Will DD 2011 move a partition containing the OS system files from one drive in Windows 7 to another?

The booting files can be moved from the System Reserved partition to the Windows partition (then the System Reserved partition isn't needed). NOTE: The instructions below assume that C: is assigned to the Windows 7 partition and D: is assigned to the System Reserved partition when booted into Windows 7. Use the drive letters that are correct for your system. --- These instructions further assume that the Windows 7 partition is a Primary partition. If this is not the case, the instructions would be different.

1. Create a backup image of the Windows 7 partition and the System Reserved partition. This is just a general recommendation before making partitioning changes.
2. Boot into Windows 7.
3. Start an Administrator Command Prompt and run the following commands to fix the BCD file:
   bcdedit /set {current} device partition=C:
   bcdedit /set {current} osdevice partition=C:
   bcdedit /set {bootmgr} device partition=C:
   bcdedit /set {memdiag} device partition=C:
4. Copy the Windows 7 booting files to the Windows 7 partition by running the following commands:
   reg unload HKLM\BCD00000000
   robocopy  D:\  C:\  bootmgr
   robocopy  D:\Boot  C:\Boot  /s
   
5. Start Disk Management and make the Windows 7 partition Active partition.
6. Restart the computer.
7. Start Disk Management and make sure the Windows 7 partition is showing that it's the System partition.
8. If everything looks okay, you can now delete the System Reserved partition. This can be done using DD or Disk Management.

Hello MudCrab:

It's been a long while since I came to this forum seeking help and it is a happy thing to see that you're still around after many years now of helping us.

As usual I wasn't specific enough about my issue. After the M drive there was about 800+ gb of unused space that wasn't formated when I installed windows 7 and the install grabbed 100mb at its beginning and so it is not in the M partition. It is of its own without a drive letter and it is hidden. It is titled System Reserve. It appears in Windows 7 Disk Management and in Dirve Director 2011.

Your above instructions are clear and I am certain will work, if this 100mb section had a drive letter.

Maybe I should try giving it a drive letter and unhiding it? Would that work? I know you're a busy fellow and I apologize for being a burden, but I do appreciate your help.

clarence

Later comment added:

I did a backup of the C drive, which included that system files partition located on another drive as described above. Isn't there a way to just copy that System Reserve partition using restore function directly to the C drive?

Just give the System Reserved partition a drive letter. You should be able to do this using Disk Management. When you follow the instructions posted just make sure to use the correct drive letter.

Yes, it is possible to "copy" or move the System Reserved partition onto the correct drive. However, if you're not using Bitlocker you don't need it. It's generally simpler to just move the booting files and get rid of it. However, it's up to you. Instructions can be provided if you want to do it that way.

The reason Windows used the other drive is that it places the System Reserved partition on the booting drive. The RAID must have been set as the booting drive in the BIOS. If the SSD had been the booting drive the installer would have placed it there. Additionally, if you create a partition before installing and set it Active and then select that partition as the installation destination, the installer won't create the System Reserved partition.

MuddCrab, Just wanted to drop back in to let you know that your information and instructions are superb. Corrected everything. Used Acronis TI, disk scrubber to zero out everything on the one Raid configuration after that 100mb System Reserve partition was no longer needed and the transfer to C of the boot files in accord with your above instructions worked fine. Used Acronis DD to set up the disk.

And you were right about that RAID array being the boot drive. Here is a bit of the background. When Windows 8 came out, I loaded it on a portion of theat RAID array and that is when it was shifted to the main boot. I then replaced the 60gb SSD with a 120 and did not confirm that it was the first boot drive in my bios. I should have know better, but your help allowed me to go on without wasting too much time. Just a note on time. I remember when it would take nigh on an entire day to install windows. Now windows itself installs in about 10 minutes, but the updates still take quite a bit of time.

Thank you, and be healthy.

Clarence