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Question

Format is not allowed on the current boot....

Sep 18, 2014 2:30AM PDT

Hi guys,
Due to a startup failure, I had to reinstall Windows 7. I reinstalled it to D drive. Since, I had important data on C:, I chose not to format it. surprisingly, the contents of the drives C and D have swapped even their names have swapped.I have retrieved the data but now I want only one OS . I tried to format one of the drive, but I couldn't. I opened Disk Management and it showed D as (system and Primary Partition) and C as (Active, Crash Dump, Boot, Pagefile and Primary Partition). I tried to format D drive but it says Format is not allowed on..... If so which drive should I format C or D and How?

Any of your opinions and suggestions will be most highly valued.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Now that you can get your important data out.
Sep 18, 2014 2:55AM PDT

You get that done then start over. If you need to, you can remove all the partitions from the Windows 7 DVD boot and installer there.

But good to read you are now able to get at your stuff. Usually folk don't get the second chance.
Bob

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Answer
Start from scratch
Sep 18, 2014 3:23AM PDT

I agree wit Robert, get whatever data you want to save and be 100% of that. Once done, then reformat the drives. Here, I suggest you unplug "1 drive" so you're dealing with "1 drive" alone. Then access disk mgt. and proceed to format or re-initialize it for use. Re-do the same for the other drive, reconnect, probably attach as 1st drive port, etc.. Once all this is done, and powered down, reconnect everything the way it was or do whatever new you want to configure as, then re-install Win7. Once done, check your setup, etc., and finish the install but adding drivers, updates, or new devices if so attached is correct and everything is 100% again. Then add or install s/w or pgms. you want and review if these need updates, etc. to finish their setup. good luck

You may want to look at GParted for removing partitions and KILLDISK to wipe clean the drives or killdisk alone, just be sure to clean the "whole drive" instead of partition(s) and be done with that. It *MAY* find a possible HD problem if it can't do the job, if a true bad area is noticed, replace the HD if so.

tada -----Willy Happy