Help from a pro needed: Really difficult job (or not ?)

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Before posting bootwiz etc. I'd just like to know if the following is doable using diskdirector and os selector:
I've got a LapTop with WindowsVista on a partition in HD1 and Windows7 in a partition on HD2.
Since it's a dell laptop there is also a eist-partition for their diagnostic tools.
And then there are 3 Data Partitions.

What I want to archive:
a) Add another Windows7 (No2) to the existing installation that I'm able to hide and lock completely. I don't mind if I'll have to boot from the DD10 bootable media to hide/unhide/boot that Windows7(No2). Important to me is that the Partition is virtually invisible to Vista and Windows7(No1).
b) Is it possible to detach WindowsVista and Windows7(1) again ? Right now the Windows7 Bootmanager resides on HD1 and has replaced the Windows Vista one...
c) Is it possible to Clone Windows7 (No2) from Windows7 (No1) instead of installing a new one ?

Please don't ask why the machine was setup that way or what I want to do with it.
When at least a) is possible I'm more than willing to supply all necessary information.

Fri, 11/13/2009 - 18:07
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Are you currently using OSS? If not, and you really don't mind booting to the DD CD to make the changes, OSS isn't needed. However, if you want to separate Vista and Windows 7(1) and boot them via OSS, then it would be. It sounds like you're using the Windows 7 boot manager right now.

Vista and Windows 7 can see standard hidden partitions. Normal access is not available, though. If you want the partition to be truely hidden (shown as unallocated), then other methods need to be used.

Separating Vista and Windows 7(1) should be possible. Is Windows 7(1) installed on a Primary partition? If not, then it can still be done, but the process will depend on other factors (booting from a Logical partition vs. converting it to a Primary partition, etc.). Note: I'm assuming that Windows 7 works the same as Vista in this regard.

The Windows 7(1) partition could be cloned or copied or it could be imaged (backed up using TI, for example) and restored. Again, the actual procedure depends on a lot of factors. Note: I have not yet worked with Windows 7 enough to know if you would run into any activation issues by doing this.

It would help to see a screenshot of what DD shows in Manual Mode for your drives. If you don't want to post that, then posting a text representation of the layouts would be next best.

It's highly recommened to have an Entire Disk Image backup of each drive prior to making any of these changes.

---

What you're asking to do is not a simple procedure. If you want to keep it simple and there is room for another Primary partition on the booting hard drive, you could do the following:

  • Boot to DD and create the new Primary partition.
  • Set the new Primary partition Active and hide all the other Windows partitions.
  • Boot to the Windows 7 DVD and install Windows 7 to the new Primary partition. Note that the other partitions will show in the list so make sure to select the correct one. Also, make sure to use the Advanced options and have Windows 7 do a quick format of the partition. This will avoid problems caused by installing Windows to an NTFS partition formatted by DD.
  • To switch back to your current setup, boot to DD, unhide the Vista and Windows 7(1) partitions, set the Vista partition as Active and hide the Windows 7(2) partition.

Note: You can also do this on the second drive. You would just need to use the BIOS boot order or a BIOS boot menu to select it as the booting drive.

Fri, 11/13/2009 - 19:13
truwrikodrorowrelupicugojestutroclulachosaswunuhospikigawakijosaswenomaruclojeueclikaspedrubewidebrisubrohutrurifruuagothunugekedrumucisiuobrobrecrupeslapuswosluprothethibakaslechurathikucli
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Fist of all: Thanks a lot for your reply.

Are you currently using OSS? If not, and you really don't mind booting to the DD CD to make the changes, OSS isn't needed. However, if you want to separate Vista and Windows 7(1) and boot them via OSS, then it would be. It sounds like you're using the Windows 7 boot manager right now.

No I've not used OSS selector until now and yes I'm using the Windows7 boot manager right now.

Vista and Windows 7 can see standard hidden partitions. Normal access is not available, though. If you want the partition to be truely hidden (shown as unallocated), then other methods need to be used.

Hm... To what other methods do you refer ?
The only thing I'm able to change in the bios is the boot order - so it seems to be a possibility to install windows7 no2 to a primary partition on drive2 and just boot from there using the boot menu (as you mentioned). But then again - if it's not possible to hide it I want to LOCK it at least. So again OSS...

I will send the screenshot you are asking for withing the next days...

Mon, 11/16/2009 - 08:42