Extend size of D: drive

[P.A.]

without getting too arcane, can someone tell me the simplest way to
increase the size of my data drive (D into unallocated space using
windows XP tools??? the D: drive is physically separate from my boot
drive (C Thanks in advance.

-Paul

 

[Malke]

without getting too arcane, can someone tell me the simplest way to
increase the size of my data drive (D into unallocated space using
windows XP tools??? the D: drive is physically separate from my boot
drive (C Thanks in advance.

Are you saying that you have two separate physical hard drives? There is no
way you can take space from Drive 1 and put it on Drive 0. Even if you only
had two partitions on one drive, you can't change your partitioning scheme
with native Windows utilities non-destructively. You'd need third party
partitioning software for that.

But if you do in fact have two separate hard drives as I read your post,
then you can't take space from one drive and magically put it on another
drive. Buy a bigger drive or even a third drive - internal or external.
Just make sure your power supply is adequate if you do this.

Malke

 

[Harry Ohrn]

You can't extend it using XP's tools without losing all the data currently
on the drive. If that doesn't matter to you and you want a clean drive then
go to Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Computer Management->Storage.
Click Disk Management. In the right pane right click your D drive and click
"Delete ... drive"

From there you can recreate the type and size of partition(s) you want to
create. Following that you will need to Format the partition before you can
use it.

If you have data currently on D that you do not wish to loose make certain
you Backup before you make any changes.

If you do not want to lose data on D but wish to expand the partition you
will need third party software. Acronis DiskDirector is an easy and
excellent tool for doing this www.acronis.com . There are other such
repartitioning tools Partition Magic, BootIt NG, Partition Commander are
popular.

 

[Walter Mautner]

P.A. enlightened us 24hoursupport.helpdesk - (ab)users with:

without getting too arcane, can someone tell me the simplest way to
increase the size of my data drive (D into unallocated space using
windows XP tools??? the D: drive is physically separate from my boot
drive (C Thanks in advance.

The usual way is converting D: into a "dynamic disc" with XP (PRO)s disk
manager, then enlarging it. But I am uncertain if it works with a
converted drive.
There is a disadvantage though ... you cannot convert it back for
compatibility or backup reasons, without wiping it out.
Another method would be a live-cd with gparted/qtparted, both free,
or the (non-free) tools like partition magic, acronis and so on.

 

[P.A.]

I was looking at bootit NG, there is a shareware version you can
download that will do the trick, correct??? I think that is the one I
was looking at, although i wasn't sure if it was only for expanding
boot drives, thus the name, 'boot it' ng, but here you say i can use it
to expand my data drive too, perhaps i will have to investigate this
further.

You can't extend it using XP's tools without losing all the data currently
on the drive. If that doesn't matter to you and you want a clean drive then
go to Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Computer Management->Storage.
Click Disk Management. In the right pane right click your D drive and click
"Delete ... drive"

From there you can recreate the type and size of partition(s) you want to
create. Following that you will need to Format the partition before you can
use it.

If you have data currently on D that you do not wish to loose make certain
you Backup before you make any changes.

If you do not want to lose data on D but wish to expand the partition you
will need third party software. Acronis DiskDirector is an easy and
excellent tool for doing this www.acronis.com . There are other such
repartitioning tools Partition Magic, BootIt NG, Partition Commander are
popular.
--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

without getting too arcane, can someone tell me the simplest way to
increase the size of my data drive (D into unallocated space using
windows XP tools??? the D: drive is physically separate from my boot
drive (C Thanks in advance.

-Paul

 

[P.A.]

Thanks all for replies, i would have never left unallocated space on my
drive if I knew it was such a hassle to get access to it, i figured it
could be accomplished through windows XP and that the flexibility might
come in handy but it's proving to be more of a burden...

I was looking at bootit NG, there is a shareware version you can
download that will do the trick, correct??? I think that is the one I
was looking at, although i wasn't sure if it was only for expanding
boot drives, thus the name, 'boot it' ng, but here you say i can use it
to expand my data drive too, perhaps i will have to investigate this
further.

You can't extend it using XP's tools without losing all the data currently
on the drive. If that doesn't matter to you and you want a clean drive then
go to Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Computer Management->Storage.
Click Disk Management. In the right pane right click your D drive and click
"Delete ... drive"

From there you can recreate the type and size of partition(s) you want to
create. Following that you will need to Format the partition before you can
use it.

If you have data currently on D that you do not wish to loose make certain
you Backup before you make any changes.

If you do not want to lose data on D but wish to expand the partition you
will need third party software. Acronis DiskDirector is an easy and
excellent tool for doing this www.acronis.com . There are other such
repartitioning tools Partition Magic, BootIt NG, Partition Commander are
popular.
--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

without getting too arcane, can someone tell me the simplest way to
increase the size of my data drive (D into unallocated space using
windows XP tools??? the D: drive is physically separate from my boot
drive (C Thanks in advance.

-Paul

 

[Walter Mautner]

P.A. enlightened us 24hoursupport.helpdesk - (ab)users with:

Thanks all for replies, i would have never left unallocated space on
my drive if I knew it was such a hassle to get access to it, i figured
it could be accomplished through windows XP and that the flexibility
might come in handy but it's proving to be more of a burden...

You may as well create a new partition (using xp drive management,
without making your disc a dynamic one) taking the unallocated space,
and - instead of giving it a new driveletter - link it to a folder in
your other partition. The "other partition" must be ntfs formatted to
give the choice. Then you can move stuff over there from say
your "programs" folder, finally rename your "programs" to "empty" and
the new junction link folder to "programs".

Btw., do you read from bottom to top? No? Then, why top-posting?

 

[Harry Ohrn]

Yes BootIt NG will do the trick for you. How will likely need to purchase
it to ensure that you don't lose access to the drive after the trial period
expires. While BootIt NG is a very stable program it is a bit more difficult
to use than programs like Acronis Disk Director. If you decide to use BootIt
NG make certain you read the enclosed .pdf file to learn how to use it.

--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

I was looking at bootit NG, there is a shareware version you can
download that will do the trick, correct??? I think that is the one I
was looking at, although i wasn't sure if it was only for expanding
boot drives, thus the name, 'boot it' ng, but here you say i can use it
to expand my data drive too, perhaps i will have to investigate this
further.

You can't extend it using XP's tools without losing all the data
currently
on the drive. If that doesn't matter to you and you want a clean drive
then
go to Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Computer Management->Storage.
Click Disk Management. In the right pane right click your D drive and
click
"Delete ... drive"

From there you can recreate the type and size of partition(s) you want to
create. Following that you will need to Format the partition before you
can
use it.

If you have data currently on D that you do not wish to loose make
certain
you Backup before you make any changes.

If you do not want to lose data on D but wish to expand the partition you
will need third party software. Acronis DiskDirector is an easy and
excellent tool for doing this www.acronis.com . There are other such
repartitioning tools Partition Magic, BootIt NG, Partition Commander are
popular.
--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

without getting too arcane, can someone tell me the simplest way to
increase the size of my data drive (D into unallocated space using
windows XP tools??? the D: drive is physically separate from my boot
drive (C Thanks in advance.

-Paul