Win 7 Clean Install, But Win XP Still Present???

[MarkTwain]

I just did a clean install upgrade of Win 7 (Home Premium) from Win XP...

Win 7 installed OK right after Win XP, but when I boot up, I get a message:

Choose OS:

Earlier version of Windows
Windows 7

I have a 1 TB WD hard drive I installed both Win versions to (created some partitions after formatting)...could I have installed Win 7 in the wrong place?

Here's a readout from Easeus Partition Mgr:

Disk 1 (MBR)
D: NTFS /1.66 GB capacity/38.32 MB used/16.2 GB u7 unused/Status: None/Type: Primary
C: NTFS/1.82 capacity/13.12 GB used/1.80 TB unused/Status: Boot/Type: Primary

Disk 2 (MBR)
*: NTFS/1.85 capacity/52.01 MB used/1.80 GB unused/Status:System/Type:Primary
*: Unalloc./929.66 GB capacity/0 bytes used/929.66 GB unused/Status:None/Type:Logical

I guess this must look like one hell of a scrambled egg--is there any way I can unscramble it, e.g., any necessary repartitioning and deleting Win XP without having to re-install Win 7?

[rwest]

It looks like Win 7 installed on the second partion and left the XP install alone. I don't know if it's possible to remove XP without a clean install.

It appears that 7 is on the second drive, but because 7's boot manager takes over; when booting into 7 it will read as the C drive because that is how windows works. The OS is always loaded to 'C'.

In your case, where XP was previously installed on the 1st partition (or 'C') the installation of 7 actually went on the 'D' drive. You shouldn't neeed to worry about it, because the boot manager takes this into account. And if your running 7, it shows in the OS as the 'C' drive.

If you choose to run XP (earlier version of windows) the OS will also show XP as the 'C' drive and the other partition would be 'D'. Reversed.

You could use EasyBCD to fix the MBR, but you'll still have XP on the first partition. Of cousre, you could probably just format the first partition from within Windows 7. But 7 will remain on the second partition. It will just be written to the mbr that way. (that the second partition is the 'C' drive)
This is the part I'm not sure about. I know you can make these changes with EasyBCD. Just not sure exactly how. The windows 7 install writes the mbr to compensate for the install not being on the first drive.

http://www.intowindows.com/download-...for-windows-7/

Personally I would just do a reinstall if you don't want or need XP. It's an option to keep the original OS or overwrite it.

[MarkTwain]

I guess the best option now is to start from scratch, given the mess I have now...

What's the best way to proceed here with installing a Win 7 Upgrade on
a clean hard drive, and not have Win XP installed at all? (I assume I'll have to reformat both drives to get rid of both OS...)

As you can see, I have 2 hard drives--a 1 TB WD, and a 2 TB Seagate; my preference is to install Win 7 on the WD hard drive....

Thanks!

[rwest]

There may be better ways to do what you want, but I'd do this:

1. Unplug the hdd you don't want the OS on.
2. Repartition the drive you want to reinstall on and give it only one partititon.

The new partition will force a format. Not absolutely neccesary, but I like to format with a clean install. But in your case it will also help keep the MBR straight.

3. Load XP
4. Load 7

You're going to have to load XP with an upgrade version of 7. There maybe a way around this, but I don't think so.

When loading 7 choose your options carefully, it will default to load 7 on another partition. But if you only have one, then it should just overwrite the XP install. I'm also pretty darn sure 7 will ask you if you want to use the existing windows folder. If so tell it yes. Either way; That oughta' do it.

5. Now plug in your second drive. You won't have to reformat this one, you can just delete any folders in it. You can format it with 7, if you want to.

[glc]

You can load a Win 7 upgrade on a blank drive.

Clean Install Windows 7 With Upgrade Media and Product Key on Formatted or Empty Blank Hard Drive » My Digital Life

[MikeMoss]

Hi

You can use EasyBCD to remove XP from the boot menu, and then uninstall the windows XP installation.

Just be sure that your computer boots directly into Windows 7 before you remove XP or it will stop you computer from booting at all.


EasyBCD - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

Mike

[MarkTwain]

Win 7 Upgrade installed OK, this thread can close....