Solved Installed Win 8 on separate partition - want to uninstall?

golferdude

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My computer was windows 7 (upgraded from xp 64 license). I bought the Windows 8 pro upgrade. I didn't understand the dual boot issue with installing the windows 8 on it thinking as long as I wasn't running the windows 7. I learned I have to have two separate licenses to keep the windows 7 and windows 8 installed on a dual boot setup.
I also have a XP 32 bit license so I will install the windows 8 upgrade from it. I believe this is in compliance with the EULA. If not please let me know.

When I installed the windows 8 originally, I had setup a separate partition, named it Windows 8, assigned a drive letter of W, and formatted the drive. I had read several directions stating to do it this way. I don't believe this is right as when I installed windows 8 on this partition, it didn't setup a dual boot setup. It just boots from the windows 8 partition and assigned drive C to windows 8 partition and reassigned a drive letter to my windows 7 partition. Plus on my windows 7 setup, I have a Raid 5 3 drive setup. Running Windows 8 my raid drive (pictures) don't show up. I know Windows 8 uses storage spaces. Not sure if this prevented the dual boot from not working or not??

But what I was wanting to do is to remove Windows 8 and make my windows 7 my boot partition again. Then format the windows 8 partition and then make it unallocated. Then install my xp 32 bit on the windows 8 partition, update it to sp3, then install windows 8 on that partition, but I am thinking it should be an upgrade this time. But I am stuck at on how to make my windows 7 my boot partition again. The windows 7 partition says it is healthy and active and primary partition. Does anyone know what I need to do to make my windows 7 the boot partition again?

Thanks...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    CPU
    intel qual 2.4
    Motherboard
    gigabyte ds-3r
    Memory
    8 gb
Is this your setup?
Delete Win 7-003.PNG
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
You have two active partitions with boot files on.

Both Windows 7 & Windows 8 boot files need to be on one active partition for a dual boot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
You have two active partitions with boot files on.

Both Windows 7 & Windows 8 boot files need to be on one active partition for a dual boot.

How do I do that? Plus I was going to uninstall the windows 8 first. Then install my xp 32 bit, then the windows 8. I think I ended up like this by allocating the partition prior to installing windows 8. So if I delete the windows 8 volume and change the drive letter of my windows 7 (boot drive) to C, will it boot from windows 7?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    CPU
    intel qual 2.4
    Motherboard
    gigabyte ds-3r
    Memory
    8 gb
If the boot files for Windows 7 are on Disk 0, & you mark E: inactive, maybe.

Partition - Mark as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums

You may need to do a Startup Repair For Windows 7 to boot.

How to Run a Startup Repair in Windows 7
Startup Repair - Windows 7 Forums


Disk 0 is my Raid 5 disks... Do you think Windows 8 put the system files on Disk 0? The Windows 7 boot files were on Disk 2, E, Boot Drive. So it sounds like I need to try the startup repair you mentioned. Should I make the Windows 8 inactive or delete it? Also, I did do a disk image backup of my Boot Drive (where Windows 7 was running) prior to installing Windows 8. Would I be better to use that so my Raid system is still in order?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    CPU
    intel qual 2.4
    Motherboard
    gigabyte ds-3r
    Memory
    8 gb
no thoughts on what to do? Sure could use some help...

Thanks...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    CPU
    intel qual 2.4
    Motherboard
    gigabyte ds-3r
    Memory
    8 gb
For the EULA, if XP64 and XP32 each have their own separate keys and XP32 is not a branded (Acer, Dell, HP,etc.) OEM key, then it's ok.

Don't worry about assigning Drive letters, Win7 and Win8 will both claim C when they are the booted OS, the other drives letters will change as needed. It won't cause any problems with any other drives or where files are stored.

First, re-boot and go to the Boot Menu (F12 during BIOS), select the HDD that Win7 is on.
Confirm if you can still boot into Win7, if you can't we need to take a different approach.

Only if you can still boot into Win7, go to Disk Management in Win7 and change 'Disk0 Data' to 'Inactive'.
Reboot, it should take you to Win7.
If it won't let you mark it as inactive, download Partition Wizard, install it.
Right click on the partition you want to change to 'Inactive', > Modify > Set Inactive.
Click the Apply button in the top left.

Once the system is booting to Win7, then you can proceed with removing Win8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64/ Windows 7 Ult x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    76~2.0
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3570K 4.6GHz
    Motherboard
    GIGABYTE GA-Z77X UD3H f18
    Memory
    8GB (2X4GB) DDR3 1600 CORSAIR Vengeance CL8 1.5v
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire HD 7770 Vapor-X 1GB DDR5
    Sound Card
    Onboard VIA VT2021
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LCD Dell SP2208WFP
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samaung 840Pro 128GB, Seagate 500GB SATA2 7200rpm 32mb, Seagate 1TB SATA2 7200rpm 32mb,
    PSU
    Corsair HX650W
    Case
    Cooler Master Storm Scout
    Cooling
    Corsair H80 w/Noctua NF P12 12cm fan, case fans 2X14cm
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave
    Mouse
    CM Sentinel
    Internet Speed
    Abysmal
    Browser
    Opera Next
    Other Info
    Dell Venue 8Pro: Baytrail Z3740D, 2GB Ram, 64GB HDD, 8" IPS Display 1280 x 800, Active Stylus.
    Haswell laptop: HP Envy 17t-j, i7-4700MQ, GeForce 740M 2GB DDR3, 17.3" Full HD 1920x1080, 16GB RAM, Samsung 840 Pro 128GB, 1TB Hitachi 7200 HDD,
    Desktop: eSATA ports,
    External eSATA Seagate 500GB SATA2 7200rpm,
First, re-boot and go to the Boot Menu (F12 during BIOS), select the HDD that Win7 is on.
Confirm if you can still boot into Win7, if you can't we need to take a different approach.

Only if you can still boot into Win7, go to Disk Management in Win7 and change 'Disk0 Data' to 'Inactive'.
Reboot, it should take you to Win7.
If it won't let you mark it as inactive, download Partition Wizard, install it.
Right click on the partition you want to change to 'Inactive', > Modify > Set Inactive.
Click the Apply button in the top left.

Once the system is booting to Win7, then you can proceed with removing Win8.

Thanks for your help. Ok, I went into boot menu, selected hard disk, then selected disk 2 and it booted into Windows 7. I got the Partition Wizard and set my raid dirve to inactive. Rebooted and it went straight into windows 7.

To remove windows 8 is it best to just delete the volume or format the partition or some other way?

So when I try to reinstall windows 8 will it put the system files on disk 0 again? Or was that because I had formated the partition prior to installing windows 8?

Also, do u have any knowledge on Raid 5 on windows 7 and going to windows 8? I am not sure on how to set that up or if it won't work and I have to decide where I want to access my pictures from?
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    CPU
    intel qual 2.4
    Motherboard
    gigabyte ds-3r
    Memory
    8 gb
So when I try to reinstall windows 8 will it put the system files on disk 0 again? Or was that because I had formated the partition prior to installing windows 8?

mark E: inactive,

If you have marked E: inactive, yes, it should.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
So when I try to reinstall windows 8 will it put the system files on disk 0 again? Or was that because I had formated the partition prior to installing windows 8?

mark E: inactive,

If you have marked E: inactive, yes, it should.

Where does it need to install to make a dual boot system? The first time I installed it on my windows 8 partition, it just booted straight into windows 8 and didn't give me the choice. So trying to figure out what I did wrong last time. Below is my disk management screen with windows 7 running.

Windows 7 Disk Management  10-30-12.JPG
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    CPU
    intel qual 2.4
    Motherboard
    gigabyte ds-3r
    Memory
    8 gb
Normally on Disk 0.

Delete Win 7-003.PNG

Do remember you need a full Windows 8 key for a dual boot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Normally on Disk 0.

Do remember you need a full Windows 8 key for a dual boot.

Yes, I have two separate license, xp 32 and xp 64....and both xp versions are upgradeable to windows 8. windows 7 upgraded one and that leaves me with one more I can upgrade windows 8 from. That is correct isn't it?

Since my raid drives are Disk 0, how do I make Disk 2 --> Disk 0? Is it as simple as changing my connection on the motherboard?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    CPU
    intel qual 2.4
    Motherboard
    gigabyte ds-3r
    Memory
    8 gb
Yes, I have two separate license, xp 32 and xp 64....and both xp versions are upgradeable to windows 8. windows 7 upgraded one and that leaves me with one more I can upgrade windows 8 from. That is correct isn't it?

Yes.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Since my raid drives are Disk 0, how do I make Disk 2 --> Disk 0? Is it as simple as changing my connection on the motherboard? Maybe if I just unplug all of my drives but disk 2, it will setup the dual boot correct then I could plug the drives back in?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    CPU
    intel qual 2.4
    Motherboard
    gigabyte ds-3r
    Memory
    8 gb
if I just unplug all of my drives but disk 2, it will setup the dual boot correct then I could plug the drives back in?
Yes, always best to install with one HD drive pluged in.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
You are welcome, good luck :dinesh:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
The Op should also take note that if you dare to uninstall Win 8 from a dual boot drive it will yank the boot files away from the Windows 7 installation and hose it good until you fix it.

Had to be said as this little quirk with Windows 8 drove me insane.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
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