I have been running vista and windows 7 as a duel boot on separate partitions of my hard drive. I now wish to remove the vista os, and so free up the memory space on that partition. I have removed the boot entry for vista, so it now boots straight to the windows 7 os, but I cannot format or delete the partition holding the vista os. Also, it will not allow me to just delete the system files. What is the procedure to successfully remove the vista os?

On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:49:13 +0000, nexus6simon wrote: I have been running vista and windows 7 as a duel boot So, which one is winning the "duel"? ;-) on separate partitions of my hard drive. I now wish to remove the vista os, and so free up the memory space on that partition. I have removed the boot entry for vista, so it now boots straight to the windows 7 os, but I cannot format or delete the partition holding the vista os. Are you trying to do this from Windows 7? Please tell us what "cannot format or delete" means. Exactly how are you trying? What happens when you try? If you get an error message, please quote it verbatim. Also, it will not allow me to just delete the system files. What is the procedure to successfully remove the vista os? Ken Blake

hehe:)...oopsie!!...'dual' is the word I was groping for...the duel taking place between me and my pc is certainly not being won by myself!! Yes, I have been trying to reformat the partition from my windows 7 os...format or delete refers to my failing attempts to wither reformat the partition, or delete the volume!! The error message: 'Windows cannot format the system partition on this disk'. With the benefit of retrospect, I'm thinking it may have been easier to reformat the partition from the actual partition i.e within vista...but I have lost the ability to boot to it now...lol...help!!! lol

On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:53 +0000, nexus6simon wrote: hehe:)...oopsie!!...'dual' is the word I was groping for...the duel taking place between me and my pc is certainly not being won by myself!! Of course, and I thought you knew that. Just my little joke. Yes, I have been trying to reformat the partition from my windows 7 os...format or delete refers to my failing attempts to wither reformat the partition, or delete the volume!! The error message: 'Windows cannot format the system partition on this disk'. With the benefit of retrospect, I'm thinking it may have been easier to reformat the partition from the actual partition i.e within vista...but I have lost the ability to boot to it now...lol...help!!! lol No, that's never possible. You can never format the partition you have booted from. That's like climbing a tree and sawing off the branch you're sitting on. Sorry, but I don't know what your problem is and can't help with it Ken Blake

Problem #1: The existing Vista partition is most likely the actual physical 'primary boot device' in the system, and will most likely contain the boot loader files. Problem #2: If you delete that partition, there can be issues arising from trying to 'extend' the Windows 7 partition into that space on the drive, because it's a partition which is physically located/created 'before' the system partition you are retaining. (It's probably best to use third-party partition management tools to do this, from within a bootable environment rather than from within Windows.) Best course of action to pursue: Back up data etc. Delete all partitions on the drive, using the drive manufacturer's disk management tools. Start over afresh, with a new partition creation and a fresh, clean install. Your choice. It is possible to delete the partition, using a suitable tool. Then extend the Windows 7 partition into that space. Then run a Startup Repair of Windows 7, to write a new boot loader if that becomes necessary. But the end result will most certainly be a 'messier' one than a frsh start will provide.

If you installed Windows 7 after Vista, the bootfiles for Windows 7 were placed in the root directory of your Vista partition. This partition got marked as "System, Active, Primary", whereas your current Windows 7 partition is "Boot, Pagefile, Crash Dump, Primary". Now, you can't format or delete an active partition from within Windows. The most foolproof way to do that would be booting from your Windows 7 DVD, reformat and repartition the harddisk and reinstall Windows 7 without Vista. If you want to avoid the annoyances of this solution (reactivation, reinstall of programs and settings), there is a more advanced method involving partitioning from a bootable CD/DVD. You can follow these instructions for using GParted as a partitioning program, followed by a system repair to put the bootfiles into the right place: http://computershopper.com/software/howto/windows-7/how-to-set-up-a-windows-7-and-vista-dual-boot-system/(page)/7. This way has advantages - you can move your current OS to the beginning of the harddrive, which you can't in Windows Disk Management, you don't have to reactivate/reinstall anything - for one disadvantage: If you don't know exactly what you do, misunderstand any of the instructions etc., the chances for a big failure are much greater than in the first case. Whatever youre choice is, DON'T forget a complete backup before you make any changes!"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers. (Thomas J. Watson, Sr.)

Thanks Sanmartin and solution_provider, you seem to have a handle of where I'm at...I'll consider your advice and decide which option is best for me.

Also you can refer to this thread: Dual Boot Vista/Windows 7 want to uninstall VistaPlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.