Done something really stupid

[parabellum]

Loading Windows 7 over Vista, (Custom install, as recommended here, not an upgrade), buy stupidly put it into 'D', not 'C', (one single HDD), runs well except there is only 990kbs space left!

Googled and found needed to use CD to boot and to format 'D', followed the instructions but instead of giving me any options the system just starts up and runs.

Do I need to format 'D' and reload or can I change the size of 'D' to existing 'C' and rename. At the moment I appear to have Vista on 'C' and Win7 on 'D', really don't want Vista on anywhere at all.

This HDD is about six years old, would a new HDD be the best answer?

All help and useful suggestions much appreciated.

[mixture]

This HDD is about six years old, would a new HDD be the best answer?

To be perfectly frank with you, if I were in your shoes, I would pick that option.

(a) You're going to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to fix this
(b) It'll do you no harm to have a fresh start on a clean Windows 7 install

[parabellum]

Sourcing a replacement HDD wasn't so easy, none in Australia that I could find. Gave it some more thought, I had Vista on C and W7 on D, booted up Vista and was able to format D, after that I was able to do a custom install of 7 onto C, problem solved. Not sure why but trying to format D having booted up from the W7 CD just wouldn't work.

[onetrack]

Sourcing a replacement HDD wasn't so easy, none in Australia that I could find

I'm having trouble trying to figure out why you can't get a replacement HDD? Are you running a totally obsolete computer setup? HDD's are usually pretty cheap and easy enough to acquire.

I'd respectfully suggest that a 6 yr old HDD is not far off internal destruction anyway. I seem to recall that the quoted figure for average HDD life is 7 yrs.

[parabellum]

The Dell part number is TH991 which leads to a Fujitsu MHV2080 BH, a 60GB HDD, the laptop is a Dell Inspiron 1501.

Dell advised not stocking anymore and to not fit anything much bigger than 150GB. Can get the identical replacement from UK and USA but I am up against a time constraint as it is going back to England with someone, rather than $130.00 postage.

Here in Oz they seem to start around 250GB and then up.

Point taken re the age, given more time I would have fitted a new HDD.

[PowerDragTrim]

"Dell advised ..... not fit anything much bigger than 150GB"
Don't see why not! From what I have Googled, you have a standard SATA 2.5" hard drive.

[parabellum]

Not being a techy I accepted what the Technical Support guy at Dell told me and I just assumed it would be something to do with MB and Processor capability? Changed and upgraded plenty of RAM but never got involved with HDD before.

From what you say PowerDragTrim any SATA 2.5", 5400RPM drive should do then?

[onetrack]

Your Dell Inspiron 1501 takes a bog-standard 2.5" SATA HDD, and there are plenty of options as to what you can install, including a Solid State Drive if you really want to lash out.

If you can wield a screwdriver without injuring yourself, and can upgrade RAM, then I don't think a HDD replacement job will overwhelm you.

Dell Inspiron 1501 upgrades - Top Crucial.com Ram Flash Memory Upgrades (click on, "Show all compatible Internal Hard Drives")

Remove HDD from Dell Inspiron 1501 -

Dell Inspiron 1501 Remove Hard Drive - YouTube

[parabellum]

Thanks very much one track, (mixture and PowerDragTrim).

Won't bother with the solid state but if time permits will fit a new HDD.

[mixture]

parabellum,

Good luck, keep us posted.

[pudoc]

No need for a new HDD and 6 years isn't old really. Don't waste money on a new drive.

Here's what to do:

Restart computer
As it is restarting keep hammering F11 and F12 (it's one of those, I can't remember so just do both)
After a while it will open into a bootup menu, here you can chose to run the CD.
Run the CD, install it over C drive
Let it do it's restarting business
Once you're back on Windows, go to my computer, right click D drive and format it.

When it restarts (after you install Windows 7 on C drive), you might find it tries to boot into D drive again. If it does that you need to go into Bios and change the boot order so C drive is first. Google "how to change boot setting in Bios", it's pretty easy to do.

[parabellum]

Thanks Pudoc, have managed to get W7 onto C now and format D, (my post #3). Appreciate your efforts to help.

[mixture]

6 years isn't old really. Don't waste money on a new drive.

Yes it is old. And I wouldn't exactly call a new drive wasting money, they are not exactly expensive anyway !

[PowerDragTrim]

If you change to a new hard drive, you might consider using the removed one as spare storage with something like

this:

this:

[Milo Minderbinder]

its a six year old drive, probably on its last legs
junk it. Don't waste money on it. It cannot be relied on