Accidentally installed extra Winodws on Recovery Drive

Hi, I accidentally installed two systems on my recovery drive (Windows 7, and WIndows 8) and I want to remove Windows 7 from it. How do I do it?



Initially, my computer came with Windows 7.


Then, I upgraded it to Windows 8, using the download from Microsoft website.


I was having some issues, so I thought I wanted to switch back to the factory default setting of Windows 7. At that time, I didn't know I could use Recoery Drive to get back to the clean-slate of Windows 8. It's a new computer and my old computer didn't have recovery drive.


But instead of going back to default factory setting of the computer, using the CD-ROM that came with the computer originally, I accidentally installed Windows 7 on Recovery Drive together with Windows 8 that had been already there.


Now I constantly get a reminder in the lower right bottom corner telling me the Recovery Drive is full.
I also need to pick which OS I want to use every time at the bootup. In addition, I get an error sign when I boot up the computer saying "Invalid system disk; replace the disk and then press any key." I don't know what this means so I just press a key and it takes me to the screen to choose between two systems. It is annoying.


My question is: how do I remove Windows 7 from my recovery drive?


I now want to go clean-slate with Windows 8 and 8 only. I have all the data backed up in external hard drive and ready to do this.

Please help.

Please post a screenie of the contents of your recovery drive.

Thanks so much for your response, SIW2. I'm attaching the screenshot of the recovery drive.

Can you boot into win 7, then get another screenie of the recovery drive from win7.

This time make sure hidden files and protected os files are showing. (You can do that in folder options )

You will need a few screenies to show what is inside each of those yellow folders.

You might tell us what make and model the machine is also.

manatee said:

Hi, I accidentally installed two systems on my recovery drive (Windows 7, and WIndows 8) and I want to remove Windows 7 from it. How do I do it?



Initially, my computer came with Windows 7. (PC one)


Then, I upgraded it to Windows 8, using the download from Microsoft website.


I was having some issues, so I thought I wanted to switch back to the factory default setting of Windows 7. At that time, I didn't know I could use Recoery Drive to get back to the clean-slate of Windows 8. It's a new computer and my old computer didn't have recovery drive.
(PC two)

But instead of going back to default factory setting of the computer, using the CD-ROM that came with the computer originally, I accidentally installed Windows 7 on Recovery Drive together with Windows 8 that had been already there.


Now I constantly get a reminder in the lower right bottom corner telling me the Recovery Drive is full.
I also need to pick which OS I want to use every time at the bootup. In addition, I get an error sign when I boot up the computer saying "Invalid system disk; replace the disk and then press any key." I don't know what this means so I just press a key and it takes me to the screen to choose between two systems. It is annoying.


My question is: how do I remove Windows 7 from my recovery drive?


I now want to go clean-slate with Windows 8 and 8 only. I have all the data backed up in external hard drive and ready to do this.

Please help.

Click to expand...

Welcome to EightForums.

Your post talks about two PC's.

I will talk one PC, new PC Pre-installed with Windows 8.

You can use the OEM version of
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?



You can order OEM Recovery disks from your OEM manufacturer's website.
Most OEM's will ship Recovery DVD's for FREE, (may be a postage fee)

For better help with problems, Can you post your specs for the PC with Pre-installed Windows 8.

Filling out System Specs - Windows 7 Help Forums

System Info - See Your System Specs - Windows 7 Help Forums

Hi, SIW2, thanks again for your responses.

I took the screenshot of Recovery Drive from Windows 7 portion of the computer, with hidden files showing. If you can let me know which folder you want to look into, I can get screenshots for those too.

My machine is Dell Vostro 270s, Windows 7 Professional SP1, 64 bit. Windows 7 is what this originally came with, and I upgraded it to Windows 8 and now ... things are as I described in the initial post.

theog, thanks for your response, too. I'm actually dealing with just one computer. Sorry if my initial post was confusing.

As you have upgrade Windows 8, the Dell Recovery Partition is of NO use.

Did you make your Dell Recovery DVD's for Windows 7?

Did you make the Windows 8 upgrade DVD?

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-upgrade-iso-download-create.html


http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/9759-dual-boot-windows-7-windows-8-delete-windows-7-a.html

I would have expected a sources directory on the recov part.

They must have the recovery wim (s) somewhere else.

Let's find it.

While booted into 7, run this .cmd file and post up the text file it creates.

View attachment KD.zip

Hi theog, thanks for your response.

I have Windows 7 CD that came with the computer when I bought it.

I also made Windows 8 copy on a USB flash drive - I made it by following the instructions that came when I upgraded.

The link you provided "Dual Boot Windows 7 and 8 - Delete Windows 7" seems promising. I have a question, though. After I remove Windows 7 using Disk Management, will my computer still have recovery partition with Windows 8? This may be a stupid question, but I appreciate your input.

SIW2, it says "this window closes when it's done. Please post up kdir.txt - you will find it in the current directory."

manatee said:

My machine is Dell Vostro 270s, Windows 7 Professional SP1, 64 bit. Windows 7 is what this originally came with, and I upgraded it to Windows 8 and now

Click to expand...

If the PC came Windows 7 Pre-installed, the Recovery Partition would be for Windows 7.

manatee said:

After I remove Windows 7 using Disk Management, will my computer still have recovery partition with Windows 8?

Click to expand...

If the PC came Windows 8 Pre-installed, the Recovery Partition would be for Windows 8.

Did you have a recov part with 8 before?

It doesn't sound like it.

I expect your recov part is for restoring 7.

If you want to keep that - you can - I would. You could just make a bit larger to avoid the messages, or you can delete the bits you installed onto it by accident.

SIW2, it says "this window closes when it's done. Please post up kdir.txt - you will find it in the current directory."

Click to expand...

Yes - so post up kdir.txt

theog,

The computer when I bought it came with Windows 7. I upgraded it to Windows 8 using the download from Microsoft Website. I had a virus problem, so I wanted to set it back to default factory setting. From my experience with my previous computer, I thought the only way to do it was by using the CD-ROM. I did not know that I could use recovery drive. In the process of me attempting to default the computer back to the clean-slate Windows 7 using the CD-ROM, I accidentally installed the Windows 7 into the Recovery Drive which by then had a Windows 8 in it. Now I ended up with two systems in Recovery Drive, Windows 7 and 8, leaving me with pesky problems that I mentioned in the initial post.

Now I just want to get back to a clean-slate Windows 8.

Windows 8 is not on your recovery drive. You may be getting confused by the drive lettering.

Post up kdir.txt

SIW2,

SIW2 said:

Did you have a recov part with 8 before?

It doesn't sound like it.

I expect your recov part is for restoring 7.

If you want to keep that - you can - I would. You could just make a bit larger to avoid the messages, or you can delete the bits you installed onto it by accident.

Click to expand...

Hmmm...... I'm not sure which one I have on my Recovery Drive. All I know is that - my computer is enabled to clean-install the Windows 8 in the usual partition (the part we use, usually - I know know the proper name for it). I also know that Recovery Drive is FULL and over capacity and it's giving me annoying popups in the bottom right-hand side corner.

SIW2 said:

SIW2, it says "this window closes when it's done. Please post up kdir.txt - you will find it in the current directory."

Click to expand...

Yes - so post up kdir.txt

Click to expand...

Sorry, how do I "post up kdir.txt"? Where can I find kdir.txt?

It is whatever directory you ran the cmd file from.

If you ran kd.cmd from your desktop, then kdir.txt will be on your desktop.

If you ran kd.cmd from your downloads folder, then kdir.txt will be in your downloads folder.

It is probably right next to kd.cmd.

Just type kd.txt into the start search box ( on win 7 )

Ha, SIW2. I just realized why I'm not seeing it. The Recovery Drive is full that's why it's not saving anything.

Let me remove some programs and that should create some space.

But I need to go somewhere now so could you please check back around 2 pm? Sorry about that. Thank you so much for your help!! I will be back!

I expect I will popping in to the forums throughout the day.