Swapping Partitions -

You should be able to do what you want, but there are some things that need done first to give it the best chance for success.

Before beginning, I would create an Entire Disk Image backup of the drive. This can be restored so you can start over if you run into problems (this can often be quicker than trying to fix a problem). I assume you have already done successful restores using TI and know it works properly on your computer.

When you boot into Vista, does Vista see the XP partition? Is it assigned a drive letter? This is the default for a standard Microsoft multi-boot setup.

Do you have a standard Microsoft Vista OEM or retail DVD? You'll need to use the Repair Mode.

There are several different ways to accomplish the task. In this case (if possible), I think I would get Vista booting properly from its own partition and get the XP partition removed before doing the final resizing/restore to use all the space.

For example:

1. Create an Entire Disk Image of the drive.
2. Separate Vista from XP (instructions can be found here). This will move Vista's booting files to the Vista partition and setup the partition for direct booting. In your case, you'll want the Vista partition Active.
3. Reboot the computer. Vista should boot automatically.
4. Delete the XP partition. You can do this with Disk Management in Vista.
5. I would also remove any unnecessary entries from the MountedDevices key. Start the Registry Editor and browse to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices key. If the Vista partition is assigned as C: (the default), you should be safe deleting all the entries (leave the (Default) entry). However, you should also be okay leaving C: and your DVD drive assignment. Doing this step is to help avoid drive letter assignment problems when you move the Vista partition to the position previously held by the XP partition.
6. Create a new image of the Vista partition. This can be done from TI in Vista or from the TI CD.
7. Boot to the TI CD and restore the Vista partition. Select to resize it to use all the unallocated space and the space of the existing Vista partition.

I want to say thank you for the time and the instructions provided. They are truly appreciated.

"When you boot into Vista, does Vista see the XP partition?" Yes. The partition has not yet been deleted; although the XP OS is wiped from the drive (bootmgr remains along with the "boot" folder).

"Is it assigned a drive letter?" Yes (D:)

"Do you have a standard Microsoft Vista OEM or retail DVD?" Retail DVD (Custom PC build)

"Create an Entire Disk Image of the drive." I read this to mean create the backup on my off-line 1.5TB backup drive of drive C: (where Vista is now). C: is assigned to Disk 0/Partition 2.

Because XP is wiped from the system, I've decided to approach it from:
1) Perform the instructions provided to rebuild Vista boot image on the C: drive (partition 2).
2) Boot to Vista.
3) Create image of C: Drive.
4) Restore C: drive (partition 2) to partition 1 (test run to confirm it works.)
5) Reboot to Vista - if successful.
6) Delete partition 1.
7) Boot and build partition 1 from saved image.
8) Delete partition 2.
9) Expand partition 1 to include all of former partition 2.

That is my intrepretation of the instructions. If they are flawed, please let me know.

When creating an Entire Disk Image backup, check the Disk # checkbox. This selects all partitions on the drive. This type of backup can be restored differently than partition backups.

If you're going to do a test restore (your step 4), make sure to restore the partition as Active/Primary. However, be aware that TI may try to "link booting" to the existing Vista installation on partition 2. TI doesn't always handle multi-booting setups correctly. Also, if you haven't removed the C: drive letter assignment from the MountedDevices key in the Registry, C: will still be assigned to partition 2 instead of the restored partition. Personally, I would avoid doing this test unless it's just to test that the restore process can complete successfully and not to test booting into Vista. If you do plan to do this test, make sure to clear the MountedDevices key of all entries (except for (Default)) before you make the image of the Vista partition.

If you have a spare drive you can use for the test restore, that would be simpler and you wouldn't run into the problems associated with duplicating an existing Windows OS on the same drive.

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Your revised steps might be:

1. Create an Entire Disk Image backup.
2. Perform the instructions provided to rebuild Vista boot image on the C: drive (partition 2). [I assume this step is referring to moving the booting files and configuring the Vista partition to be bootable as described in my guide.]
3. Boot to Vista.
4. Clear the MountedDevices key of its entries in the Registry.
5. Create image of C: Drive. Make sure you don't reboot into Vista between this step and the previous step or you'll need to clear the MountedDevices key again.
6. Restore C: drive (partition 2) to partition 1 (test run to confirm it works.)  Make sure to restore it as the Active/Primary partition.
7. Reboot to Vista - if successful.
8. Delete partition 1.
9. Boot and build partition 1 from saved image.
10. Delete partition 2.
11. Expand partition 1 to include all of former partition 2.