Attempted to "Merge" C Drive with another partion - Windows 7 Will Not Boot

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OgityBogityBoo

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So I did something stupid. My C Drive was almost full and it was causing my design software to "freak" out and slow down. Multiple warning messages kept appearing about the drive being full and I couldn't save or do very much. The rest of the drive is partitioned into B, D, and Z. When the machine was bought in 2011 it only had drives C and D (D for DATA 500GB and C for OS t I about 200GB) the other two partitions were created after I removed a dual boot Linux setup.

Drive B was empty, only had 21GB. I thought I would allocate that space to C since its almost full. I went into Computer Management, and deleted the B partition leaving it as unallocated space. I couldn't select the C drive and "Extend" it to fill up the empty space. So I downloaded a resourceful looking third party software that could do it for you. It wasn't fishy or anything but what happened was after two hours of files being moved around by this program (adding the extra 21GB to the C drive) an error message appeared at the tail end saying that the drive couldn't be named and I would have to do it manually (or something to that effect) so I rebooted and...nothing.

The Asus logo appears, then "Windows Starting" and it just sits there, flickers a Blue screen for a split second, then starts the process all over again. It will do this endlessly.

Using the ULTIMATE BOOT DISC with PartedMagic, I was able to get some important documents from the system via USB. So the data is all still there - it just won't boot. Other programs in UBDC say that no OS can be found. The files are there. It just won't work.

Windows 7 recovery disc doesn't repair anything. It can't find my previous restore points. It can't do anything. UBDC does NOT find any damage to the drive at all. There is nothing wrong with it. No errors. No nothing.

I am at a loss. I have backed up everything about 3 weeks to a month ago to an external drive. Never had to access one before. I have no windows 7 install disc. I am at a loss of what to do. I can't necessarily wipe the thing clean because I can't reinstall windows. Any and all help will be appreciated.

Do understand I am generally not an idiot with computers (worked in IT at one point) - regardless of how stupid doing this was without backing up first - but I was in a pinch and needed the design software to operate properly so I acted.
 
Solution
photonboy
Hi,
1. First, on pre-built PC's there is often a GENERIC code that Key Finder's discover that will NOT work if you type it in. You need the one for your exact PC that may be on a sticker. More info:
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/productkeysactivation/qt/key-finder-faq.htm

Have key?
a) Use UBCD and Write Zeros to erase all data on the hard drive with Active Kill Disk (takes hours). This erases all the messed up partitions.

b) Install Windows

c) Activate Windows using the proper key (if issues follow the phone procedure).

I did the EXACT procedure above on a laptop that had its hard drive replaced. I activated using the key from the sticker underneath the laptop. Activation failed because I used a different version of Windows 7 (they...
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i7Baby

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Re-install Windows. Check the drives and letters in bios then set the dvd as primary boot drive and put a newly bought windows disc in. Restart and follow the Windows installation instructions. Then restart into bios and put C: as the boot drive. Then you should be OK
 
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OgityBogityBoo

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Thank you for your quick response. That is defintely one viable option. Though I would prefer to go around buying another copy of Windows 7. If I could repair the one I have that would be great - I understand the possibility of that happening is quite slim. Wiping it and installing Windows 7 again is the best bet.

 
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OgityBogityBoo

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May 8, 2014
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That's a good idea. Wouldn't it recognize my product key as already being in use though?
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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Hi,
1. First, on pre-built PC's there is often a GENERIC code that Key Finder's discover that will NOT work if you type it in. You need the one for your exact PC that may be on a sticker. More info:
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/productkeysactivation/qt/key-finder-faq.htm

Have key?
a) Use UBCD and Write Zeros to erase all data on the hard drive with Active Kill Disk (takes hours). This erases all the messed up partitions.

b) Install Windows

c) Activate Windows using the proper key (if issues follow the phone procedure).

I did the EXACT procedure above on a laptop that had its hard drive replaced. I activated using the key from the sticker underneath the laptop. Activation failed because I used a different version of Windows 7 (they use a Volume License so something didn't match). I used the automated PHONE method, typed in lots of numbers, and 15 minutes later it was working.

2. I suggest you try to REPAIR your installation first if you have critical data to recover or to avoid the reinstall headache. What have you got to lose? A few links:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows7/products/features/startup-repair

http://www.pcworld.com/article/224952/windows-7-nightmares-and-how-to-solve-them.html

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/repair-recovery/a/force-or-stop-safe-mode-windows.htm

Alternative data recovery:
Remove drive, connect to another PC, copy entire structure or just critical folders/data. If you have STEAM for games copy the "Steamapps" folder as you can overwrite the folder if you reinstall Steam and avoid downloading the games again.

3. Windows installed?
- look up the SUPPORT page for the laptop, or if desktop use the Motherboard page and get the DRIVERS especially:
a) Main Chipset
b) Audio
c) Video

There may be other software, possibly some FAN CONTROL software as well for the CPU.

*I was able to use the official NVIDIA or AMD drivers rather than the laptop versions when I used a different version of Windows. Laptop manufacturers often modify them which sucks because they never keep up support. They are modified to tie into specific keys or software for the laptop so you may break functionality there, but it's usually not a big deal.

When I tried to update the NVidia drivers in a laptop it just wouldn't work from the NVidia site (had to use the four-year-old HP version). After Windows 8 I used direct from NVidia and got the latest. Now I don't know how new the drivers were for his exact laptop (they are bundled) but there are often other features included like GeForce Experience, HDMI audio or whatever.
 
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Solution
O

OgityBogityBoo

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May 8, 2014
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Thank you all for you help and your very useful links.
ALDAN: that link downloaded fine.
I am currently in the process of wiping my drive clean using Active Kill Disk on UBCD (as you mentioned it has been taking hours.) I have a Windows 7 ISO copied onto a now bootable USB thanks to PowerISO. I will let you all know if it works and if the code on the sticker located on the bottom of the laptop works -- to solve any curiosity you might have.
Wish me luck :)
Thanks again.



 
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OgityBogityBoo

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May 8, 2014
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Hasn't worked yet. The drive wipe has completed. Inserting the USB drive with the Windows 7 ISO on it (jumpdrive made bootable by PowerISO) results in a black screen with a blinking underscore "_" but never loads the Windows 7.iso downloaded from the link provided by Adlan:

http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/

perhaps I didn't make the drive bootable properly or something didn't go right during that process.
I'll keep y'all posted - let me know if you have any helpful information/advice. Thanks.
 
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OgityBogityBoo

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May 8, 2014
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I figured it out and got the laptop reinstalled with Windows 7.
The problem I had was some combination of Bad ISO and creating a bootable USB improperly.

The link you gave me had a Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit version. This one did not work. In that same link there is a link to another set of downloads. The Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit in THOSE set of downloads worked. I also used the Microsoft Windows 7 DVD/USB Burning Tool on the second download. I tried it on the first download and the program said it wasn't a valid ISO so I used PowerISO to do it - which didn't work. So Using the second download and Microsoft's program - It worked.

Link to good download:
http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/page-2#post-124821

Link to Microsoft Tool:
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

Thanks again everyone. Officially Solved.

 
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