Dual Boot

Question

I have Windows Vista 32 bits.I have installed an evaluation copy of Windows 7 .At the end, I have decided to made a clear Windows 7 installation  in the other computer.How can I do to eliminate the dual boot from Windows Vista?

Answer 1

JC Moreira,

Did you rebuild your boot configuration dataas mentioned, here are the steps again:

To run the Bootrec.exe tool, you must start Windows RE. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Put the Windows installation disc in the disc drive, and then start the computer.
2. Press a key when you are prompted.
3. Select a language, a time, a currency, a keyboard or an input method, and then click Next.
4. Click Repair your computer.
5. Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.
6. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.
7. Type Bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd, and then press ENTER.
8. (Lets also run the following Type Bootrec.exe /fixMBR, and then press ENTER.)
9. Restart

Note If rebuilding the BCD does not resolve the startup issue, you can export and delete the BCD, and then run this option again. By doing this, you make sure that the BCD is completely rebuilt. To do this, type the following commands at the Windows RE command prompt:

• bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup
• c:
• cd boot
• attrib bcd -s -h -r
• ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old
• bootrec /RebuildBcd

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Refer to the following article on Boortrec.exe for more detail:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392

Let us know your result. Thank you for using the Microsoft Vista Support Forum.

---

Rami

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Answer 2

Hello Rami...Thank you very much for your response.

I will let you know all the story.

I have the Windows Vista in one computer with 64 bits processor.

In the same computer, in a different 500 GB hard drive I installed the evaluation version for Windows 7.

After that, I dedided fo make a NEW fresh installation of Windows 7 in ANOTHER COMPUTER, but using the same 500 GB hard drive, I mean, I delete all the information related to the former Windows 7 installation by a from scratch NEW clear installation of Windows 7 and I moved the hard drive from one computer to another.

I still have the dual boot option to choice betwen the Windows Vista and Windos 7, but actually I only have Windows Vista in the computer, where I made the first Windows 7 installation.

This dual boot option is what I want to delete.

Answer 3

Rami - Support Engineer said:

JC Moreira,

Please clarify the following:

1. Did you Custom or Upgrade install Windows 7? Is it on a separate drive or partition from your Vista install?
2. Do you desire to eliminate Vista and only boot Windows 7? Or are you wishing to revert to your Vista install only?

_________________________________

Removing or uninstalling Windows Vista is possible in specific scenarios. The following steps are for removing a Windows install from a dual boot on separate partitions:

Before you proceed you will need your Windows Installation media

_________________________________

First Back Up any and all important data from the Windows install you wish to remove.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/699ce30c-13f1-46ec-9684-e84bf4109dd81033.mspx

__________________________________

Next boot into the Windows version you wish to keep and follow these steps to reformat the partition holding the unwanted Windows installation and thus uninstalling it.

Note:

- Formatting a volume will destroy any data on the partition. Be sure to make backups of any data you want to save before you begin.
- You cannot format a disk or partition that is currently in use, including the partition that contains Windows.
- *Quick format* is a formatting option that creates a new file table but does not fully overwrite or erase the volume. A quick format is much faster than a normal format, which fully erases any existing

data on the volume.

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1.       Open Computer Management by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance (Windows 7 – System and Security), clicking Administrative Tools, and then double-clicking Computer Management. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

2.       In the Navigation pane, under Storage, click Disk Management.

3.       Right-click the volume that contains the Windows version you wish to remove, and then click Format if you wish to keep a second partition, or Deleteif you only desire one.

4.a    To format the volume with the default settings, in the Format dialog box, click OK, and then click OK again.

4.b    If you chose to Delete the extra partition, confirm the steps. When you are done you will need to extend your remaining volume. Right-click the remaining volume, click Extend Volume and assign it the available space.

__________________________________

Next we will need to rebuild your boot configuration data, follow these steps:

To run the Bootrec.exe tool, you must start Windows RE. To do this, follow these steps:

4.                   Put the Windows installation disc in the disc drive, and then start the computer.

5.                   Press a key when you are prompted.

6.                   Select a language, a time, a currency, a keyboard or an input method, and then click Next.

7.                   Click Repair your computer.

8.                   Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.

9.                   In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.

10.               Type Bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd, and then press ENTER.

11.               Restart

__________________________________

Please consider each step carefully as they very much depend on the method of install you chose; Let us know your result. Thank you for using the Microsoft Vista Support Forum.

---

Rami

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Hello Rami

I don't have any experiences with windows 7.But I think the best solution is to use boot.ini In Windows XP.

Right click on My computer,select properties and then point to advanced Tab.

in startup and recovery,choose setting and then click on edit button.

what happened to boot.ini in Vista or 7 ? where are they ?moreover what is difference between bootcfg /rebuild and bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd ?

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persia gulf for ever! hey google! change your behavior! google is inventor!

Answer 4

JC Moreira,

Please clarify the following:

1. Did you Custom or Upgrade install Windows 7? Is it on a separate drive or partition from your Vista install?
2. Do you desire to eliminate Vista and only boot Windows 7? Or are you wishing to revert to your Vista install only?

_________________________________

Removing or uninstalling Windows Vista is possible in specific scenarios. The following steps are for removing a Windows install from a dual boot on separate partitions:

Before you proceed you will need your Windows Installation media

_________________________________

First Back Up any and all important data from the Windows install you wish to remove.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/699ce30c-13f1-46ec-9684-e84bf4109dd81033.mspx

__________________________________

Next boot into the Windows version you wish to keep and follow these steps to reformat the partition holding the unwanted Windows installation and thus uninstalling it.

Note:

- Formatting a volume will destroy any data on the partition. Be sure to make backups of any data you want to save before you begin.
- You cannot format a disk or partition that is currently in use, including the partition that contains Windows.
- *Quick format* is a formatting option that creates a new file table but does not fully overwrite or erase the volume. A quick format is much faster than a normal format, which fully erases any existing

data on the volume.

---

1.       Open Computer Management by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance (Windows 7 – System and Security), clicking Administrative Tools, and then double-clicking Computer Management. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

2.       In the Navigation pane, under Storage, click Disk Management.

3.       Right-click the volume that contains the Windows version you wish to remove, and then click Format if you wish to keep a second partition, or Deleteif you only desire one.

4.a    To format the volume with the default settings, in the Format dialog box, click OK, and then click OK again.

4.b    If you chose to Delete the extra partition, confirm the steps. When you are done you will need to extend your remaining volume. Right-click the remaining volume, click Extend Volume and assign it the available space.

__________________________________

Next we will need to rebuild your boot configuration data, follow these steps:

To run the Bootrec.exe tool, you must start Windows RE. To do this, follow these steps:

4.                   Put the Windows installation disc in the disc drive, and then start the computer.

5.                   Press a key when you are prompted.

6.                   Select a language, a time, a currency, a keyboard or an input method, and then click Next.

7.                   Click Repair your computer.

8.                   Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.

9.                   In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.

10.               Type Bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd, and then press ENTER.

11.               Restart

__________________________________

Please consider each step carefully as they very much depend on the method of install you chose; Let us know your result. Thank you for using the Microsoft Vista Support Forum.

---

Rami

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.