A few weeks back I explained How-To install Windows 7 in a Dual-Boot Configuration using a .VHD file as the Windows 7 System Drive. A few days later I explained how to make Windows 7 in a Dual Boot scenario the primary boot OS. Now after receiving about 20 emails the topic from readers, I guess it’s time to explain how to undo or delete the Windows 7 Dual Boot configuration. My guess is the testing is done and they are going to wait for the Gold bits for Windows 7.
So, let’s get right to it! For your convenience, I’ve included not only the Step-By-Step How-To but also a Step-By-Step How-To groovy Video!
How-To Remove an OS from Windows Dual Boot Config [Video]
How-To Remove an OS from Windows Dual Boot Config [Step-by-Step]
1. Boot into the NON Windows 7 OS (original OS before you installed Windows 7 as a dual-boot). For most people this would mean booting into your Vista install however I’m going to guess there might be a few who setup a Dual-Boot config with Windows 2008 also (me for instance).
2. Click Windows Start button and Type msconfig and Press Enter (or click it with mouse)
2. Click Boot Tab, Click the OS you want to keep and Click Set as default
3. Click Windows 7 OS and Click Delete. Click OK
What you just did was remove Windows 7 from the Windows Boot manager so now it will no longer show up when you boot the computer. Essentially, the computer is no longer a Dual-Boot System (2 Windows Versions installed).
The next steps is to just simply delete the Windows 7 .VHD file.
Once you delete the Windows 7 .VHD file all remnants of Windows 7 will be GONE. Hopefully this is how you installed Windows 7. If not, you will need to goto the System drive you installed Windows 7 and manually delete all the files and folders there. Be careful not to remove anything needed by the current/original OS you want to keep. If you didn’t install Windows 7 in a .VHD file, hopefully you installed it on it’s own Drive so you can just format it..??
Tags: dual-boot, windows-7, windows-vista, msconfig, boot-manager, how-to , video
How do you do this in XP?
@Ledon – Hey there… I actually don’t have a Windows XP box anymore but I’ll look for a VM image and dig into it this weekend.
Hi,
Thanks for this information, but when I start MSConfig again after a reboot, it says on the general tab ‘boot selectively’.
When I change this back to ‘Normal’, there will be a boot menu and Windows 7 is set as default again.
So, these does not seem to be a permanent solution.
Is there a permanent solution?
@Gerdo – Before you start on Step 2, goto the General Tab and make sure Normal Startup is selected. Then on the Boot tab set the OS you want as default then try checking the box on the bottom right (Make all boot settings permanent).
Let me know