Removing XP partition from XP & Vista dual boot config...

[cocksy_boy]

Hi All,

I have yet another question that I hope you guy can help me with!!
I used to run XP Pro on my rig, and eventually decided to upgrade to Vista gradually. So I installed both in a dual boot config - obviously XP was there first, and I created an extended partition and logical drive to install Vista onto.

When Vista installed, it assigned C: to the logical disk where vista was installed, and D: to the primary one where XP and the 'boot data' is installed, see the image from Paragon:



Now i never use XP any more, and want to remove that partition to free up the space and get rid of the superfluous drive letter (nice use of the word!). Now going back a bit and diging into my past, I remember there are all sorts of problems with chopping and changng partitions and I dont want to get this wrong!

So my questions are:

1) How do I make c: (which is a logical disk in an extended partition) into the only primary disk on the drive?
Paragon has a command to 'make primary partition', but is that going to remove the extended partition?
2) How do I copy the boot data from the D: drive (currently the first partition on the disk, and a primary partition) to the C: drive, which is hopefully going to be the only partition on the disk?

Any help, greatly appreciated! TIA!

[Will404]

Not sure, but could you copy all the data from C (or the one you want to get rid of) onto another drive, or external drive, then delete the partition, and extend the D (or the other partition), and copy the rest of the data across. However if you have progammes (or an os) on the partition you will be removing they may stop working.

Hope it helps

[cocksy_boy]

Not sure, but could you copy all the data from C (or the one you want to get rid of) onto another drive, or external drive, then delete the partition, and extend the D (or the other partition), and copy the rest of the data across. However if you have progammes (or an os) on the partition you will be removing they may stop working.

Hope it helps:)

Unfortunately, I dont think that will work because I dont think i can copy the boot data from D: (which is the first and boot partition on the disk) to C:, which is actually the second partition on the physical disk and is a logical disk inside an extended partition.

So by wiping out the XP partition (D:), i will remove all the boot data. It will also mean that there is no primary partition on the physical drive, and I think every OS needs to boot from a primary partition.

Any other ideas? TIA!

[Will404]

I have heard that - but never used - Partition Magic 8.0, free tiral here can merge partitions. I am not sure that the free trial would let you do this, or if you would have to buy it though.

Also you could try using a ghosting program to copy the data. I have seen it done - when i did work experience - the copied the entire contents of one HDD onto a larger one, then removed the old drive, and booted from the new one. Not sure how this would work with adding data to a drive which already has data on it though

Also - forgot to mention this last time - BACKUP all your important docs ect before incase anything were to go wrong!!

[cocksy_boy]

I have heard that - but never used - Partition Magic 8.0, free tiral here can merge partitions. I am not sure that the free trial would let you do this, or if you would have to buy it though.

Also you could try using a ghosting program to copy the data. I have seen it done - when i did work experience - the copied the entire contents of one HDD onto a larger one, then removed the old drive, and booted from the new one. Not sure how this would work with adding data to a drive which already has data on it though

Also - forgot to mention this last time - BACKUP all your important docs ect before incase anything were to go wrong!!

Hi Will - Yeah, I always back my data up so no worries there! There is no data on the d: drive that i want to keep, apart from the few small files that are required for booting. I have used PM8.0 in the past, but it has not been updated to be compatable with Vista, so won't be a lot of good here, unfortunately!

The util i have upgraded to is Paragon Partition Manager - very similar to PM8.0. But I'm still very wary of merging 2 different types of partition, and especially as one of them is the boot partition!

[Will404]

Ok I have looked into it a bit, and it seems that Acronis Partition Manager 10 runs with vista, and can merge two disks - "New! Merge two partitions into one and leave your data untouched, even if file systems on the partitions are different." from the site - so it should be ok with the boot files. Here is a link to the site, if it helps Acronis Partition Manager, where you can download a tial, and I am pretty sure that it runs on Vista, as it is talked about on a site called Best Vista Downloads!!, - made sure not to make the same mistake again -

[cocksy_boy]

Ok I have looked into it a bit, and it seems that Acronis Partition Manager 10 runs with vista, and can merge two disks - "New! Merge two partitions into one and leave your data untouched, even if file systems on the partitions are different." from the site - so it should be ok with the boot files. Here is a link to the site, if it helps Acronis Partition Manager, where you can download a tial, and I am pretty sure that it runs on Vista, as it is talked about on a site called Best Vista Downloads!!, - made sure not to make the same mistake again -

Cool - I'll have a look over there and see what it says! Cheers.

[Will404]

It's OK, hope it all goes fine

[tanman]

Hi

for what its worth i have done this a couple of times with terrible ending, what i do now

get all my drivers & any files pics etc i want to keep and reformat the drive and go for a crisp new install which i get now down to under two hours with no tears or fuss.

rgds

Tan

[cocksy_boy]

Hi

for what its worth i have done this a couple of times with terrible ending, what i do now

get all my drivers & any files pics etc i want to keep and reformat the drive and go for a crisp new install which i get now down to under two hours with no tears or fuss.

rgds

Tan

Hi Tanman. I'm thinking this may be the best route to go down!! I've been looking at using vLite to slipstream SP1 onto my Vista DVD to ease the process! As you said, it just looks like there are too many things to go wrong, with bad consequences!!! Thanks for your tip!

[Will404]

That is probably the safest root to take, as it avoids any disasters which could occur if your pc were to crash.
It has the disadvantage of having to re-register your pc with windows though. On XP you can avoid this by copying a file called PA.dll, onto a memory stick or something (from WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\) and then after you reinstall windows you can past this back into the WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ folder, and it just uses your old registration with microsoft, with no hassle, but I am not sure if this works with Vista.
Worth a try though

[cocksy_boy]

hmm. cheers - i'll give it a go!

[Will404]

KK, please tell me if it works, for referance - thinking of upgrading to vista.