Best Partitioning Software?

[Toni]

Can any of you experts out there recommend the best and/or professional software for
changing Windows XP hard drive partitions?

I've used Partition Magic 8 in the past, Disk crashes while sizing partitions with PM8
are rare, but they do happen.

What's the best? What do you experts use?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Can any of you experts out there recommend the best and/or professional software for
changing Windows XP hard drive partitions?

I've used Partition Magic 8 in the past, Disk crashes while sizing partitions with PM8
are rare, but they do happen.

What's the best? What do you experts use?

I don't use any, because I've never needed to repartition. My view is
that if you plan your partitions well in the first place, and don't
over-partition, repartitioning should hardly ever be needed.

You can read my views on planning your partitions in this article I
recently wrote: http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=326

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

I use BootIt NG.
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootit-next-generation.htm

 

[Ron Badour]

Disk crashes can occur with any software--that's why you back up important
data before doing partition work. For what it's worth, I have used both PM8
and BootIt NG and both have worked flawlessly for me.

 

[glee]

Can any of you experts out there recommend the best and/or professional software
for
changing Windows XP hard drive partitions?

I've used Partition Magic 8 in the past, Disk crashes while sizing partitions with
PM8
are rare, but they do happen.

What's the best? What do you experts use?

I've used both of these:

Acronis Disk Director
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/diskdirector/

BootIt Next Generation
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/index.htm

 

[Brian A.]

Can any of you experts out there recommend the best and/or professional
software for
changing Windows XP hard drive partitions?

I've used Partition Magic 8 in the past, Disk crashes while sizing partitions
with PM8
are rare, but they do happen.

What's the best? What do you experts use?

I use Acronis Disk Director Suite 10
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/diskdirector/

and have on rare occasions used BootIt NG.
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootit-next-generation.htm

--


Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Lil' Dave]

Can any of you experts out there recommend the best and/or professional
software for
changing Windows XP hard drive partitions?

I've used Partition Magic 8 in the past, Disk crashes while sizing
partitions with PM8
are rare, but they do happen.

What's the best? What do you experts use?

Just remember that when resizing a windows partition, the partitioning
software cannot be implemented from windows. Rather, boot media with that
partitioning software is required. So, when using same partitioning
software, don't use the windows version for that purpose.

I used PM in the early days, and stopped around the time XP showed up.
Presently, I use partition commander within the boot manager called system
commander. Partition commander is also available as a standalone product.
V-com sold out to avanquest, be careful shopping for their other products as
I'm unfamiliar with those.
--
Dave

New drilling sites for oil offshore and other
sensitive places. Question is, will that oil
go here in the U.S., or someplace else for sale?

 

[Brian A.]

Just remember that when resizing a windows partition, the partitioning
software cannot be implemented from windows. Rather, boot media with that
partitioning software is required. So, when using same partitioning software,
don't use the windows version for that purpose.

Not true, in Acronis Disk Director you set your changes and a rebootis
required in order for it to do its task, which on rebooting is done before
Windows loads, and once completed boots to Windows.




--


Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Lil' Dave]

Not true, in Acronis Disk Director you set your changes and a rebootis
required in order for it to do its task, which on rebooting is done before
Windows loads, and once completed boots to Windows.

Betting its booting to an alternate OS, loading the partition manager,
getting the settings made previously, doing the partition change, then,
boots from XP AFTER the partitioning is completed. Or something along those
lines. Same story, different day.

Point being, doesn't occur in the XP windows environment. And, that's what
I said to begin with.
--
Dave

Speculation on a product or material that is
an obvious need, is not speculation per se
as there is no risk to the speculator.
Common were those selling food and other
supplies in the gold rush days.
In this case, its oil and its everyone who
bites the bullet. And most everyone has no gold
to be made, just business as usual.

 

[Bill in Co.]

Betting its booting to an alternate OS, loading the partition manager,
getting the settings made previously, doing the partition change, then,
boots from XP AFTER the partitioning is completed. Or something along
those
lines. Same story, different day.

Sounds about right. Boots to something akin to Linux, I bet.
Kinda like what happens when you boot up Acronis True Image on its own boot
CD.

Or even when True Image is being used to restore the root drive's
C:\partition from a backup image, before finally finishing up and booting up
into Windows at the very end.

 

[Brian A.]

Betting its booting to an alternate OS, loading the partition manager, getting
the settings made previously, doing the partition change, then, boots from XP
AFTER the partitioning is completed. Or something along those lines. Same
story, different day.

Point being, doesn't occur in the XP windows environment. And, that's what I
said to begin with.

Not the way I read it.
<quote>
Just remember that when resizing a windows partition, the partitioning software
cannot be implemented from windows. Rather, boot media with that partitioning
software is required. So, when using same partitioning software, don't use the
windows version for that purpose.
</quote>

As I mentioned, worded differently:
The task is implemented by Disk Director while in Windows and then requires a
reboot in order to conduct the task. Alternate boot media is not required when
using the Windows version, it reboots when required, completes the task and
boots back to Windows. Hence, the Windows version can be used for the purpose
of repartioning, formatting, moving, etc.


--


Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Toni]

Disk crashes can occur with any software--that's why you back up important
data before doing partition work.

True.

We have a few WinXP laptops with the HD set as C: and D: partitions. The cluster size
for C: is 512bytes on them. I used Partition Magic to change the C: partition on one
drive to 4K clusters, and near the end of the operation PM crashed and the C: partition
was completely trashed.

I restored C: from a backup made just before changing the cluster sizes. The only thing
lost was time wasted. But I was hopong that there is a study or whatever of the
stability of partitioning software.

For what it's worth, I have used both PM8
and BootIt NG and both have worked flawlessly for me.

Thanks,

Toni

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

No independent body is going to give you a comparative analysis of
partitioning programs, and it would take an IMMENSE amount of money to wait
around for enough disk crashes to occur to be statistically significant. In
fact, I'd venture to say that it would take statistics from *all* of the
users of all the stand-alone partitioning software on the market from the
last 10 years to get to even close.

No, you'll have to rely on gossip, recommendations, ratings, etc.

 

[Lil' Dave]

Not the way I read it.
<quote>
Just remember that when resizing a windows partition, the partitioning
software cannot be implemented from windows. Rather, boot media with that
partitioning software is required. So, when using same partitioning
software, don't use the windows version for that purpose.
</quote>

As I mentioned, worded differently:
The task is implemented by Disk Director while in Windows and then
requires a reboot in order to conduct the task. Alternate boot media is
not required when using the Windows version, it reboots when required,
completes the task and boots back to Windows. Hence, the Windows version
can be used for the purpose of repartioning, formatting, moving, etc.

Like DI 6.0/2002 of former days, its REbooting to an alternate OS, loading
the partition manager, getting the information from the XP partition current
filesystem location, doing the job instructed, bowing out, and booting the
operating system that normally occurs. The boot cue to the alternate OS is
deleted upon finish and out of the that OS to XP.

DOES NOT OCCUR IN WINDOWS XP ENVIRONMENT. Hope you heard me that time.
Same story, different day. SSDD.
--
Dave

Speculation on a product or material that is
an obvious need, is not speculation per se
as there is no risk to the speculator.
Common were those selling food and other
supplies in the gold rush days.
In this case, its oil and its everyone who
bites the bullet. And most everyone has no gold
to be made, just business as usual.

 

[Brian A.]

Like DI 6.0/2002 of former days, its REbooting to an alternate OS, loading the
partition manager, getting the information from the XP partition current
filesystem location, doing the job instructed, bowing out, and booting the
operating system that normally occurs. The boot cue to the alternate OS is
deleted upon finish and out of the that OS to XP.

DOES NOT OCCUR IN WINDOWS XP ENVIRONMENT. Hope you heard me that time.

Even though the task is conducted in a different environment, IT IS
IMPLEMENTED IN THE XP ENVIRONMENT.


--


Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[glee]

Like DI 6.0/2002 of former days, its REbooting to an alternate OS, loading the
partition manager, getting the information from the XP partition current
filesystem location, doing the job instructed, bowing out, and booting the
operating system that normally occurs. The boot cue to the alternate OS is
deleted upon finish and out of the that OS to XP.

DOES NOT OCCUR IN WINDOWS XP ENVIRONMENT. Hope you heard me that time. Same
story, different day. SSDD.

Dave,
No one is arguing that point but you. What Brian is arguing (and the fact of the
matter) is that you stated in your original reply, and I quote:
" when resizing a windows partition, the partitioning software cannot be implemented
from windows. Rather, BOOT MEDIA with that partitioning software is REQUIRED."
(capitalization for emphasis, mine)

What Brian contested, which you are apparently not catching yet, is that BOOT MEDIA
is not needed....the process is initiated from Windows.....then carried out during
the reboot outside the Windows environment, as we all agree.
You assertion that boot media is required is incorrect.

"Hope you heard me that time" and I hope you still have a sense of humour. ;-)