How to delete a partition ?

David · Nov 29, 2009, 15:33:57

I am spoiling you I upgraded this machine to Vista ages ago but the old XP I did not delete however this is fine but I don't know how to access the old XP to delete it any ideas and is it just a case of taking it off ?

Rik · Nov 29, 2009, 15:37:45

Deleting a partition, if it's a boot partition, David, is not a trivial task and may end up with you re-installing Vista from scratch. Are you sure you want to go there?

David · Nov 29, 2009, 15:42:24

I was just thinking that all the old xp is still here and thinking it would be taking up space ?

There is another task will post in the router section (there its an early Christmas gift for you

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Rik · Nov 29, 2009, 15:46:18

It is, but do you want to risk a re-install. Vista may provide a tool to delete a second partition, I don't know.

Glenn · Nov 29, 2009, 15:48:07

You can do it from within Disk Management, but it is not reversible.

Rik · Nov 29, 2009, 15:48:32

Thanks, Glenn.

David · Nov 29, 2009, 15:51:30

It wont harm the system though I don't think as on completion of the install I recall I was given the option whether or not to delete the old system,I played it safe and kept it but I am OK getting shot of it now.so deleting xp wont affect vista will it ?

Glenn · Nov 29, 2009, 15:52:42

Deleting the XP partition should have no effect on the Vista install

Steve · Nov 29, 2009, 15:54:52

Is it on a different partition or has the the old XP windows directory just been renamed as ~old windows

David · Nov 29, 2009, 16:01:34

iirr Steve its on a separate partition I have not delved but I do recall it being called old xp !

David · Nov 29, 2009, 16:09:44

Looking I see the C disc is nearly empty HDD yet the other one is nearly full Data D

Steve · Nov 29, 2009, 16:18:08

Have you a windows directory on both partitions then?

David · Nov 29, 2009, 16:37:28

I will do a screen shot Steve to show what I can see

David · Nov 29, 2009, 16:39:45

Will this help ?

[attachment deleted by admin]

Rik · Nov 29, 2009, 16:42:12

Can you display any more detail on that D drive, David?

David · Nov 29, 2009, 16:53:13

There is this

[attachment deleted by admin]

Steve · Nov 29, 2009, 16:56:12

same again on C: need to tick the option to show hidden files and folders

David · Nov 29, 2009, 17:10:00

will do Steve

David · Nov 29, 2009, 19:15:39

This is it

[attachment deleted by admin]

Steve · Nov 29, 2009, 20:06:37

I can't see an old XP Windows folder in either of those partitions unless of course its still a hidden folder.

David · Nov 29, 2009, 20:30:12

I will have a delve later Steve its still there somewhere..but I want to now get windows is it 8...I just realised this machine is so good after all the work that went into it it has been stuck in the bedroom doing nothing since March......not any longer though...I feel a monitor coming aong for it soon though

bobleslie · Nov 29, 2009, 21:53:41

Quote from: badpianoplayer on Nov 29, 2009, 15:42:24
I was just thinking that all the old xp is still here and thinking it would be taking up space ?

There is another task will post in the router section (there its an early Christmas gift for you )

IIRC the Disk Cleanup Tool has a clickable box to remove Windows.old. It also can remove other stuff which will free up space if you tick the required boxes.

David · Nov 29, 2009, 21:54:32

Thanks Bob will have a look in that...(runs upstairs)

David · Nov 29, 2009, 22:14:59

No luck there but after allowing the 31 updates to do what they do best I rebooted and was given the option of starting with Vista or xp...so the buggers there somewhere ....

Had a google and the same as you said Bob select folder.... that's the big question..which one

I am wondering when I buy Windows if it will prompt a message like delete old version ?

D-Dan · Nov 29, 2009, 22:53:04

If you installed Vista after XP, then Vista will have overwritten the MBR with BDC anyway, so if you can find the XP folder - just delete it, then use the Vista install disk to repair the boot options to get rid of the orphaned entry. If that doesn't work, use something like BDCEdit to repair it manually.

Make a complete image backup of Vista first, then if you mess your boot up beyond repair, do a clean install of Vista then restore the backup over it. PING would be ideal for achieving this.

Steve