Extra Windows Installations

May 22, 2009 12:26 PM

Help me get rid of my extra Windows 7 installations!

While installing Windows 7 on my Asus eeepc (with a HDD, not a SSD), I accidentally installed the OS three times -- I didn't realize that the boot order hadn't been switched back, so each time when it restarted back to the thumb drive I was using to install, I hit "new installation" and put another copy on.

Now, when I start my computer up I get a system screen asking me to choose which OS to boot into: Windows 7, Windows 7, or Windows 7. Obviously, I would like to get rid of the second two.

What's the easiest way to do this? I haven't used Windows in a while, and I'm pretty unfamiliar with the command line, but I can follow directions as well as anyone. Ideally, I would like to not have to reformat and re-install, but that's not a huge deal if it's my only option.

posted by rossination to computers & internet (9 comments total)

Download EasyBCD so you don't have to mess with any command line stuff. There's an option within the program to Add/Remove Entries from the Boot Menu.
posted by Diskeater at 12:41 PM on May 22

I don't know how it works in Windows 7, but in earlier versions of Windows you manage this through the System icon in Control Panel (or by right-clicking My Computer and choosing Properties). It's under the Advanced tab under Startup and Recovery.
posted by odinsdream at 1:07 PM on May 22

Or you could hand-edit C:\boot.ini
posted by odinsdream at 1:08 PM on May 22

Thanks Diskeater (haha, eponysterical), that worked. Is that space now freed up on my hard drive? Do I have chunks of old Windows installs floating around somewhere?
posted by rossination at 1:16 PM on May 22

The menu that you're talking about is just a pointer to installations. It doesn't necessarily mean that there are three full installations.
posted by odinsdream at 1:22 PM on May 22

And by the same token removing the pointer in the boot menu won't delete any actual OS installations or free up disk space.
posted by anti social order at 1:26 PM on May 22

OK. So, to be sure. what's the best way to make sure that I get rid of the old installations (if there are old files remaining)?

Sorry to be an over-responder. Thanks for your help.
posted by rossination at 1:32 PM on May 22

If you have the original C:\boot.ini, check how things are being referenced, directory-wise. I don't know the naming pattern for Win7, but WinXP and others would put the bulk of OS files in the C:/WINDOWS folder. I think each installation might create a folder with a variation on that name, but I could be wrong.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:37 PM on May 22

If memory serves me, the bootloader for Windows Vista and 7 doesn't necessarily use BOOT.INI anymore. You want to use EasyBCD.

As well, do you actually have three installations on disk? Right-click on "My Computer", select "Manage", and go to Storage---> Disk Management. There you can delete the second two partitions and grow the first one to take up the whole disk.
posted by dunkadunc at 4:54 PM on May 22