Partitions

[wammy_bar]

Okay, I just realized that the partition I have windows xp on is only 120 gb, and I have 250 gb of unpartitioned hardrive space left. How can I add this space to the partition I currently have? Or use the space at all?

[glc]

To add it, you need something like Partition Magic. To create another usable partition, all you need is XP's builtin Disk Management.

[wammy_bar]

Thanks. I'm so glad I don't have to reformat and start over again.

[WJWheels]

Originally Posted by glc To add it, you need something like Partition Magic. To create another usable partition, all you need is XP's builtin Disk Management.

That's what I need... something LIKE Partition Magic. I only want to resize my cramped system partition one time, and I'm reluctant to spend $70 or so. Any suggestions for free or trial software?



Edit: forget it. I just purchased PM 8 on Ebay for $22.

[sgtspector]

In case you decide to look again. here's one: http://partitionlogic.org.uk/

[WJWheels]

Thanks sgtspector. I guess I acted too soon, but in reading about Partition Logic, it seems "resizing" may be its weakest link. I don't mind investing the $22.

The PC I'm working with is one I built in April of '02 with a P4 1.6ghz and a good solid Tyan board. I made a 3 gig system partition for W2K, which seemed plenty at the time... specially since I installed all programs to the D: drive instead of program files on the (C system drive. After this many years, what with all the hot fixes, security updates, service packs, etc., it's getting pretty tight. Altogether it's an 80 gig drive. It runs well and there's no reason to get rid of it. I've collected quite a bit of crap over the last 6 years.

My plans are to throw some more memory in it (only 256k now), add a 30 gig hdd that I have on hand, and make it a duel-boot win2k/linux Mint4.0 box.

If you have any experience with resizing using that program, I'd appreciate it. I may just dl it anyway to mess with. Thanks again, I appreciate it.

[glc]

Why not clone the OS partition to the 30 gig and use that for your boot drive?

[WJWheels]

I use to do that all the time. I guess I could figure it out again, but wouldn't that mess with all my proggies whose files are installed on the D drive?

[glc]

No, not if you make sure what used to be D is still D, you may have to do more cloning and adjusting but it shouldn't be too hard. You can assign any letter you want - D and higher - to any partition other than the active OS partition in Win2K, you aren't locked into logical progression like you were with Dos and Win9x.

[WJWheels]

I'll try that today. Where do I find instruction to clone the partition? I've been contemplating a fresh install of the system after resizing the partition anyway..... which would include reinstalling programs, so if I screw up, I'm not all lost. Yes, I'm familiar with "My Computer/Manage/Disk Management" for changing letter assignments.

btw: I couldn't get the Partition Logic program to load on that PC. I dl'd the iso and burnt it to CD, it tried to boot, but after showing a progress bar while loading it's special system (visopsys) the pc would re-boot itself and repeat the same. I even burned the iso twice using different programs.

[kilgoretrout]

Download PartedMagic here:

http://www.download.com/Parted-Magic...-10663999.html

It's a free PM clone that runs off of a bootable cd and works quite well. Back up your data first. Resizing partitions is the riskiest partition operation for any partitioning program so there is always the risk of data loss. You may also want to defrag and run chkdsk on the partition prior to attempting the resize to insure the filesystem is healthy.

[glc]

Best way to clone is with Acronis True Image. You may be able to do it with the setup software from the hard drive manufacturer using a custom or expert mode.

Saving data and getting a complete fresh start is not a bad idea.

[faulkner132]

I've never been a fan putting the "system" on it's own partition in Windows servers because you will inevitably corner yourself and have no free space on your system partition (by adding updates, installing programs, etc.), yet tons of free space on your "data" partition. I've seen this more times than I can count and then programs end up getting installed on the "data" partition which defeats the whole purpose.

I always allocate all available space to the C drive and just implement a good backup system. Then if you have space issues, just add an extra drive for your data which frees up tons of space on your C drive.

[WJWheels]

Yea, right. Where the faulkner were you 6 years ago when I built this thing? I've got more memory ordered for this box and as soon as it comes in, I'll see what I can do. I ran into problems using Parted Magic (gparted), as C is of course, on the primary and the rest; D, G, H is on an extended. After shrinking the D, I can't get the newly unallocated space to merge with the C.

To make matters worse, Partition Magic came this afternoon. I installed and ran it and the entire 80gig drive shows up in "yellow" as "BAD". What's up with that?

[WJWheels]

Originally Posted by glc Saving data and getting a complete fresh start is not a bad idea.

I think I'll do that. It networks with my new build which has 290 gigs of total space, so there's no problem saving the data partions. I'll wipe it clean and start from new like I want it.

[faulkner132]

Originally Posted by WJWheels To make matters worse, Partition Magic came this afternoon. I installed and ran it and the entire 80gig drive shows up in "yellow" as "BAD". What's up with that?

Is it a dynamic drive (check Disk Management)?
If it is, you probably will not be able to use Partition Magic on it as, from my experience, only Basic drives will be available to modify.

[WJWheels]

No, it's not a dynamic drive. Disk management shows it as basic. Using gpart I now have 5 gigs of free space at the beginning of the extended partion that I want to merge with the 3 gig primary partition (c).

It also will not start from the CD. I get error #89. It says EZ-Disk is detected but not running and tells me to restart with a floppy. There is not a working A drive in the box. I'll probably put one in, make rescue disks, and try that.

[kilgoretrout]

Are you using any drive overlay program to get around your bios hard drive size limitations? IIRC EZ-Drive was one of those software drive overlay systems to get around bios hard drive size limits. If that is the case, you can forget about using any partitioning utilities on that drive.

[WJWheels]

Thanks. Startup with a floppy didn't do any good either. I tried to run an old MaxBlast that came with the drive (or one of that era) and it hangs at the info screen. Maxblast is supposed to have a utility to remove EZ-Drive. There's not enough room on the C drive to install the new Maxtor programs.

I've got all I want saved off to my new build. It's definitely time to "Boot & Nuke". I want to try out my new slipstreamed w2k/sp4 disk anyway. I'm just waiting for Brown to bring my added memory.