Combining Partitions for more space

F

Frankster

I just setup a new Dell SC400 server (2.8Ghz/1GB RAM, single 80 Gig AT Hard
drive). I now have an 80 gig drive with two primary partitions. C is 60
Gig and D is 20 Gig. D has no data, I simply formatted it.

What is the easiest, and hopefully free, way of combining C and D for a C
drive with a total of 80 Gig.

I wanted to do this from the beginning. I purchased the Dell with no OS.
It came with a startup disk that was Linux. I attempted to select the
largest partition possible for C drive but only got 60 rather than the 80.
I assume that was because of some kind of Linux setup limit. I dunno...

-Frank
 
I

Ingeborg

Sorry, I should add, this server has Windows 2003 server installed
now.

-Frank
Click to expand...

With Disk Management you can upgrade the disk to 'Dynamic Disk', and then
it's possible to put the partitions together. Then it's even possible to
add partitions of another disk, or to stripe or raid. You can upgrade by
rightclicking on the disk icon, but I don't know the rest of the
interface. It's irreversable without deleting all partitions, and it's
not supported by windows versions older than W2000, nor does Linux
support this, so I never dared.
 
P

Pegasus \(MVP\)

Frankster said:
I just setup a new Dell SC400 server (2.8Ghz/1GB RAM, single 80 Gig AT Hard
drive). I now have an 80 gig drive with two primary partitions. C is 60
Gig and D is 20 Gig. D has no data, I simply formatted it.

What is the easiest, and hopefully free, way of combining C and D for a C
drive with a total of 80 Gig.

I wanted to do this from the beginning. I purchased the Dell with no OS.
It came with a startup disk that was Linux. I attempted to select the
largest partition possible for C drive but only got 60 rather than the 80.
I assume that was because of some kind of Linux setup limit. I dunno...

-Frank
Click to expand...

Your requirements are mutually contradictory: The easiest way
usually costs money, and the free methods are not usually the
easiest ones. I'm sure you've heard about having your cake and
eating it . . . Here is a free way:
1. Install the server disk and some spare 10 GByte disk as
secondary disks in some Win2000/XP PC.
2. Use xcopy.exe with the appropriate switches to copy the
server disk to the spare disk.
3. Repartition the server disk.
4. Use xcopy to re-populate the server disk.
5. Put the server disk back into the server.
6. Using the server installation CD, restore the boot environment.

The method works well but it requires some knowledge about
xcopy.exe and about the Windows boot sector.
 
B

Bjorn Landemoo

Frank

Delete D:, and use the diskpart command extend (from safe mode with command
prompt) to extend your C: to fill the disk. This MS Knowledge Base article
might be helpful:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=300415

This is free, however not risk free, and easy.

Best regards

Bjorn
 
K

Kurt

Noone has asked what kind of disk setup you have. Is this just a single
drive / basic disk? If so, see the other posts. If it is a mirror or striped
set of any kind (especially if it's a hardware RAID), you may have a larger
task.
 
B

Bjorn Landemoo

Kurt

We didn't need to ask, he wrote that he had a single 80 Gig AT Hard drive.

Best regards

Bjorn
 
M

Mark-Allen Perry

Neat to know. This I never tried with Diskpart.

Thanks for the information, Bjorn.

--
And always try the MS KB first before posting.
The answer is probably already posted.
MS KB: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;KBHOWTO
----
Mark-Allen Perry
ALPHA Systems
Marly, Switzerland
mark-allen_AT_mvps_DOT_org

Frank

Delete D:, and use the diskpart command extend (from safe mode with command
prompt) to extend your C: to fill the disk. This MS Knowledge Base article
might be helpful:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=300415

This is free, however not risk free, and easy.

Best regards

Bjorn
 
K

Kurt

Well, I'm learning to read. Maybe if I could just learn to read the whole
thing I wouldn't put my foot in my mouth so often. :)
 
B

Bjorn Landemoo

Mark-Allen Perry said:
Neat to know. This I never tried with Diskpart.

Thanks for the information, Bjorn.
Click to expand...

Mark-Allen

You can use it in Win2000 as well, there is a downloadable version on MS
web. MSKB 325590 has more complete information.

Best regards

Bjorn
 
B

Bjorn Landemoo

Kurt

I know exactly what it feels like. It has happened to me literally hundreds
of times. Usually, I forget to read what the subject says, and answer the
wrong question...

Best regards

Bjorn
 
M

Mark-Allen Perry

Got it, Bjorn. Again thanks.

Read, ask and learn.

--
And always try the MS KB first before posting.
The answer is probably already posted.
MS KB: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;KBHOWTO
----
Mark-Allen Perry
ALPHA Systems
Marly, Switzerland
mark-allen_AT_mvps_DOT_org

Mark-Allen Perry said:
Neat to know. This I never tried with Diskpart.

Thanks for the information, Bjorn.
Click to expand...

Mark-Allen

You can use it in Win2000 as well, there is a downloadable version on MS
web. MSKB 325590 has more complete information.

Best regards

Bjorn
 

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