Need a partition expert


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I put 7100 on a second partition on my p.c. so I could test it out since I have had to revert to 7000 paritition on this machine on all builds after 7022 due to internet loss bug. However I have solved the problem and am now ready to move the second partition over onto the first one, which I have done before with Win7 since it has a hidden partition with its boot manager and so it doesn't rely on C: drive to boot.

Normally I would use Disk Management to delete the first partiition, then use Partition Magic Pro 9 to move the second partition over onto the first one's free space. It has worked several times so far, but the problem is that I am not sure I want to have as a long-term main partition one which is labeled "F." Is this going to be a problem somewhere down the line? I cannot find a way to change the drive letter on a primary system partition like this to letter "C" which is now available. Any suggestions or do I just need to clean install?

Edited by gregrocker
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IMHO there is a reason why the utilities to move Windows from one drive to another are not around in any mainstream package. My experience is they do not work. Also, folks are posting incompatibillity with third party partition managers so the quick response is backup your data and do a clean install using Windows setup to partitions. You'll also get the benefit of Windows extra system partition. The Migration Wizard will move your account, settings, and data to the new build.

Good luck!

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Two things :

1) If you want to manage your partitions don't bother with Parition Magic or the built-in disk manager. Use Partition Master, it's easy to use and it just works.

2) Generally when you boot Windows, the system automatically names the main partition as "C". For example in this computer I have Vista and Seven installed. When I boot with Vista, the main partition is "C", when I boot with Seven Vista's partition becomes "D" and Seven's main partition becomes "C". So I think your "F" partition will be automatically labeled "C" by Windows.

PS : It's 4 AM here so if my answer has nothing to do with your problem just forget it :p

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First read this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223188.

And then if necessary change the environment variables if they haven't been updated, and the rest on an as needed basis. At the very least uninstall all your applications, changing the environment variables, then changing the drive to C should work.

Yeah I once tried the procedure outlined in that MS bulletin and ignored the warning not to try it if your drive letter hasn't been changed from original assignment, and it made my system unbootable. So when I googled this issue to research it, and the KB came up first, I dropped it like a hot potato.

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ended up long formatting C: and clean installing from F: desktop, then deleted F:. I really like gettin a full format from the Disk Management utility built into Windows - guess it's writin zeros since it takes as long as old XP full format which did that. kept F: free space since formatting it to then delete and merge with C: seemed weird.

what I learned from this is that trying to change system drive letter requires changing so many reg keys that it isn't even worth contemplating becuz u can reinstall in the same time, or just keep the odd letter drive.

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