend it if you wish.
6. If it is a logical partition, convert it to a primary partition.
7. Mark it as "active".
8. Boot the machine with your WinXP CD.
9. Get into the Recovery Console.
10. Run the following commands:
fixboot
fixmbr
bootcfg
Note that Steps 9 and 10 could be performed using alternative tools, e.g. a
Bart PE boot CD.
Hi Pegasus
I have xp backed up with Acronis
Is it not possible to just format my C drive, load my back up
& the re-partition as needed?
Martin
©¿©¬
On Fri, 6 Feb 2009 17:47:45 +0100, "Pegasus \(MVP\)
I have xp backed up with Acronis
Is it not possible to just format my C drive, load my back up
& the re-partition as needed?
Martin
©¿©¬
On Fri, 6 Feb 2009 17:47:45 +0100, "Pegasus \(MVP\)
“ <Martin ©¿©¬ @nohere.net> wrote in message
I don't know what you mean with "rename the drive C:". As John John and I
mentioned previously, your WinXP installation will retain the drive letter
H:, regardless of what you do. I also don't think it's a good idea to keep
the OS on such a large partition. My personal preference is to make the
system partition 20..25 GBytes in size and reserve the rest for your data.
This would make it much easier to create a backup image, using an imaging
tool.
Here is what you could do:
1. Back up your important files, including your EMail files.
2. Check that your backup files are useable.
3. Using a partition manager, delete the first partition.
4. Move the second partition to the start of the disk.
5. Extend it if you wish.
6. If it is a logical partition, convert it to a primary partition.
7. Mark it as "active".
8. Boot the machine with your WinXP CD.
9. Get into the Recovery Console.
10. Run the following commands:
fixboot
fixmbr
bootcfg
Note that Steps 9 and 10 could be performed using alternative tools, e.g. a
Bart PE boot CD.
Yes, you could do this but you will still need to establish a proper WinXP
boot environment by going through Steps 6 to 10. If you don't then I don't
think the machine will boot.
<Martin ©¿©¬ @nohere.net> wrote in message
boot environment by going through Steps 6 to 10. If you don't then I don't
think the machine will boot.
<Martin ©¿©¬ @nohere.net> wrote in message
“ Hi Pegasus
I have xp backed up with Acronis
Is it not possible to just format my C drive, load my back up
& the re-partition as needed?
Martin
©¿©¬
On Fri, 6 Feb 2009 17:47:45 +0100, "Pegasus \(MVP\)
Thank you for your help Pegasus
I'll try that tomorrow
Regards
Martin
©¿©¬
On Fri, 6 Feb 2009 19:29:34 +0100, "Pegasus \(MVP\)
I'll try that tomorrow
Regards
Martin
©¿©¬
On Fri, 6 Feb 2009 19:29:34 +0100, "Pegasus \(MVP\)
“ Yes, you could do this but you will still need to establish a proper WinXP
boot environment by going through Steps 6 to 10. If you don't then I don't
think the machine will boot.
<Martin ©¿©¬ @nohere.net> wrote in message
“ Hi Pegasus
I have xp backed up with Acronis
Is it not possible to just format my C drive, load my back up
& the re-partition as needed?
to the newly created C: partition it won't work, the installation may go
in a reboot loop when you try to start it or you may get a "Pagefile is
missing" error message. If you do succeed to start the installation,
and even if you don't get a Pagefile error message, that won't mean that
all is well and that your installation is in a proper working order, it
won't unless it finds itself on a partition with the drive letter H:, if
it is anything but you will have to edit the registry and restore the
boot volume to the original H: letter that Windows was installed on.
When Windows is installed it creates many pointers and references to the
installation in the registry and all these pointers on your machine
point to drive H: where Windows was installed. If you now change the
location of the installation to C: all the registry entries pointing to
the location of the installation and components will be invalid, the
Windows installation will be in a completely compromised state. You
will have to reinstall Windows, that is the only way to change the
Windows drive letter after it is installed.
John
"John John (MVP)
I agree with your statement about the numerous pointers in the registry.
However, these pointers refer to the drive letter H:, not to the volume
name. The translation of volume name to drive letter is performed here:
HKLM\SYSTEM\MountedDevices. When the OP restores his WinXP installation to a
different volume then there are two possible outcomes:
a) During the first startup, Windows adjusts the volume name automatically.
I think that this is the likely outcome.
b) Windows fails to adjust the volume name. This will prevent the OP from
logging on - Windows will loop from "Loading personal settings" back to the
logon prompt due to its inability to locate userinit.exe.
Condition b) is easily fixed by renaming HKLM\SYSTEM\MountedDevices\C: to
HKLM\SYSTEM\MountedDevices\H:.
I could, of course, be wrong - time will tell. If all fails then the OP
would have to create a small dummy partition at the start of the disk in
order to maintain a similar disk structure as he had before.
“ Martin ©¿©¬ @
If you mean load the backup of the current Windows XP installation on H:
to the newly created C: partition it won't work, the installation may go
in a reboot loop when you try to start it or you may get a "Pagefile is
missing" error message. If you do succeed to start the installation, and
even if you don't get a Pagefile error message, that won't mean that all
is well and that your installation is in a proper working order, it won't
unless it finds itself on a partition with the drive letter H:, if it is
anything but you will have to edit the registry and restore the boot
volume to the original H: letter that Windows was installed on.
When Windows is installed it creates many pointers and references to the
installation in the registry and all these pointers on your machine point
to drive H: where Windows was installed. If you now change the location
of the installation to C: all the registry entries pointing to the
location of the installation and components will be invalid, the Windows
installation will be in a completely compromised state. You will have to
reinstall Windows, that is the only way to change the Windows drive letter
after it is installed.
John
However, these pointers refer to the drive letter H:, not to the volume
name. The translation of volume name to drive letter is performed here:
HKLM\SYSTEM\MountedDevices. When the OP restores his WinXP installation to a
different volume then there are two possible outcomes:
a) During the first startup, Windows adjusts the volume name automatically.
I think that this is the likely outcome.
b) Windows fails to adjust the volume name. This will prevent the OP from
logging on - Windows will loop from "Loading personal settings" back to the
logon prompt due to its inability to locate userinit.exe.
Condition b) is easily fixed by renaming HKLM\SYSTEM\MountedDevices\C: to
HKLM\SYSTEM\MountedDevices\H:.
I could, of course, be wrong - time will tell. If all fails then the OP
would have to create a small dummy partition at the start of the disk in
order to maintain a similar disk structure as he had before.
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