Remove Vista from multiboot setup

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I have looked everywhere but cannot find a straight forward answer. I’m hoping to have better luck here. Currently I have a multi boot system with XP, Vista and Win7. I’m not having any problems but would like to remove Vista. I have 3 hard drives. An 150gb raptor drive with XP and Win 7 installed. A 200gb drive that stores all my data and a 180gb drive with Vista installed. In my bios I am booting from disk drive which has Vista installed on it. I tried changing the boot drivr to the Win 7 drive but it would not boot telling me a file was missing. I know I need to change something on the Win 7 drive and then set the bios to boot from it. Can someone give the steps to get this done so that I can remove Vista and be left with dual boot, XP and Win 7 and booting from Win 7 drive. When I say remove it also includes deleting the Vista partition.Thanks for your help, Ralph

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Look in Disk Management, on the drive that has XP and Win7, is there a 102MB partition labelled “System Reserve”? If there is, then you can simply restore the master boot record (MBR) on that disk (and change you BIOS to boot using that disk). See this for restoring the MBR:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4836283_repair-mbr-windows.html

You can also google “windows 7 restore mbr” for other site with similar instructions.

If you do not have that 102MB partition, then the problem gets harder…

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Look in Disk Management, on the drive that has XP and Win7, is there a 102MB partition labelled “System Reserve”? If there is, then you can simply restore the master boot record (MBR) on that disk (and change you BIOS to boot using that disk). See this for restoring the MBR:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4836283_repair-mbr-windows.html

You can also google “windows 7 restore mbr” for other site with similar instructions.

If you do not have that 102MB partition, then the problem gets harder…

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I do not have the reserve partition but maybe this additional info will help:

Disk 0 VISTA64 (D:) Heathy(System,Active,Primary) 64 bit
Disk1 Apps_Data (E:) Healthy(Active,Primary)
Disk2 XP_PRO (F:) Healthy(Active,Primary) 32 bit
Disk2 WINDOWS7 (C:) Healthy(Boot,Page File,Crash Dump,Primay) 64 bit

Can I just do a repair of master boot record on disk 2, change boot sequence in bios to disk2 and then remove Vista?

Thanks, Ralph

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This article explains the stepsto repair your mbr in both Vista and XP. If you want to remove Vista you would use the XP fix provided. You can also use a 3rd party app such as Easy BCDto accomplish this task. This app seems to get a lot of press in these forums.

To remove the Vista partition while signed on to Win 7 type management in the search box, choose Computer Mamagement, disk management. The disk manager will show all disks presently installed on you various partitions. From here you should be able to delete then format the Vista partition. In your setup it appears this will give you a reformated spare hd. At this point follow the procedure outlined in the included article.

Another alternative would be to use one of the excellent 3rd party partitioning apps available. I use Partition Wizardwhich is also free.

Good luck and have fun.

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Ted just so I understand. You are suggesting a 2 step process:

1. Fix Vista MBR with XP repair program
2. Delete vista partition using Win 7 disk manager or with partition wizard ( I also use Partition Wizard)
No changes required to win 7 mbr? After doing above and I reboot will I be left with XP and win7 dual boot.

Thanks again for your help.

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Sorry for the confusion.

The 2 step process would be just the opposite. You would go into disk management from Win 7, or using Partition Wizard, and from there delete the Vista partition. Once you delete the partition, you would reboot your PC. There would be no reason to have to fix the MBR until the deletion is made.

Step 2: Fix MBR using the process outlined above. Once a change at the OS level takes place a fix of the MBR is required or you will never get to the Which OS do you want to boot to screen. I do not believe it makes a difference which MBR repair you use at this point. The article I pointed out included XP and Vista, but I’m sure similar are available for Win 7 as well. That’s why many use the 3rd party app such as Easy BCD do this for them. Easy BCD does not care what OS you are attempting your repair from. It just sets up the MBR to allow you to get to the screen that you choose which OS to boot to.

Again, I’m sorry for the confusion. I wrote that early this AM and was obviously not quite awake yet.

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Ted, I appreciate your clarification. I’ve been there myself. It’s been so long since I’ve worked with this stuff it’s tough to remember exactly what I did. Just one more question if I may. I’ve used Easy BCD spariringly. Could you point me in the right direction as to how I do this. Which tab do I select?

Thanks again, Ralph

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Ted, I appreciate your clarification. I’ve been there myself. It’s been so long since I’ve worked with this stuff it’s tough to remember exactly what I did. Just one more question if I may. I’ve used Easy BCD spariringly. Could you point me in the right direction as to how I do this. Which tab do I select?

Thanks again, Ralph

Ralph,
Hello, not sure if you managed to repair your “MBR” yet but…. you could use EasyBCD to do the job of your “boot sequence” problem without rebuilding the “MBR”. Here’s how it could be done. Download EasyBCD Beta2.0 http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBCD/EasyBCD+Documentation+Home;jsessionid=7CBB2757E4358A1BE1A373D85B4BBF5B I think that you need the “beta ” for “7” not sure . the link will provide info to the “forum” so you can ask about “7”( you have to register to get the “beta”) Once you have it, install and run. You can then setup which system that you want to boot from as your default …(add remove entries tab) then select the next drive or partition … so on Entries # 2, #3 #4 , etc. You will also be given a “Timeout Choice” so at boot time if you don’t choose which system you want (any one of your entries) BCD will do so as per your timeout,booting the default. If you don’t want Vista … don’t put it in the Que then you could delete the partition or the drive that Vista is on, (after you get things setup the way that you want) BCD would then take control of the booting duties BCD will also give the opportunity to backup your present configuration, so nothing to lose. Regards Fred

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I have not used Easy BCD. It is an app that many in these forums have used and spoken of. The last time I deleted a partition and had to fix the MBR I followed this method.It seems to work very easily with great results.

My problem is similar to yours. I have done many things over the years that I simply can not seem to remember exactly. Aint getting old a drag.

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Thanks Fred, I’ve never used Easy BCD so could not recommend proper procedures for it’s use to Ralph. The last time I deleted a partition I used Windows MBR repair and that was a while ago. Again thanks for chimming on on this.

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Thanks Fred, I’ve never used Easy BCD so could not recommend proper procedures for it’s use to Ralph. The last time I deleted a partition I used Windows MBR repair and that was a while ago. Again thanks for chimming on on this.

Ted,
Hello, just wanted to “update” for anyone else who is interested in “EasyBCD”. I switched from Vista BootPro because it would not handle my Linux “OS”. EasyBCD Beta2 can handle the “Grub2” ( Grand unifying boot loader) that Linux uses. I don’t know if Vista Bootpro does Windows 7, but for other windows stuff it works. There is some kind of problem with XP and Vista .. dual boot ..with either of these installing one before the other or something like that .Don’t use XP so i don’t know …check the “Neosmart forums” for the answer. Regards Fred

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There is some kind of problem with XP and Vista .. dual boot ..with either of these installing one before the other or something like that .

The “rule of thumb” for Windows & other Microsoft products is install from the oldest to the newest.

Joe

--Joe

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I did some stuff last night and almost messed up my system I first tried to delete vista partition in disk management but it would not let me do it. So I tried partion wizard and it seemed to do it. Then I couldn’t boot into any system. I inserted win 7 disk and booted from there and win7 seemed to recover vista for me and I’m back in business. As I see it the boot records are on Vista. I tried moving these files to Win7 root but could not move all of then because they are being used. I changed the boot drive in bios to boot from win7 disk but got an error that the system32hal.dll file is either missing or corrupt. So now I’m back to my original seup.The only differece I see now is that win7 partition has the additional status of boot and this status is no longer on the vista drive. I also tried to remove vista as a system with boot manager but couldn’t get that to work. I hope this all makes some sense and you can put me on right track. Just a thought. Now that win7 has boot status why can’t I boot from win7 disk. Would it work if I delete vista partition, set win 7 to active and try to fix mbr on win7. Can I do this al with Easy bcd. I’m sending alng the latest copy of disk manmagement report in attachment.

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You should be able to make the Win 7 partition as active. This may help with the problem of the MBR seeing Win 7. I also wonder if you can take away the active status of Vista?

You mentioned that Vista is on it’s own HD. What happens if you disconnect that HD all together. With Win 7 set as active, EasyBCD should be able to fix the MBR to show XP and Win 7 and allow you to boot into whichever OS you want. Once the MBR is fixed appropriately, you should be able to delete the Vista partition. I’ve only worked with multi boot systems with 2 OS’s installed. Perhaps someone out there with experience on systems with 3 or more OSs can chime in and help.

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Ralph,
Hello,as Ted and i have stated, You can do all that you wish using EasyBCD please look at my post #10 in this thread .Sorry if my post was not clear to you .I will try to simplify my comments:
1.Boot your PC (into whatever system you want to be your default)
2.Run EasyBCD when your system is “UP”
3.Make a backup (MBR) with EasyBCD
4.Configure EasyBCD to set which OS that you want as “default”
5.Set whatever default boot”timeout” you want
6.Set whatever other OS that you want as a choice at boot time , 2nd OS, 3rd OS etc.
7. When you “booted up” into your Default you can then arrange the partitions as you want
Hope this is of some help, Regards Fred

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Fred, I think I understand most of what you and Ted are telling me except for how I fix the mbr on win7 partition. I’ve mad win7 partition active. Do I have to use repair to fix mbr from original win7 disk or can I fix the mbr using easybcd and is so which tab(s) do I click on.

Is it possible to move the boot records from either XP or Vista to win7 si it has the right boot manager? I think I may have done this once when I was dual booting XP and Vista.

Thanks for all your help.

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Fred,

I downloaded and installed EasyBCD V1.7.2. Because I only have one OS I am not exactly sure the sequence of events to set OS #2, OS #3, etc. I do see where to back up you MBR under the Manage Bootloader tab.

So let me see if I get the sequence right. If I do then Ralph should be able to.

Boot into Win 7. Run Easy BCD V1.7.2. Backup using Manage Bootloader, Backup Settings.
In Change Settings Tab select which OS will be labeled as default.
In Add/Remove Entries tab, Manage Existing Entries, Highlight each entry and use up/down arrows to order the OS entries. (If you choose the Delete button would this just delete the entry in the MBR?)

Once the entries are set the way you want, how do you set this? Would you use Manage Bootloader tab Write MBR button???

Do you then just reboot to allow Easy BCD to fix your MBR the way you have chosen???

Once you have the MBR set up, would you then recommend using Partition Wizard or Disk Manager to delete the Vista Partition, and reformat it??? If you had deleted the Vista entry in the MBR using EasyBCD would it still show up in Disk Manager until deleted.

Since I have not used EasyBCD and have only one OS, I’m trying to work through this to make it easier for Ralph. Thanks.

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Fred,

I downloaded and installed EasyBCD V1.7.2. Because I only have one OS I am not exactly sure the sequence of events to set OS #2, OS #3, etc. I do see where to back up you MBR under the Manage Bootloader tab.

So let me see if I get the sequence right. If I do then Ralph should be able to.

Boot into Win 7. Run Easy BCD V1.7.2. Backup using Manage Bootloader, Backup Settings.
In Change Settings Tab select which OS will be labeled as default.
In Add/Remove Entries tab, Manage Existing Entries, Highlight each entry and use up/down arrows to order the OS entries. (If you choose the Delete button would this just delete the entry in the MBR?)

Once the entries are set the way you want, how do you set this? Would you use Manage Bootloader tab Write MBR button???

Do you then just reboot to allow Easy BCD to fix your MBR the way you have chosen???

Once you have the MBR set up, would you then recommend using Partition Wizard or Disk Manager to delete the Vista Partition, and reformat it??? If you had deleted the Vista entry in the MBR using EasyBCD would it still show up in Disk Manager until deleted.

Since I have not used EasyBCD and have only one OS, I’m trying to work through this to make it easier for Ralph. Thanks.

Ted, Ralph,
OK, lets do this.
1. First you do not “Change Settings” to begin with as there are no settings until you add them .
2. So…. click on Add / Remove Entries
3. Go to Add an entry ,and use the drop down to select the “Type” Vista , 7, etc.In the name Box , add your “Tag” (Mine is Vista-0) see my screen shot in post#10
4. Select Drive (your first entry should be the OS that you want as “Default” …C:
5. Click Add Entry
6. now go to “Change Settings ” and select the “Bootloader Time out” Enter your desired time from drop down
7. Click “save settings”
8. Start over and click “add / remove entries” In the add an entry, Select the next drive or partition you want as a choice at boot time,D: , E:, (whatever one you want to appear at boot time) Add a Tag, Windows 7 etc.
9. Repeat steps until you have all the systems that you want in the Que.
10. Once you have it the way you want, Click Save, and “X” out… now when you reboot you will have a choice as to which system you want to boot to.
I do not know what would happen if the MBR on the OS that you select as the default is damaged. If Ralph can boot into 7 now it does not matter if the Vista MBR is damaged, as it would not be part of the Que anyway. I use EASUS partition manager and it seems that as long as your not “mounted” on the Vista drive at the time, you could then either delete / format / then extend the the partition as you choose with any of the managers. (don’t have any experience with partition wizard) Hope this Helps Regards Fred
Additional Info… EasyBCD manages the “entries”that you select,to be placed in the Que. It does not “repair” the MBR. Sorry but my one working brain cell just “kicked in”

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Ted, Ralph,
OK, lets do this.
1. First you do not “Change Settings” to begin with as there are no settings until you add them .
2. So…. click on Add / Remove Entries
3. Go to Add an entry ,and use the drop down to select the “Type” Vista , 7, etc.In the name Box , add your “Tag” (Mine is Vista-0) see my screen shot in post#10
4. Select Drive (your first entry should be the OS that you want as “Default” …C:
5. Click Add Entry
6. now go to “Change Settings ” and select the “Bootloader Time out” Enter your desired time from drop down
7. Click “save settings”
8. Start over and click “add / remove entries” In the add an entry, Select the next drive or partition you want as a choice at boot time,D: , E:, (whatever one you want to appear at boot time) Add a Tag, Windows 7 etc.
9. Repeat steps until you have all the systems that you want in the Que.
10. Once you have it the way you want, Click Save, and “X” out… now when you reboot you will have a choice as to which system you want to boot to.
I do not know what would happen if the MBR on the OS that you select as the default is damaged. If Ralph can boot into 7 now it does not matter if the Vista MBR is damaged, as it would not be part of the Que anyway. I use EASUS partition manager and it seems that as long as your not “mounted” on the Vista drive at the time, you could then either delete / format / then extend the the partition as you choose with any of the managers. (don’t have any experience with partition wizard) Hope this Helps Regards Fred
Additional Info… EasyBCD manages the “entries”that you select,to be placed in the Que. It does not “repair” the MBR. Sorry but my one working brain cell just “kicked in”

Does it matter which disk I boot from? Will I have to set the correct disk in bios. Remember, disk 0 has vista but is not active and has no boot feature while the win 7 which id on disk2 has all the features?

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Fred, Thanks, that cleared things up in my mind. Hopefully Ralph’s as well. I am going to keep EasyBCD in case I decide to partition and play a little more with my system. As stated earlier I do use Partition Wizard and find it very easy to use. The only extra partitions presently on my systems are the page file I located on a seperate partition (aprrox 6 to 7 GB in size) from the Windows partition. I read somewhere (for the life of me I can not find it now) that this tends to allow quicker response and less fragmentation of the page file????

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I made some changes using easybcd and diskpart. The current siuation is stranged. I’ll do my best to explain.I made the win 7 parttion active(driveC:). I made my data drive inactive(E:). I did nothing with Vista drive(D) for fear of not being able to boot at all. I was going to make it inactive but didn’t. I removed Vista from system list in easybcd. I tried playing with the repair and set mbr tabs in easybcd not really knowing what I’m doing but here’s the result. When I set my bios to boot from the vista disk(D) i get a boot menu for Win7 and XP and can enter either OS OK. When I set bios to boot from disk on which XP and Win7 reside(C:) I get a menu for win7 and XP but cannot get into XP. When I click on XP the system just restarts. It looks like at this point I need to keep Vista so that I can a goot boot. What do I need to do so I can boot from the XP/Win7(C:) disk and get same results I get when I boot from Vista disk. Something is available on the vista disk that is not nb the win7 disk. What is it and how and where do I put it.I hope you understand what I’m saying. Anu thoughts?

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I made some changes using easybcd and diskpart. The current siuation is stranged. I’ll do my best to explain.I made the win 7 parttion active(driveC:). I made my data drive inactive(E:). I did nothing with Vista drive(D) for fear of not being able to boot at all. I was going to make it inactive but didn’t. I removed Vista from system list in easybcd. I tried playing with the repair and set mbr tabs in easybcd not really knowing what I’m doing but here’s the result. When I set my bios to boot from the vista disk(D) i get a boot menu for Win7 and XP and can enter either OS OK. When I set bios to boot from disk on which XP and Win7 reside(C:) I get a menu for win7 and XP but cannot get into XP. When I click on XP the system just restarts. It looks like at this point I need to keep Vista so that I can a goot boot. What do I need to do so I can boot from the XP/Win7(C:) disk and get same results I get when I boot from Vista disk. Something is available on the vista disk that is not nb the win7 disk. What is it and how and where do I put it.I hope you understand what I’m saying. Anu thoughts?

Ralph ,
Hello. Question :On what drive( Hard Disk) did you install EastBCD?… Also, when you are booting up do you see the EasyBCD Windows boot Manager Screen? If you do, what do you see as your choices? Regards Fred

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Here is a EasyBCD video tutorialI just found. Perhaps this will help.

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Ralph,
Hello… I’m pretty sure that you have to place EasyBCD on the Disk / or Partition that you want as your “default OS”(didn’t try it any other way) Once you then have EasyBCD set up you do not “mess” with the “bios” at all, you simply choose which system that you want at boot time. EasyBCD will give you a “Windows Boot Manager” screen before the system boots to choose the OS that you want .Also you do not include any “data ” drives in the EasyBCD Que.( only drives or partitions that can be booted from) When you have EasyBCD configured you can boot into any of the drives (that have an OS on them) that you placed in the Que. Regards Fred

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Fred and Ted, I thought you’d like to know that I resolved my problem with removing Vista from my tri boot setup. I’m not exactly sure how I got to the point where the light went on but it became very simple after that point. I played around with easybcd until I discovered that both Vista and XP were removed from the bootmgr. I added Vista back with just a click and I added XP back and opted for the auto boot config. When I booted my machine I was able to boot into all 3 systems with no problem. I removed Vista from bootmgr and inactivated the Vista partition using DISKPART program. That allowed me to delete the Vista partition from within Windows 7. I’m finally back to dual boot with Windows 7 and XP Pro and now have a free drive which I can use for data and backups. I want to thank you both for all your help. I couldn’t have done it without your giving me tips and pointing me in the right direction. If I can ever be of any help please feel free to contact me anytime.

Happy Computing, Ralph.

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Ralph,

So glad we were able to fumble though. it’s always difficult in a long distance, especially when all our systems are very unique, plus it’s been a while since I tinkered with partitions. Have a great day.

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High everyone!
I am using a product named OSL2000. Simple to install. It automatically scans all drives for operating systems and automatically creates
a boot menu which can then be edited as you wish. You don’t have to no how XP, VISTA, WINDOWS 7, Linux, Solaris etc.. handles
boot menus. You can try it for free. I think it’s cheap to bye because it solves a lot of problems if you have several operating systems
and want a boot menu.
OSL2000 home site is here: http://www.osloader.com/

Just a little tip!
Regards
S-O

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High everyone!
I am using a product named OSL2000. Simple to install. It automatically scans all drives for operating systems and automatically creates
a boot menu which can then be edited as you wish. You don’t have to no how XP, VISTA, WINDOWS 7, Linux, Solaris etc.. handles
boot menus. You can try it for free. I think it’s cheap to bye because it solves a lot of problems if you have several operating systems
and want a boot menu.
OSL2000 home site is here: http://www.osloader.com/

Just a little tip!
Regards
S-O

Sven,
Hello, thank,you for this link it looks interesting. Have you tried this out ? Regards Fred

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