Windows boot priority and BOOTMGR problem.

Question

As you can see, my disks are a bit of a mess, as it's an old PC with old HDDs.

The problem: I'm trying to merge all the partitions in Disk 0, but I can't wipe drive C: because it has an old and corrupted version of Windows 7 that used to be my main boot device. I tried to set the drive to Inactive using DISKPART in order to wipe it, but that makes the bootup broken as it requires C: to be active. I've had to boot from a USB just to get to CMD to set it as active again. I'm not sure if it has something to do with BOOTMGR or anything, but any help would be welcome.

I want a way to be able to format C: to merge all Disk 0, and to merge those small, unused allocations.

Thank you.

Answer 1

1. It is reported as MBR.
2. No, it does not boot from H:. The same thing happens as when I set C: as inactive.

Answer 2

Hi aymendrk

It does seem that however it has happened, even though Windows 10 is installed on H, it is using a boot config on the C drive, there is a known bug in the Windows 10 installation process, that if other drives are connected to the PC when Windows 10 is being installed, the boot loader can end up on the wrong drive

To be honest, your partitions are a real mess, do you have a lot of data and applications installed on the H drive partition?

Answer 3

Hi aymendrk

1

Okay, one last thing, if you right click the square on the left with Disk 2 printed on it, on the drive with the H drive partition, then choose Properties

On the resulting dialog, choose the Volumes tab, is the partition style reported as MBR or GPT?

2

Also, if you temporarily disconnect that drive with the C drive partition on it, does your PC boot into Windows from the H drive?

Answer 4

Hi aymendrk

I am Dave, an Independent Advisor, I will help you with this . . .

1

Before we proceed, is Windows 10 installed on the C drive partition?

2

If not, what partition are you booting Windows 10 from, is that H?

3

You say your boot sequence requires C: to be active, please explain that in more detail

4

Click your Stat Button, then just type cmd and press Enter

Run this command and press Enter:

whoami

Please post a screenshot of the resulting command window

Sorry, I forgot to add those details.

1/2. Yes, Windows 10 is installed on H:. C: contains an old, corrupted installation of Windows 7.

3. In order to wipe C: I had to set it to inactive from diskpart, so I could delete it from Disk Management. But when I restarted to do that, Windows couldn't boot.
4. This is the only thing that appeared when I typed _whoami_.

Answer 5

Hi aymendrk

I am Dave, an Independent Advisor, I will help you with this . . .

1

Before we proceed, is Windows 10 installed on the C drive partition?

2

If not, what partition are you booting Windows 10 from, is that H?

3

You say your boot sequence requires C: to be active, please explain that in more detail

4

Click your Stat Button, then just type cmd and press Enter

Run this command and press Enter:

whoami

Please post a screenshot of the resulting command window