Dual Boot Migration

BillS22 · Mar 27, 2009

I dual boot.

C: Xp Pro
D: Vista Ultimate 64

And I'm ready to make Vista my only OS.

Is there a way to migrate, r copy, Vista 64 from my D artition to my C partition without re-installing?

I have Norton Ghost 14. Which doesn't run in Vista 64, but it does run in DOS.
And I suppose I can use the disk clone feature??

Thanks,
Bill

rive0108 · Mar 27, 2009

Remove XP from XP/Vista Boot:

Mark the Vista partition as "Active", Vista volume already contains the Boot files for both XP/Vista if it was installed on a system already running XP.
Boot into vista disk, and Format the XP partition, them merge it with Vista's.

OR:

Make your Vista partition the active partition, run Start-up repair from the
Vista DVD (may need to more than once). When you can boot into Vista, you
can do what you want with the XP partition. You will need a third party
product such as Paragon Partitioner to combine the space into one partition if XP is on
the first partition.

note- paragon is a ISO, burn to disk and boot into it.

Remove XP Boot
Start> in search bar type msconfig>click program>click continue> In System Configuration-click "boot">delete XP from Boot.

Disk Management-Mark Vista Partition as active/change drive letter
Start>right click computer-click "manage">Click Continue>Click "Disk Management"

See walkthrough here:http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/163304-dual-boot-using-free-partitioning-software.html

Startup Repair
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/194765-system-recovery-options.html

SIW2 · Mar 27, 2009

Hi,

If Xp is on the first partition C: , and it is the System partition -you won't be able to delete it from Disk Management.

If you delete it with another app. - you won't be able to boot.

Look in Disk Management and see if the XP partition is listed as System.

If so, post back and I'll post steps to do what you want.

Boot into Vista and post a screenshot of Disk Management.

Like this:

Also go to folder options > View and untick "Hide protected operating system files", Apply, OK.

Then post a screenshot of the XP partition .

I don't have XP, but here's an example screenshot of one of my o/s partitions:

Hope it helps

SIW2

BillS22 · Mar 27, 2009

Thank you! Good instructions! I'll give it atry tonight.
Bill

BillS22 · Mar 27, 2009

My Vista drive is not an active partition. My XP partition is active.
Disk management lists my Vista partition as BOOT, not Active.

(I can't figure out how to post my print screens using snipping tool)

Bill

SIW2 · Mar 27, 2009

Hi Bill,

Thought that may be the case.

To post a jpeg screenshot, click the Quick button at the bottom of this post, then click Go Advanced button and follow step 8 on of this tutorial

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/148532-how-use-snipping-tool-vista.html

Hope it helps.

BillS22 · Mar 27, 2009

Here's my BCD file

There is currently 2 OS(s) installed on your system.
The current boot timeout is: 30
Default OS: Microsoft Windows Vista
Entry 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Microsoft Windows Vista
BCD ID: {default}
Boot Drive: F:
Windows Drive: F:
System Bootloader: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Windows Directory: \Windows
Entry 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Windows XP
BCD ID: {ntldr}
Boot Drive: C:
System Bootloader: \ntldr

SIW2 · Mar 27, 2009

Hi,

Here's mine

D:\Windows\system32>bcdedit /enum

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
device partition=C:
description Windows Boot Manager
locale en-US
inherit {globalsettings}
default {current}
resumeobject {00718893-e177-11dd-9375-88a25045c9b1}
displayorder {current}
{0b3ceff8-9934-11dd-afd1-c77b513f5f36}
{00718890-e177-11dd-9375-88a25045c9b1}
toolsdisplayorder {memdiag}
timeout 3

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {current}
device partition=D:
path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description Windows 7
locale en-US
inherit {bootloadersettings}
recoverysequence {00718895-e177-11dd-9375-88a25045c9b1}
recoveryenabled Yes
osdevice partition=D:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {00718893-e177-11dd-9375-88a25045c9b1}
nx OptIn

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {0b3ceff8-9934-11dd-afd1-c77b513f5f36}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description Vista x64
locale en-US
inherit {bootloadersettings}
osdevice partition=C:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {0b3ceff9-9934-11dd-afd1-c77b513f5f36}
nx OptIn
detecthal No
vga No
usefirmwarepcisettings No

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {00718890-e177-11dd-9375-88a25045c9b1}
device partition=E:
path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description 7000 x86
locale en-US
inherit {bootloadersettings}
recoverysequence {0071888d-e177-11dd-9375-88a25045c9b1}
recoveryenabled Yes
osdevice partition=E:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {be170ba2-1af3-11de-959b-806e6f6e6963}
nx OptIn

D:\Windows\system32>

BillS22 · Mar 27, 2009

Capture 1

SIW2 · Mar 27, 2009

That's tricky.

Beta partition is an Extended one ( dark green ) - you can't make that a System partition.

( There is a work around , but the whole process will be a little convoluted ).

You may be able to clone it , but you would have to make a BCD entry for that first partition - and you wouldn't be able to boot without bootmgr and the Boot folder.

It is not impossible - using startup repair and the command prompt from WinRe.

Is reinstalling Vista on the First partition from the dvd something you would consider?

You should be able then to boot into both the first and second partitions and transfer your stuff across as you wish.

Means setting it all up, installing your apps. and getting all the updates.

BillS22 · Mar 27, 2009

Yes. I can do a clean install. Clean installs are always better anyway. I did backup all my Vista Documents and PST files, so I'm ready. Just trying to avoid the re-install.....

SIW2 · Mar 27, 2009

Probably easiest . You might try Windows Easy Transfer.

Tell it you are on your Old Computer and transfer to an external HD ( or make another logical partition inside the Extended one to transfer your Vista settings onto )

Reinstall Vista on First partition , then open Easy transfer from there, tell it you are on your New Computer and transfer from the external HD to your new install.

These may be useful:

Migrating to Vista using Windows Easy Transfer

Windows Easy Transfer - Vista Moving Service

Cyclohexane · Mar 28, 2009

Sorry to hijack thread but i'm in the same situation almost. Single hard-drive, two partitions, XP on first half, Vista on second half. I'd like to remove XP.

Disk manager in Vista shows first (XP) D: as System, Active, Primary Partition, then (Vista) C: as Boot, Page File, Crash Dump, Primary Partition.

Contents of D are:
D:\>attrib
A D:\AUTOEXEC.BAT
H D:\Boot.BAK
SH D:\boot.ini
A SHR D:\bootmgr
A S R D:\BOOTSECT.BAK
A D:\CONFIG.SYS
A SH D:\hiberfil.sys
A SHR D:\IO.SYS
A SHR D:\MSDOS.SYS
A SHR D:\NTDETECT.COM
A D:\ntldr
A SH D:\pagefile.sys

Can i achieve what i want without reinstalling Vista on the first partition?

Thanks

rive0108 · Mar 28, 2009

Cyclohexane said:
Sorry to hijack thread but i'm in the same situation almost. Single hard-drive, two partitions, XP on first half, Vista on second half. I'd like to remove XP.

Disk manager in Vista shows first (XP) D: as System, Active, Primary Partition, then (Vista) C: as Boot, Page File, Crash Dump, Primary Partition.

Contents of D are:
D:\>attrib
A D:\AUTOEXEC.BAT
H D:\Boot.BAK
SH D:\boot.ini
A SHR D:\bootmgr
A S R D:\BOOTSECT.BAK
A D:\CONFIG.SYS
A SH D:\hiberfil.sys
A SHR D:\IO.SYS
A SHR D:\MSDOS.SYS
A SHR D:\NTDETECT.COM
A D:\ntldr
A SH D:\pagefile.sys

Can i achieve what i want without reinstalling Vista on the first partition?

Thanks

Yes see post 2/3- Mark Vista as Primary, delete XP from Boot, then repair Vista boot/startup ( if required) Change Volume drive letter/path, extend volume.

Cyclohexane · Mar 29, 2009

Thanks for the reply. Post #2 seems to apply if Vista is the first partition. Post #3 describes my situation better i think, but requested the OP to say if that was the case for further instructions?

In my msconfig Boot tab it only lists Vista. In disk manager i do have the option to mark the second (Vista) partition as active, but haven't done it yet as i don't want to start anything without knowing all the steps...

rive0108 · Mar 29, 2009

Cyclohexane said:
Thanks for the reply. Post #2 seems to apply if Vista is the first partition. Post #3 describes my situation better i think, but requested the OP to say if that was the case for further instructions?

In my msconfig Boot tab it only lists Vista. In disk manager i do have the option to mark the second (Vista) partition as active, but haven't done it yet as i don't want to start anything without knowing all the steps...

No-
post 2 is how to make the second patition the primary one if it is not, and then removing the xp boot, and the first xp partition (volume), and changing the drive letter to become C:, then merging the partition to use the whole drive again.

This also applies to multiple Vista/7 installs.

I have already used the same steps to remove 7 (default boot- installed after Vista) from the boot and computer- the only difference is that XP overwrites the boot files (if installed after Vista), and after setting the second Vista volume as active you must then restart-format XP, and merge with Vista.

Cyclo}{exane · Mar 29, 2009

Ok, so i will be able to extend the Vista partition backwards, as it is the second partition at present, and have it fill the entire drive?

rive0108 · Mar 29, 2009

Cyclo}{exane said:
Ok, so i will be able to extend the Vista partition backwards, as it is the second partition at present, and have it fill the entire drive?

Format the XP partition and merge it with Vista to extend Vista to entire Drive.
Since XP contains/overwrites the boot of vista it must be removed/repaired-but if Vista Installed after, Then It is the Vista boot file that is default.

Steps:

Boot into Vista, in disk manage, right click Vista Partition (volume) and "mark partition as Active".
Format the XP partition through the Vista Disk, and merge it with Vista partition.
restart, using Vista disk, repair startup boot file (If neccessary) this may require the step being done twice (I dont know why)

Cyclo}{exane · Mar 29, 2009

Ok, sorry for possibly stupid questions but to be sure i'm clear.

-Mark Vista as Active (both partitions are already currently set as Primary, and i can't see an option to undo).
-Boot with Vista DVD (been a while since i've seen what my options are with this, repair startup is an immediate option or i have to go through some items to reach it?).
-Reboot, which will now hopefully work and go into Vista.
-Delete XP partition, extend Vista partition backwards over whole drive. (It already thinks Vista is drive C

Possibly irrelevant but when i boot into XP it thinks it is drive C: and Vista is D:.

Thanks for your help.

rive0108 · Mar 29, 2009

Cyclo}{exane said:
Ok, sorry for possibly stupid questions but to be sure i'm clear.

-Mark Vista as Active (both partitions are already currently set as Primary, and i can't see an option to undo).
-Boot with Vista DVD (been a while since i've seen what my options are with this, repair startup is an immediate option or i have to go through some items to reach it?).
-Reboot, which will now hopefully work and go into Vista.
-Delete XP partition, extend Vista partition backwards over whole drive. (It already thinks Vista is drive C

Possibly irrelevant but when i boot into XP it thinks it is drive C: and Vista is D:.

Thanks for your help.

An easier way-

Make your Vista partition the active partition, run Start-up repair from the
Vista DVD (may need to more than once). When you can boot into Vista, you
can do what you want with the XP partition. You will need a third party
product such as Paragon Partitioner to combine the space into one partition if XP is on
the first partition.

note- paragon is a ISO, burn to disk and boot into it.

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