How to format partition with Vista installed on it?

C

Cypress

New Member
Hi,
I've performed the recovery procedure on my notebook and installed Vista Home Premium 32 bit from the recovery partition. After a while I installed also Vista Ultimate 64 bit on other partition creating dual-boot. Now I want to uninstall the 32 bit OS and I don't know how. I booted on the 64 bit OS ( C: and tried to format the partition on which the 32 bit OS is installed ( D:, but within the disk management the "Format" command can't be accessed. Thanks in advance for every advice.
PS: The C: and D: partitions are on separate hard-disks.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

If they are separate go into computer and right click on the drive and select format.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Compaq Presario/SR5113WM
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ 1.9Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N68-LA
    Memory
    PNY Optima Memory DDR2 2GB 2x1 kit
    Graphics card(s)
    PNY Nvidia 8400 GS 256MB
    Sound Card
    On board RealTek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer X163W LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital 160 GB SATA 3G (3.0Gb/sec) 7200 rpm Western Digital 160 GB IDE
    PSU
    Dynex 400w
    Case
    Nothin Special
    Cooling
    Stock
    Mouse
    Wireless Logitech LX7
    Keyboard
    Standard 102 key with volume and sleep buttons
    Internet Speed
    Comcrap 10mb cable
    Other Info
    Insignia 2.1 speakers, wireless Xbox 360 controller w/plug n play charger, Belkin wireless G + mimo usb network adapter.
When setting up the dual boot the 32bit edition's primary was made the default boot partition in the process! You can't reformat the boot partition while being in the OS that loads from it without seeing that type of message come up.

The fast and easy solution would be booting from the Vista 64bit disk you used and using the reformat option while booted live from the Vista dvd. The need to see the 64bit BCD rebuilt will then be the next step since the present installation will then no longer boot up.

Solution?
1)You can nuke the 32bit primary entirely leaving a vacant space and move the 64bit primary to the front to see that expanded with a need to rebuild.

2)Or you can see a clean install on the first with a reformat of the second in mind to avoid two copies of the 64bit edition. That will leave a second for storage available.

3)The third option is simply deletion of both for a brand new single large primary using up the entire drive.

You can opt the first to leave the present intact but spend time moving it forward to expand after and follow the rebuild BCD information outlined at How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows Vista The other option available for seeing that problem solved in found in the sticky on performing a repair install of Vista. http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom built desktops =2 Toshiba replace HP laptop
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 975 Deneb core 3.6ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4
    Memory
    Kingston Hyper X 1.5v DDR3 PC12800 1600mhz 16gb
    Graphics card(s)
    MSI Radeon HD 5750 1tb
    Sound Card
    Creative X-Fi XtremeAudio PCIe
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus 19" HP 20" second lcd main HP 20" remote pc.
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900, 1600x900 main - 1600x900 2nd desktop
    Hard Drives
    WD Black Edition 1tb Sata II -2 WD SAS "Heavy Duty" RE class 2tb - 2 External usb/eSata WD Black 1tb main -1 External usb only WD Green Power 1tb -1
    PSU
    Corsair 750w 750TX main - Corsair 600w remote
    Case
    Antec 900-2 - SSD compatible eSata ports 2 - NZXT Vulcan 2nd
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900A cpu, twin front 120s, top 200cm, rear 120
    Mouse
    MSI Interceptor D200
    Keyboard
    AZIO Ilumminated keys gaming keyboard/volume control usb
    Internet Speed
    30mbps upgrade
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