How to Access Vista Partition from Windows 7?

By Mr.Byte • February 9, 2009

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windowsvista Recently we saw how to change the default OS while dual booting Windows Vista and Windows 7. If you had installed Windows 7 on the machine which earlier had Windows Vista, then by default you will not be able to access the Vista partition.

So let see how to access vista partition in Windows 7?

Earlier we have seen these options while discussing about how to partition in Windows Vista (Extend and Shrink).

Step 1: The options are available at ‘Disk Management’.

Start Menu -> Control Panel -> System and Maintenance -> Administrative Tools -> Double Click Computer Management -> Storage -> Disk Management.

In here you should be able to see different partitions along with a partition which doesn’t have any letter assigned to it.

Step 2: Right click that partition and click Change Driver Letter and Paths.

Access-vista-partition-in-windows-7

Step 3: Click Add and Choose Assign the following driver letter. You can choose a different letter if you prefer or leave the one by default. Click Ok.

Assign-drive-letter-in-Windows-7

Step 4: Now if you go to Computer, you should be able to access the Vista partition.

Categories: How To, Operating System, Tips, Tutorial, Tweaks
Tags: Beta, Dual Boot, partition, vista, Windows, Windows 7

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12 Responses to “How to Access Vista Partition from Windows 7?”

Nirmal
February 9, 2009 at 11:03 pm | Permalink

I’m having 3 boots with 2 Vista and one Windows 7, but I’m able to access all drives from Windows 7.
Mr.Byte
February 9, 2009 at 11:37 pm | Permalink

@Nirmal, Thats interesting. When I installed I was not able to view vista drive from Windows 7.
Narendra.s.v
February 16, 2009 at 9:02 pm | Permalink

Hi

thanks for the info. It worked for me after following the prescribed steps
JL
February 21, 2009 at 7:53 am | Permalink

I recently installed windows 7 on my laptop. I’m dual booting with Vista.

I have this same issue and understand that merely assigning a drive letter to my Vista partition from W7 will allow me to access it.
My doubt, however, is if this will cause any issues when I boot to my Vista partition (since, within Vista that partition already has a drive letter)

any clues?
Mr.Byte
February 22, 2009 at 1:04 pm | Permalink

@JL, No it will not affect Vista. Each OS just sees the partition and the letters are assigned just independently in each OS.
JL
February 22, 2009 at 2:18 pm | Permalink

sweet, thanks…
In didn’t want to mess it up… Now I tried it and works beautifully
B Balde
February 25, 2009 at 4:50 am | Permalink

Thanks…
BillB
March 1, 2009 at 9:07 am | Permalink

I am running vista and Beta 7, selected 16 gig for beta 7, have repartitioned two more partitions and want to add the space to the original beta 7 partition, please be explicit, I am 86 years old, bb
Bimmy Chainsaw
March 1, 2009 at 10:28 am | Permalink

Great guide but just going to say one thing . . . easiest way to get to Disk Management is Start >> right-click Computer >> Manage. Just saying.
Rob
March 11, 2009 at 10:40 am | Permalink

Thanks! Works superb..
Jozcoz
May 26, 2009 at 10:50 am | Permalink

That just lets me see that the drive exists, but to actually open files it says I don’t have the user rights. Can you help?
sameem
June 25, 2009 at 8:28 am | Permalink

hello. i dont know how to do the parrtition for windows vista without losing the data n the oringinal windows.
eventhough; i tried the way of disk management but it didnt work . so could u give me the nessesaary information to do this ?
thank from ur attention