Having upgraded from Vista to W7 I now have 2 partitions and neither OS will
allow me to delete or format the vista partition. I am running a bit short
on space so how do I get rid of the vista partition - Can I simply just
delete the files on this partition? I don't want vista ever again!
Mervyn

"Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:XG7Om.17994$492.972@newsfe18.ams2...
> Having upgraded from Vista to W7 I now have 2 partitions and neither OS
> will
> allow me to delete or format the vista partition. I am running a bit
> short on space so how do I get rid of the vista partition - Can I simply
> just delete the files on this partition? I don't want vista ever again!
> Mervyn
>

In Windows 7 open Disk Management as Administrator and remove the partition
there.
However, you may then have to do a start-up repair from your Windows 7
DVD...

A really nice free utility that will easily accomplish the task is
"Partition Wizard Home Edition" currently version 4. You can download it
from;

www.partitionwizard.com

--
Sir_George

"Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:XG7Om.17994$492.972@newsfe18.ams2...
> Having upgraded from Vista to W7 I now have 2 partitions and neither OS
> will
> allow me to delete or format the vista partition. I am running a bit
> short on space so how do I get rid of the vista partition - Can I simply
> just delete the files on this partition? I don't want vista ever again!
> Mervyn
>

Hi - now in panic mode! I used the partition manager download and opted to
wipe the partiion holding the vista OS. Now when I boot I get a nice
message "missing operating system" I have tried to boot off of the
Microsoft DVD but nothing happens!


"Sir_George" <Sir_George@noreply.com> wrote in message
news:7msvj1F3ioc92U1@mid.individual.net...
>A really nice free utility that will easily accomplish the task is
>"Partition Wizard Home Edition" currently version 4. You can download it
>from;
>
> www.partitionwizard.com
>
> --
> Sir_George
>
> "Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:XG7Om.17994$492.972@newsfe18.ams2...
>> Having upgraded from Vista to W7 I now have 2 partitions and neither OS
>> will
>> allow me to delete or format the vista partition. I am running a bit
>> short on space so how do I get rid of the vista partition - Can I
>> simply just delete the files on this partition? I don't want vista ever
>> again!
>> Mervyn
>>

Mervyn Thomas wrote:
> Hi - now in panic mode! I used the partition manager download and opted to
> wipe the partiion holding the vista OS. Now when I boot I get a nice
> message "missing operating system" I have tried to boot off of the
> Microsoft DVD but nothing happens!

You blew away Vista.

Start witht he recovery disks. If you need more disk space, add a new
disk. A good time is right now before your restor/recover it.

If you didn't make a backup copy or create a set of disks, call the
manufacturer, they can provide one for a fee.


> "Sir_George" <Sir_George@noreply.com> wrote in message
> news:7msvj1F3ioc92U1@mid.individual.net...
>> A really nice free utility that will easily accomplish the task is
>> "Partition Wizard Home Edition" currently version 4. You can download it
>> from;
>>
>> www.partitionwizard.com
>>
>> --
>> Sir_George
>>
>> "Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>> news:XG7Om.17994$492.972@newsfe18.ams2...
>>> Having upgraded from Vista to W7 I now have 2 partitions and neither OS
>>> will
>>> allow me to delete or format the vista partition. I am running a bit
>>> short on space so how do I get rid of the vista partition - Can I
>>> simply just delete the files on this partition? I don't want vista ever
>>> again!
>>> Mervyn
>>>
>
>

Canuck57 wrote:
> Mervyn Thomas wrote:
>> Hi - now in panic mode! I used the partition manager download and
>> opted to wipe the partiion holding the vista OS. Now when I boot I get
>> a nice message "missing operating system" I have tried to boot off of
>> the Microsoft DVD but nothing happens!
>
> You blew away Vista.
>
> Start witht he recovery disks. If you need more disk space, add a new
> disk. A good time is right now before your restor/recover it.
>
> If you didn't make a backup copy or create a set of disks, call the
> manufacturer, they can provide one for a fee.
>
>
>> "Sir_George" <Sir_George@noreply.com> wrote in message
>> news:7msvj1F3ioc92U1@mid.individual.net...
>>> A really nice free utility that will easily accomplish the task is
>>> "Partition Wizard Home Edition" currently version 4. You can download
>>> it from;
>>>
>>> www.partitionwizard.com
>>>
>>> --
>>> Sir_George
>>>
>>> "Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>>> news:XG7Om.17994$492.972@newsfe18.ams2...
>>>> Having upgraded from Vista to W7 I now have 2 partitions and neither
>>>> OS will
>>>> allow me to delete or format the vista partition. I am running a bit
>>>> short on space so how do I get rid of the vista partition - Can I
>>>> simply just delete the files on this partition? I don't want vista
>>>> ever again!
>>>> Mervyn
>>>>
>>
>>
Try FDISK make the pertition you Want THE ACTIVE PARTITION ... or
use the Drive manufatures utility to Set up A new drive ... DO NOT ERASE
the partition ,, But Make it The Active partition .

I am Replying to A post That Cut off the original post .So I do not know
all of The original posters Facts .

"Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:1HfOm.1827$Z_5.307@newsfe10.ams2...
> Hi - now in panic mode! I used the partition manager download and opted
> to wipe the partiion holding the vista OS. Now when I boot I get a nice
> message "missing operating system" I have tried to boot off of the
> Microsoft DVD but nothing happens!
>
>
> "Sir_George" <Sir_George@noreply.com> wrote in message
> news:7msvj1F3ioc92U1@mid.individual.net...

If Vista was on the first partition, with Win 7 on the second
partition, the boot files would be on the Vista partition. If
you wiped that partition, Vista, and the Win 7 boot files are
gone. Use the Win 7 DVD to repair the Win 7 boot. To boot
from the DVD, make sure the DVD drive is the first item in
the BIOS boot order.






>>A really nice free utility that will easily accomplish the task is
>>"Partition Wizard Home Edition" currently version 4. You can download it
>>from;
>>
>> www.partitionwizard.com
>>
>> --
>> Sir_George
>>
>> "Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>> news:XG7Om.17994$492.972@newsfe18.ams2...
>>> Having upgraded from Vista to W7 I now have 2 partitions and neither OS
>>> will
>>> allow me to delete or format the vista partition. I am running a bit
>>> short on space so how do I get rid of the vista partition - Can I
>>> simply just delete the files on this partition? I don't want vista ever
>>> again!
>>> Mervyn
>>>
>
>

The Win7 disk does not appear to be bootable even when first in the boot
order and I seem to remember that as this is the "Upgrade Win7 " it relies
on having an OS system there already! I have an Acronis Boot Disk that was
prepared on an XP machine. Is there any way I can use this to get in and
add somehow the boot instructions?
Mervyn
"Ian D" <taurus@nowhereatall.com> wrote in message
news:IL6dnSyIbcf_KZTWnZ2dnUVZ_qSdnZ2d@giganews.com ...
>
> "Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:1HfOm.1827$Z_5.307@newsfe10.ams2...
>> Hi - now in panic mode! I used the partition manager download and opted
>> to wipe the partiion holding the vista OS. Now when I boot I get a nice
>> message "missing operating system" I have tried to boot off of the
>> Microsoft DVD but nothing happens!
>>
>>
>> "Sir_George" <Sir_George@noreply.com> wrote in message
>> news:7msvj1F3ioc92U1@mid.individual.net...
>
> If Vista was on the first partition, with Win 7 on the second
> partition, the boot files would be on the Vista partition. If
> you wiped that partition, Vista, and the Win 7 boot files are
> gone. Use the Win 7 DVD to repair the Win 7 boot. To boot
> from the DVD, make sure the DVD drive is the first item in
> the BIOS boot order.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>>A really nice free utility that will easily accomplish the task is
>>>"Partition Wizard Home Edition" currently version 4. You can download it
>>>from;
>>>
>>> www.partitionwizard.com
>>>
>>> --
>>> Sir_George
>>>
>>> "Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>>> news:XG7Om.17994$492.972@newsfe18.ams2...
>>>> Having upgraded from Vista to W7 I now have 2 partitions and neither OS
>>>> will
>>>> allow me to delete or format the vista partition. I am running a bit
>>>> short on space so how do I get rid of the vista partition - Can I
>>>> simply just delete the files on this partition? I don't want vista
>>>> ever again!
>>>> Mervyn
>>>>
>>
>>
>
>

"Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:YjwOm.7340$vv.2495@newsfe12.ams2...
> The Win7 disk does not appear to be bootable even when first in the boot order and I seem to
> remember that as this is the "Upgrade Win7 " it relies on having an OS system there already! I
> have an Acronis Boot Disk that was prepared on an XP machine. Is there any way I can use this to
> get in and add somehow the boot instructions?
> Mervyn

Here are my Win7 repair disks:

Win7 Repair Disk 32bit
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NE3F3YVO
Win7 Repair Disk 64bit
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=G6R5LA2L

Download your version, extract the zipped iso,
burn to a cd as an image and then boot the cd.
Select your keyboard and try the Start-up repair option.

Many thanks will be trying!
mervyn
"Dave-UK" <Here@Home.com> wrote in message
news:9JmdncxwuMdoBZfWnZ2dnUVZ8vqdnZ2d@giganews.com ...
>
> "Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:YjwOm.7340$vv.2495@newsfe12.ams2...
>> The Win7 disk does not appear to be bootable even when first in the boot
>> order and I seem to remember that as this is the "Upgrade Win7 " it
>> relies on having an OS system there already! I have an Acronis Boot
>> Disk that was prepared on an XP machine. Is there any way I can use this
>> to get in and add somehow the boot instructions?
>> Mervyn
>
> Here are my Win7 repair disks:
>
> Win7 Repair Disk 32bit
> http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NE3F3YVO
> Win7 Repair Disk 64bit
> http://www.megaupload.com/?d=G6R5LA2L
>
> Download your version, extract the zipped iso,
> burn to a cd as an image and then boot the cd.
> Select your keyboard and try the Start-up repair option.
>
>
>
>

"Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:YjwOm.7340$vv.2495@newsfe12.ams2...
> The Win7 disk does not appear to be bootable even when first in the boot
> order and I seem to remember that as this is the "Upgrade Win7 " it relies
> on having an OS system there already! I have an Acronis Boot Disk that
> was prepared on an XP machine. Is there any way I can use this to get in
> and add somehow the boot instructions?
> Mervyn
> "Ian D" <taurus@nowhereatall.com> wrote in message
> news:IL6dnSyIbcf_KZTWnZ2dnUVZ_qSdnZ2d@giganews.com ...

That's odd. A Win 7 retail upgrade disk should be bootable. In
fact, it can be used to install Win 7 on a system with no OS, using
the double install method.

>>
>> "Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>> news:1HfOm.1827$Z_5.307@newsfe10.ams2...
>>> Hi - now in panic mode! I used the partition manager download and
>>> opted to wipe the partiion holding the vista OS. Now when I boot I get
>>> a nice message "missing operating system" I have tried to boot off of
>>> the Microsoft DVD but nothing happens!
>>>
>>>
>>> "Sir_George" <Sir_George@noreply.com> wrote in message
>>> news:7msvj1F3ioc92U1@mid.individual.net...
>>
>> If Vista was on the first partition, with Win 7 on the second
>> partition, the boot files would be on the Vista partition. If
>> you wiped that partition, Vista, and the Win 7 boot files are
>> gone. Use the Win 7 DVD to repair the Win 7 boot. To boot
>> from the DVD, make sure the DVD drive is the first item in
>> the BIOS boot order.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>>A really nice free utility that will easily accomplish the task is
>>>>"Partition Wizard Home Edition" currently version 4. You can download it
>>>>from;
>>>>
>>>> www.partitionwizard.com
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Sir_George
>>>>
>>>> "Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:XG7Om.17994$492.972@newsfe18.ams2...
>>>>> Having upgraded from Vista to W7 I now have 2 partitions and neither
>>>>> OS will
>>>>> allow me to delete or format the vista partition. I am running a bit
>>>>> short on space so how do I get rid of the vista partition - Can I
>>>>> simply just delete the files on this partition? I don't want vista
>>>>> ever again!
>>>>> Mervyn
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Hi, Mervyn.

The Windows startup procedure is quite simple - but it confuses many users.

Boot-up ALWAYS starts in the SYSTEM PARTITION. From there, it branches to
the BOOT VOLUME - wherever that may be.

That's it!

The confusion comes in the many meanings of simple English words. :>( The
computer BOOTS from the SYSTEM partition and keeps its operating SYSTEM
files in the BOOT Volume.

For definitions of these terms, see KB 314470:
Definitions for system volume and boot volume
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314470/EN-US/

In the typical system, the first partition on the first HDD serves as BOTH
the System Partition and the Boot Volume for the only Windows installation.
That's what you probably had before installing Win7. When you installed
Win7, you created a new second partition to serve as the Boot Volume for
Win7, but it continued to use the first partition as the System Partition.
(Vista probably calls that second partition Drive D:; Win7 may or may not
agree.) Setup updated the startup files on that first partition to give you
the option of booting Vista or Win7. When you used the downloaded
third-party "partition manager" to wipe that first partition, it also wiped
out those critical startup files.

NO operating system will obey an order to delete its own Boot Volume or boot
folder (\Windows) or the System Partition. That's like ordering it to
commit suicide or saw off the limb that it's sitting on, and it won't obey.
That's why you had to use a separate "partition manager" to do the job
without booting into Windows at all.

But Vista will happily delete Win7's boot folder - and vice versa. So the
simplest way for you to delete Vista would have been to boot into Win7 and
delete X:\Windows (with X: denoting the letter that Win7 uses for the System
Partition - see the next paragraphs). This would remove all the Vista
operating system files, while leaving the startup files intact on the System
Partition.

If you installed Win7 by booting from the Win7 DVD-ROM, it would have
assigned C: to its own Boot Volume - the new second partition - and would
refer to the first partition as D:, but Vista would still call that first
partition C:. So you could now boot into Win7 (on your new Drive C:) and
delete D:\Windows to remove Vista but leave the startup files on D: intact.

But if you installed Win7 by booting into Vista and running Win7 Setup from
the Vista desktop, it would have used the same letters that Vista had
assigned; Win7 would see Vista in C:\Windows and Win7 in D:\Windows. So now
you could boot into Win7 on D: and delete C:\Windows to remove Vista without
disturbing the startup files.

To see what letters your current OS has installed, use Disk Management
(diskmgmt.msc). And look in the Status column to see which volumes have the
System and Boot labels.

Like I said: Simple - but confusing. :^}

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
rc@grandecom.net
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64

"Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:XG7Om.17994$492.972@newsfe18.ams2...
> Having upgraded from Vista to W7 I now have 2 partitions and neither OS
> will
> allow me to delete or format the vista partition. I am running a bit
> short on space so how do I get rid of the vista partition - Can I simply
> just delete the files on this partition? I don't want vista ever again!
> Mervyn

Panic Over! I have taken the easy option of installing XP and then
"upgraded" to Win7 as my DVD would not boot. This time the boot record
appears to be in D: together with Win7. I say appears because I cannot see
any mention of it in C: which now contains the much smaller XP installation
and plenty of spare space.

So I am back to - how can I make sure the boot record is in D: and to
get rid of the XP in C: as I am technically not allowed to have this copy.

What I really would like to do when all is over is to take a disk image of
D: with the assurance that I can restore my system completely if I get
another total failure. I want C: to be totally for user files backed up
seperately!

Again thanks for everyone who is helping.



"R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message
news:75-dnfZrksdmZ5fWnZ2dnUVZ_vmdnZ2d@posted.grandecom...
> Hi, Mervyn.
>
> The Windows startup procedure is quite simple - but it confuses many
> users.
>
> Boot-up ALWAYS starts in the SYSTEM PARTITION. From there, it branches to
> the BOOT VOLUME - wherever that may be.
>
> That's it!
>
> The confusion comes in the many meanings of simple English words. :>(
> The computer BOOTS from the SYSTEM partition and keeps its operating
> SYSTEM files in the BOOT Volume.
>
> For definitions of these terms, see KB 314470:
> Definitions for system volume and boot volume
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314470/EN-US/
>
> In the typical system, the first partition on the first HDD serves as BOTH
> the System Partition and the Boot Volume for the only Windows
> installation. That's what you probably had before installing Win7. When
> you installed Win7, you created a new second partition to serve as the
> Boot Volume for Win7, but it continued to use the first partition as the
> System Partition. (Vista probably calls that second partition Drive D:;
> Win7 may or may not agree.) Setup updated the startup files on that first
> partition to give you the option of booting Vista or Win7. When you used
> the downloaded third-party "partition manager" to wipe that first
> partition, it also wiped out those critical startup files.
>
> NO operating system will obey an order to delete its own Boot Volume or
> boot folder (\Windows) or the System Partition. That's like ordering it
> to commit suicide or saw off the limb that it's sitting on, and it won't
> obey. That's why you had to use a separate "partition manager" to do the
> job without booting into Windows at all.
>
> But Vista will happily delete Win7's boot folder - and vice versa. So the
> simplest way for you to delete Vista would have been to boot into Win7 and
> delete X:\Windows (with X: denoting the letter that Win7 uses for the
> System Partition - see the next paragraphs). This would remove all the
> Vista operating system files, while leaving the startup files intact on
> the System Partition.
>
> If you installed Win7 by booting from the Win7 DVD-ROM, it would have
> assigned C: to its own Boot Volume - the new second partition - and would
> refer to the first partition as D:, but Vista would still call that first
> partition C:. So you could now boot into Win7 (on your new Drive C:) and
> delete D:\Windows to remove Vista but leave the startup files on D:
> intact.
>
> But if you installed Win7 by booting into Vista and running Win7 Setup
> from the Vista desktop, it would have used the same letters that Vista had
> assigned; Win7 would see Vista in C:\Windows and Win7 in D:\Windows. So
> now you could boot into Win7 on D: and delete C:\Windows to remove Vista
> without disturbing the startup files.
>
> To see what letters your current OS has installed, use Disk Management
> (diskmgmt.msc). And look in the Status column to see which volumes have
> the System and Boot labels.
>
> Like I said: Simple - but confusing. :^}
>
> RC
> --
> R. C. White, CPA
> San Marcos, TX
> rc@grandecom.net
> Microsoft Windows MVP
> Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64
>
> "Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:XG7Om.17994$492.972@newsfe18.ams2...
>> Having upgraded from Vista to W7 I now have 2 partitions and neither OS
>> will
>> allow me to delete or format the vista partition. I am running a bit
>> short on space so how do I get rid of the vista partition - Can I
>> simply just delete the files on this partition? I don't want vista ever
>> again!
>> Mervyn
>

Hi, again, Mervyn.

You mean that I wasted all the time I spent typing that yesterday? You just
ignored it all? :>(

Go back and read at least some of it. Especially those paragraphs near the
end that start:
>> If you installed Win7 by booting from the Win7 DVD-ROM...
and:
>> But if you installed Win7 by booting into Vista...

You didn't tell us which method you used, so we don't know which letter
refers to which partition.

That final paragraph might be the most important
>> To see what letters your current OS has installed, use Disk Management
>> (diskmgmt.msc). And look in the Status column to see which volumes have
>> the System and Boot labels.

Please do that - in Win7 AND in Vista - and then post back and tell us:
In Vista, which volume has the System label, and which has the Boot label?
In Win7, which volume has the System label, and which has the Boot label?

What is the NAME and the LETTER of each of those volumes?

I THINK all you have to do is boot into Win7 and Delete C:\Windows - but I
can't be sure because I don't know the answers to those questions. But -
Win7 will not delete its OWN boot folder, so the worse that can happen is an
error message refusing to do that. In which case, all you have to do is
delete C:\Windows. But you should understand WHY this is true.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
rc@grandecom.net
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64

"Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:1TOOm.86041$cN3.51405@newsfe30.ams2...
> Panic Over! I have taken the easy option of installing XP and then
> "upgraded" to Win7 as my DVD would not boot. This time the boot record
> appears to be in D: together with Win7. I say appears because I cannot
> see any mention of it in C: which now contains the much smaller XP
> installation and plenty of spare space.
>
> So I am back to - how can I make sure the boot record is in D: and
> to get rid of the XP in C: as I am technically not allowed to have this
> copy.
>
> What I really would like to do when all is over is to take a disk image of
> D: with the assurance that I can restore my system completely if I get
> another total failure. I want C: to be totally for user files backed up
> seperately!
>
> Again thanks for everyone who is helping.
>
>
>
> "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message
> news:75-dnfZrksdmZ5fWnZ2dnUVZ_vmdnZ2d@posted.grandecom...
>> Hi, Mervyn.
>>
>> The Windows startup procedure is quite simple - but it confuses many
>> users.
>>
>> Boot-up ALWAYS starts in the SYSTEM PARTITION. From there, it branches
>> to the BOOT VOLUME - wherever that may be.
>>
>> That's it!
>>
>> The confusion comes in the many meanings of simple English words. :>(
>> The computer BOOTS from the SYSTEM partition and keeps its operating
>> SYSTEM files in the BOOT Volume.
>>
>> For definitions of these terms, see KB 314470:
>> Definitions for system volume and boot volume
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314470/EN-US/
>>
>> In the typical system, the first partition on the first HDD serves as
>> BOTH the System Partition and the Boot Volume for the only Windows
>> installation. That's what you probably had before installing Win7. When
>> you installed Win7, you created a new second partition to serve as the
>> Boot Volume for Win7, but it continued to use the first partition as the
>> System Partition. (Vista probably calls that second partition Drive D:;
>> Win7 may or may not agree.) Setup updated the startup files on that
>> first partition to give you the option of booting Vista or Win7. When
>> you used the downloaded third-party "partition manager" to wipe that
>> first partition, it also wiped out those critical startup files.
>>
>> NO operating system will obey an order to delete its own Boot Volume or
>> boot folder (\Windows) or the System Partition. That's like ordering it
>> to commit suicide or saw off the limb that it's sitting on, and it won't
>> obey. That's why you had to use a separate "partition manager" to do the
>> job without booting into Windows at all.
>>
>> But Vista will happily delete Win7's boot folder - and vice versa. So
>> the simplest way for you to delete Vista would have been to boot into
>> Win7 and delete X:\Windows (with X: denoting the letter that Win7 uses
>> for the System Partition - see the next paragraphs). This would remove
>> all the Vista operating system files, while leaving the startup files
>> intact on the System Partition.
>>
>> If you installed Win7 by booting from the Win7 DVD-ROM, it would have
>> assigned C: to its own Boot Volume - the new second partition - and would
>> refer to the first partition as D:, but Vista would still call that first
>> partition C:. So you could now boot into Win7 (on your new Drive C:) and
>> delete D:\Windows to remove Vista but leave the startup files on D:
>> intact.
>>
>> But if you installed Win7 by booting into Vista and running Win7 Setup
>> from the Vista desktop, it would have used the same letters that Vista
>> had assigned; Win7 would see Vista in C:\Windows and Win7 in D:\Windows.
>> So now you could boot into Win7 on D: and delete C:\Windows to remove
>> Vista without disturbing the startup files.
>>
>> To see what letters your current OS has installed, use Disk Management
>> (diskmgmt.msc). And look in the Status column to see which volumes have
>> the System and Boot labels.
>>
>> Like I said: Simple - but confusing. :^}
>>
>> RC
>>
>> "Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>> news:XG7Om.17994$492.972@newsfe18.ams2...
>>> Having upgraded from Vista to W7 I now have 2 partitions and neither OS
>>> will
>>> allow me to delete or format the vista partition. I am running a bit
>>> short on space so how do I get rid of the vista partition - Can I
>>> simply just delete the files on this partition? I don't want vista ever
>>> again!
>>> Mervyn

RC - sorry to have offended you - I did read your post very carefully but I
am still hesitant at taking further action because last time I lost
everything!
So this time I booted from the Win7 into the D Drive and according to the
Win7 computer management the Boot is in D. The XP installation remains in
C. Both C and D are called primary partitions and also part of my confusion
is that there is apparently another small partition without any drive letter
called "OEM partition" which seems to only give me a nice "Acer" picture
before getting to windows.

Are you saying I can format this C: partition with the status as described
or should I just delete the files? I guess I still don't completely
understand whether the MBR are files which can be seen in explorer or are
hidden sectors on one of the partitions?
Mervyn

"R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message
news:vpmdnYzMlMPhZpbWnZ2dnUVZ_hydnZ2d@posted.grand ecom...
> Hi, again, Mervyn.
>
> You mean that I wasted all the time I spent typing that yesterday? You
> just ignored it all? :>(
>
> Go back and read at least some of it. Especially those paragraphs near
> the end that start:
>>> If you installed Win7 by booting from the Win7 DVD-ROM...
> and:
>>> But if you installed Win7 by booting into Vista...
>
> You didn't tell us which method you used, so we don't know which letter
> refers to which partition.
>
> That final paragraph might be the most important
>>> To see what letters your current OS has installed, use Disk Management
>>> (diskmgmt.msc). And look in the Status column to see which volumes have
>>> the System and Boot labels.
>
> Please do that - in Win7 AND in Vista - and then post back and tell us:
> In Vista, which volume has the System label, and which has the Boot label?
> In Win7, which volume has the System label, and which has the Boot label?
>
> What is the NAME and the LETTER of each of those volumes?
>
> I THINK all you have to do is boot into Win7 and Delete C:\Windows - but I
> can't be sure because I don't know the answers to those questions. But -
> Win7 will not delete its OWN boot folder, so the worse that can happen is
> an error message refusing to do that. In which case, all you have to do
> is delete C:\Windows. But you should understand WHY this is true.
>
> RC
> --
> R. C. White, CPA
> San Marcos, TX
> rc@grandecom.net
> Microsoft Windows MVP
> Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64
>
> "Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:1TOOm.86041$cN3.51405@newsfe30.ams2...
>> Panic Over! I have taken the easy option of installing XP and then
>> "upgraded" to Win7 as my DVD would not boot. This time the boot record
>> appears to be in D: together with Win7. I say appears because I cannot
>> see any mention of it in C: which now contains the much smaller XP
>> installation and plenty of spare space.
>>
>> So I am back to - how can I make sure the boot record is in D: and
>> to get rid of the XP in C: as I am technically not allowed to have this
>> copy.
>>
>> What I really would like to do when all is over is to take a disk image
>> of D: with the assurance that I can restore my system completely if I
>> get another total failure. I want C: to be totally for user files
>> backed up seperately!
>>
>> Again thanks for everyone who is helping.
>>
>>
>>
>> "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message
>> news:75-dnfZrksdmZ5fWnZ2dnUVZ_vmdnZ2d@posted.grandecom...
>>> Hi, Mervyn.
>>>
>>> The Windows startup procedure is quite simple - but it confuses many
>>> users.
>>>
>>> Boot-up ALWAYS starts in the SYSTEM PARTITION. From there, it branches
>>> to the BOOT VOLUME - wherever that may be.
>>>
>>> That's it!
>>>
>>> The confusion comes in the many meanings of simple English words. :>(
>>> The computer BOOTS from the SYSTEM partition and keeps its operating
>>> SYSTEM files in the BOOT Volume.
>>>
>>> For definitions of these terms, see KB 314470:
>>> Definitions for system volume and boot volume
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314470/EN-US/
>>>
>>> In the typical system, the first partition on the first HDD serves as
>>> BOTH the System Partition and the Boot Volume for the only Windows
>>> installation. That's what you probably had before installing Win7. When
>>> you installed Win7, you created a new second partition to serve as the
>>> Boot Volume for Win7, but it continued to use the first partition as the
>>> System Partition. (Vista probably calls that second partition Drive D:;
>>> Win7 may or may not agree.) Setup updated the startup files on that
>>> first partition to give you the option of booting Vista or Win7. When
>>> you used the downloaded third-party "partition manager" to wipe that
>>> first partition, it also wiped out those critical startup files.
>>>
>>> NO operating system will obey an order to delete its own Boot Volume or
>>> boot folder (\Windows) or the System Partition. That's like ordering it
>>> to commit suicide or saw off the limb that it's sitting on, and it won't
>>> obey. That's why you had to use a separate "partition manager" to do the
>>> job without booting into Windows at all.
>>>
>>> But Vista will happily delete Win7's boot folder - and vice versa. So
>>> the simplest way for you to delete Vista would have been to boot into
>>> Win7 and delete X:\Windows (with X: denoting the letter that Win7 uses
>>> for the System Partition - see the next paragraphs). This would remove
>>> all the Vista operating system files, while leaving the startup files
>>> intact on the System Partition.
>>>
>>> If you installed Win7 by booting from the Win7 DVD-ROM, it would have
>>> assigned C: to its own Boot Volume - the new second partition - and
>>> would refer to the first partition as D:, but Vista would still call
>>> that first partition C:. So you could now boot into Win7 (on your new
>>> Drive C:) and delete D:\Windows to remove Vista but leave the startup
>>> files on D: intact.
>>>
>>> But if you installed Win7 by booting into Vista and running Win7 Setup
>>> from the Vista desktop, it would have used the same letters that Vista
>>> had assigned; Win7 would see Vista in C:\Windows and Win7 in D:\Windows.
>>> So now you could boot into Win7 on D: and delete C:\Windows to remove
>>> Vista without disturbing the startup files.
>>>
>>> To see what letters your current OS has installed, use Disk Management
>>> (diskmgmt.msc). And look in the Status column to see which volumes have
>>> the System and Boot labels.
>>>
>>> Like I said: Simple - but confusing. :^}
>>>
>>> RC
>>>
>>> "Mervyn Thomas" <mervyn-thomas@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>>> news:XG7Om.17994$492.972@newsfe18.ams2...
>>>> Having upgraded from Vista to W7 I now have 2 partitions and neither OS
>>>> will
>>>> allow me to delete or format the vista partition. I am running a bit
>>>> short on space so how do I get rid of the vista partition - Can I
>>>> simply just delete the files on this partition? I don't want vista
>>>> ever again!
>>>> Mervyn
>