Reset W7 install

[Roy Smith]

Hmm, I didn't realize that 7's partition resizer didn't do that (I've
never actually used it, since I didn't realize it existed till after
the last time I did such a thing). There is a free program I've used
under 7 to do it, though (it reboots into a special operating mode
when working with the boot drive):

http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html

Any computer operating system cannot alter a mounted partition, it has
to be unmounted first before any changes can be made. It would be like
trying to change your car tires while you are still driving.

--

Roy Smith
Windows 7 Home Premium

Timestamp: Saturday, February 06, 2010 10:11:26 AM

 

[Lloyd Parsons]

There's just one problem, starting with Vista Windows doesn't use the
MBR to boot anymore. Instead it uses BCDedit to boot from. The easy
fix is to download the Windows 7 System Repair disk from
http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/windows-7-system-repair-discs/. Once
burned to a CD, this bootable disk will find your Windows 7 install and
fix any boot problems it finds. This is the same CD that's created when
you go to Control Panel - System and Security - Backup and Restore and
clicking on the line "Create a system repair disc" on the left pane.

I just created that boot DVD. Told it to fix the booting problem. It
went off for a short time and said OK, things are fine.

But when I tried to boot the HD again, it boots into grub for OS
selection. So all is not as it seems...

 

[MICHAEL]

I just created that boot DVD. Told it to fix the booting problem. It
went off for a short time and said OK, things are fine.

But when I tried to boot the HD again, it boots into grub for OS
selection. So all is not as it seems...

This works just fine for Windows 7. In "Manage Bootloader" of EasyBCD,
you'll see "Reinstall the Vista/7 Bootloader", then under it, click "Write MBR".

I haven't had any problems with EasyBCD, and it's been around and trusted
since Vista was in beta.

http://www.intowindows.com/download-easybcd-for-windows-7/
EasyBCD is a free utility using which one can edit and play with Windows 7 boot settings in a
few seconds. This easy-to-use tool lets you view bootloader settings, change boot settings,
add/remove OS entries in bootloader, reinstall or uninstall bootloader, backup/restore boot
settings and more.

Diagnostics section of EasyBCD helps you find your Windows 7 boot problems either by recreating
missing/deleted boot files or by resetting BCD storage. It can also check your boot drive for
corruption, and copy debug info to clipboard.

(latest Beta with full Windows 7 support with added features, requires free registration
to neosmart.net)


-Michael

 

[Sunny Bard]

Any computer operating system cannot alter a mounted partition, it has
to be unmounted first before any changes can be made.

I hate to sound like one of the Windows haters that infest this group,
but Linux *can* do just that.

It would be like trying to change your car tires
while you are still driving.

That would be handy too ...

 

[Roy Smith]

I hate to sound like one of the Windows haters that infest this group,
but Linux *can* do just that.

I doubt that... try booting up any flavor of Linux you like and then try
using gparted to resize the root partition. All the different versions
of Linux I've played with haven't been able to do it.

That would be handy too ...

Yes it would.

--

Roy Smith
Windows 7 Home Premium

Timestamp: Saturday, February 06, 2010 8:45:56 PM

 

[Sunny Bard]

I doubt that... try booting up any flavor of Linux you like and then try
using gparted to resize the root partition. All the different versions
of Linux I've played with haven't been able to do it.

I'm not really asking if you believe or doubt it, I'm stating that I
have done it. With a 2.6 kernel, increase partition size with fdisk then
grow filesystem with extend2fs (or shrink filesystem with extendfs2 then
reduce partition size) all while the partition is mounted and being
actively used.

Windows can do it provided it's not the system disk, using diskpart.exe.

 

[Joel]

Any computer operating system cannot alter a mounted partition, it has
to be unmounted first before any changes can be made. It would be like
trying to change your car tires while you are still driving.

I just meant that it surprised me that it didn't have the ability to
reboot into a utility mode that resized it, before the OS fully
started.