Can I delete the C drive from a dual boot system?

Stevewhy

New Member
I have a dual-boot setup. Volume C runs Vista Home Premium. Volume F runs Vista Ultimate. (Vol. D is a recovery volume.) I would like to blow away C: and boot only from F. Would the following be a possible/advisable solution?

1. Boot from F.
2. Delete C.
3. Rename F "C".
4. Expand F (the new "C") to include the old C.

Thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Hewlett- Packard HDX Premium Series laptop
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo CPU P8700 @2.53 GHz
    Motherboard
    ACPI x64-based PC
    Memory
    4093 MB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 130M
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio Device, NVIDIA High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HTS723232L9A360 ATA Drive
    Case
    laptop
    Keyboard
    laptop, HP wireless
    Mouse
    HID-compliant mouse, Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    150 MBps
i dont think its possible without screwing up all your installed programs.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Aleinware Area-51
    CPU
    core 2 extreme x9000 2.8 Ghz
    Memory
    4 Gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    (2) Nvidia 8800m GTX in Sli
    Sound Card
    Onboard RealTek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    42" JVC LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080p 32 bit
    Hard Drives
    (2) seagate 7200rpm in RAID 0
    (1) maxtor external 1 terabyte firewire
    Case
    laptop
    Keyboard
    a really spiffy backlit one that i can change color ;>)
    Mouse
    logitech Anywhere Mouse and built-in touchpad
    Internet Speed
    Cable
The requested screen shot of Computer Management is attached.
 

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  • CompMgt.jpg
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My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Hewlett- Packard HDX Premium Series laptop
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo CPU P8700 @2.53 GHz
    Motherboard
    ACPI x64-based PC
    Memory
    4093 MB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 130M
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio Device, NVIDIA High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HTS723232L9A360 ATA Drive
    Case
    laptop
    Keyboard
    laptop, HP wireless
    Mouse
    HID-compliant mouse, Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    150 MBps
C is the System partition - it contains files needed to boot into either C or F.

You can make F the system partition - then you don't need C anymore.

1. Boot into F - go to folder options and make sure Hidden files and proteceted operating system files are showing.

2. Copy and paste bootmgr and the pale yellow Boot folder from C to F. ( You will get a message bcd is in use and can't be copied - skip it and copy the rest).

BOOTMGR2009-05-11_182540.jpg


3. Open an elevated command prompt and type: (press enter after the command )

bcdedit /export F:\Boot\bcd

4. In Disk Management, rt click F and mark as Active.

5. Reboot. F is now the system partition - you can delete C.

6. Use a partition manager to copy the F partition to the unallocated space that was C.

7. You should now be able to boot into either F or C - if not, run startup repair from the Vista dvd.

8. You can mark C active , reboot to hand the system status to the new copied C. You can now delete F and extend C to incorporate however much of the unallocated space you like.

Hope it helps
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
Excellent! Thanks a lot for your assistance!!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Hewlett- Packard HDX Premium Series laptop
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo CPU P8700 @2.53 GHz
    Motherboard
    ACPI x64-based PC
    Memory
    4093 MB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 130M
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio Device, NVIDIA High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HTS723232L9A360 ATA Drive
    Case
    laptop
    Keyboard
    laptop, HP wireless
    Mouse
    HID-compliant mouse, Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    150 MBps
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