Downsizing Dual/Tri-Boot to One Operating System

Hello. I have 3 Different Windows operating systems on one computer that are across 2 separate hard drives.
My setup is as follows:
1) Not sure if RAID settings will effect anything, but to give as much info as possible...My motherboard is ASUS M3N72-D. This particular Mobo has 6 SATA ports that are all configured as RAID drives. Because of the nature of the motherboard you cannot just assign 2 of 6 SATA connections as a RAID - it's all connections are RAID active or you have no raids at all.
2) One 320Gig SATA Seagate HD is configured solo in a striped array. It is partitioned into TWO DRIVES. One partition has WINDOWS XP 64 and the other partition has VISTA ULT 32.
3) One 640Gig SATA Seagate HD is also configured solo in a striped array. It is NOT partitioned at all. It has VISTA ULT 64 on it.
4) I do not know which OS instance has the boot information on it nor have I ever messed with a MBR before.

I want to:
1) take both VISTA 32bit and XP 64 bit off the 320Gig HD and off the computer, but first make a clone/backup of each OS individually so I can use them on separate computers later - assuming I'll have to manually build the Boot Manager for each which I have no idea how to (a stray puppy I saved and kept decided to chew my computer software CD wallet up so if I delete this HD prematurely I will have to buy 2 more Operating Systems to replace these).
2) then I want to keep the VISTA 64bit installation as my only OS BUT move it to the 320GiG HD that the other two OS's were on.

My PROBLEM:
I need guidance as to how to find which drive contains the boot info as well as how to change AND move the Master Boot Record.

Tools currently at my disposal:
1) 2 blank 640gig HD's that I can install if anything needs to be shuffled around.
2) Acronis True Image 2009 that can add or clone disk as well as pretty flexible backup options.
3) System Mechanic 8 which I believe can boot from CD and be used to configure HD's
4) Nero 8 if I need to burn any .ISO boot disks.
5) I only have the Vista 64 bit disk available - the other disks were puppy food.

Thanks for sticking all that out with me, and if you have any good, laymen links or advice I would greatly appreciate it.

byrdawg

Post a screenshot of Disk Management. like this:



How to Post a Screenshot in Seven Forums - Windows 7 Forums

make a clone/backup of each OS individually so I can use them on separate computers later

Click to expand...

You will have trouble with that - need a special program to restore to different hardware. Unless your Acronis has something to do that. The Paragon program that does it is called Adaptive Restore.

You will have trouble with that - need a special program to restore to different hardware. Unless your Acronis has something to do that. The Paragon program that does it is called Adaptive Restore.

Click to expand...

I have never tried doing something like this before, but I have upgraded hardware before and got a message from Microsoft... Something to the effect, "Windows has noticed a hardware change and requires that you re-activate this copy of Windows". I was hoping that it would go down like this because I could just clone the OS, plop that drive in the computer and then do whatever I need to make boot instructions while crossing my fingers that all I'll have to do is retype my activation code.


Thanks for replying

IN THE SCREENSHOT, ignore "Disk 0" (232.88 GB). It is a failed attempt to clone "DISK 1". By the way, I have never used this screen before. By the looks of it, I assume my boot info is on "DISK 2" which surprises me because I was running that drive in a logical RAID 5 configuration before I tore down the raid to use the drive for the most recent OS installation, VISTA 64. I guess this means when adding an operating system for multi boot, the newest OS installation assumes the boot instructions from older installations? However, when I pull the SATA connection from the drive containing the other TWO OS's and try to boot, I get an error.

The boot critical files are on Disk 1, partition F:

Here's how to do it:

1. Go to folder options and make sure Hidden files are showing.

2. Copy and paste bootmgr and the pale yellow Boot folder from F to C.

( You will get a message bcd is in use and can't be copied - skip it and copy the rest ).

3. Install the free Easybcd. ( From the BOTTOM of this page: http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1 )

Open the Easybcd Power Console and type:

bootsect.exe /nt60 C: /force

mbrfix.exe /drive 2 fixmbr /vista /yes

bcdedit /set {bootmgr} device boot

bcdedit /export C:\Boot\BCD


You should now be able to image C - include the mbr in the image- and restore the image to the 320gb drive. Or clone it to the 320gb drive ( need to shrink the C partition so it is smaller than the drive you are transferring it to . Just rt click C in Disk Management and select shrink).

Thank you for helping me SIW2, and sorry it has taking has taking a while to update the situation. I am working on it now, and was wondering if you could be a little more precise when you say...

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

Click to expand...

As I am understanding it I just need to go to F:\Windows and right-click copy F:\Windows\Boot. Then go to C:\Windows and right-click paste/overwrite while accepting/skipping any copying halts or errors.
Below is showing more of where I am looking for confirmation, knowing Windows there is probably another boot folder in the "System32" directory that is the one I actually need.
In directory : F:\Windows - I see a folder named "Boot", and within that folder I see four more folders, "DVD", "Fonts", "PCAT", & "PXE".
Within the folder "PCAT" (F:\Windows\Boot\PCAT) I found a file named "bootmgr" as well as a lot of folders all labeled as such: "cs-CZ" or "en-US".

I poked around with what you gave me and after solid backups I tried it. I did something wrong but managed to get it close enough that the Vista DVD self repaired the rest.

I appreciate your attention.