Change Partition Sizes

[Guest]

Help! Is there an easy and inexpensive way to change the primary partition
size of my server? I have a 2gb primary and several similiar size
partitions, some of which are pretty much empty.

Can I reallocate disk from these to my primary partition?

Thanks!

 

[Guest]

Extending primary partition is not supported by Microsoft and if you try with
the tools built with windows you may loose the data. Although tools like
partition magic can do these things but as you said they are expensive way of
doing things.

Best Regards

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Help! Is there an easy and inexpensive way to change the primary partition
size of my server? I have a 2gb primary and several similiar size
partitions, some of which are pretty much empty.

Can I reallocate disk from these to my primary partition?

Thanks!

There are a couple of ways:

a) The easy way: Use a partitioning tool (Partition Magic, Acronis)
b) The hard way: Use some other Win2000/XP machine plus a
spare disk to save all files to a suitable storage area, repartition
your disk, copy things back again, restore the boot environment.

Option a) is what everybody uses. Option b) is a terrific learning
exercise.

 

[Bioboffin]

There are a couple of ways:

a) The easy way: Use a partitioning tool (Partition Magic, Acronis)
b) The hard way: Use some other Win2000/XP machine plus a
spare disk to save all files to a suitable storage area,
repartition your disk, copy things back again, restore the boot
environment.

Option a) is what everybody uses. Option b) is a terrific learning
exercise.

Unfortunately, the ordinary version of Partition Magic doesn't work on a
server. You have to buy the seriously expensive version.

John.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Unfortunately, the ordinary version of Partition Magic doesn't work on a
server. You have to buy the seriously expensive version.

John.

I do not know about the recent versions of PQMagic but the version
I have works on anything - provided that I use it with the "Recovery
Disk" (rather than from within Windows).

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the info! I plan on using plan "a" as a learning experience.

How do you restore the boot environment?

Are you talking about copying all the files back to the repartioned hard
drive and restoring the boot environment before I put it mack in the server?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Plan a) relies on third-party tools. There is no need to
restore the boot environment.

If you mean plan b) then you have to ensure to copy
all files, including hidden and system files, to the target
disk. You must then boot into the Recovery Console
and run the fixmbr and fixboot commands. You do
this when the disk is back in its normal machine.

 

[Guest]

Hi, Yes, I want to do plan "b". I look at situations like this even thought
they are stressful as being educational.

What command and command line options should I use? I know I'll want to
make sure I get all files. Should I also boot into "Safe Mode" to do the
copy? I want to make sure I get all files including any that would be in
use. I used to use XCOPY for situations like this but I know many of the
switches may need to be set when I do the copy.

I have an external USB Hard drive I could attach to the server.

I really appreciate all your help!

Thanks!
Carl

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Option b) relies on you using some other Win2000/XP PC.
As I said in my first reply, you must temporarily install your
DUT (Device Under Test) as a slave disk in that PC, then
copy all its files to a suitable holding area. There is no need
to run this second PC in Safe Mode, since no files on the
slave disk are in use.

Rather than me doing your homework, why don't you
propose what switches are appropriate for xcopy.exe?
Post them here and I'll tell you if they are adequate.

 

[Guest]

My initial question about "safe mode" was if I installed the DUT drive in my
server. I thought it may be better to do the copy under safe mode to insure
I get all files because fewer would be in use by the OS.

What I would like to do is to use the DUT in a workstation and not the
server itself. I thought I could then take that out of the workstation and
install in the server. This way I wouldn't disrupt anyone else on the server
in the initial phase.

What I was concerned about was that some of the Windows system files would
not copy because there were in-use on the server.

I would try xcopy with /c /h /e /k to continue with errors, include hidden
files, include sub directories, and get extended attributes.

What I am looking to do is make sure I get everything I need to use the DUT
in the server. What I am going to do is install larger drives so the DUT
will become the new production drive in my server. I plan on creating the
same number of partitions just much larger.

Thanks
Carl

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

See below.

My initial question about "safe mode" was if I installed the DUT drive in my
server. I thought it may be better to do the copy under safe mode to insure
I get all files because fewer would be in use by the OS.

*** It is not possible to create a copy of a live Win2000 installation.
*** To realise this is part of your learning exercise!

What I would like to do is to use the DUT in a workstation and not the
server itself. I thought I could then take that out of the workstation and
install in the server. This way I wouldn't disrupt anyone else on the server
in the initial phase.

*** You must install the server disk in your workstation for the copy
*** process. It's mandatory!

What I was concerned about was that some of the Windows system files would
not copy because there were in-use on the server.

*** They won't!

I would try xcopy with /c /h /e /k to continue with errors, include hidden
files, include sub directories, and get extended attributes.

*** Good! You also need the /o switch.

What I am looking to do is make sure I get everything I need to use the DUT
in the server. What I am going to do is install larger drives so the DUT
will become the new production drive in my server. I plan on creating the
same number of partitions just much larger.

*** It's a good idea to copy everything to the new disk and leave the
*** original disk intact. It means that you can fall back on the original
*** disk if necessary.