Hard disk repartition question

  • Thread starter Thread starter J Antero
  • Start date Start date
J

J Antero

I'm just about out of space in my XP op system partition and I'm hoping I
can expand that partition at the expense of the other partition/disk on that
hard drive, with a minimum of hassle.

Here's the situation:
* 20 gig hd with 2 partitions, one is C: with my o/s in it, the other is D:
with plenty of unused space.
* I use XP pro.
* I have Norton Systemworks 2003 installed.

Question: can I expand C: at the expense of D:? Is so, how? I can delete D:
if it's necessary.

Thanks for any relevant help
 
The only way you can create, delete, resize or merge existing partitions,
and not harm your existing Windows installation, is to purchase and use
a third-party partitioning program such as Partition Magic 8.
http://www.symantec.com/partitionmagic/

The alternative is to perform a "Clean Install" of Windows XP.

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I'm just about out of space in my XP op system partition and I'm hoping I
| can expand that partition at the expense of the other partition/disk on that
| hard drive, with a minimum of hassle.
|
| Here's the situation:
| * 20 gig hd with 2 partitions, one is C: with my o/s in it, the other is D:
| with plenty of unused space.
| * I use XP pro.
| * I have Norton Systemworks 2003 installed.
|
| Question: can I expand C: at the expense of D:? Is so, how? I can delete D:
| if it's necessary.
|
| Thanks for any relevant help
 
Yes, you can use a third party tool such as Partition Magic or equal.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| I'm just about out of space in my XP op system partition and I'm hoping I
| can expand that partition at the expense of the other partition/disk on
that
| hard drive, with a minimum of hassle.
|
| Here's the situation:
| * 20 gig hd with 2 partitions, one is C: with my o/s in it, the other is
D:
| with plenty of unused space.
| * I use XP pro.
| * I have Norton Systemworks 2003 installed.
|
| Question: can I expand C: at the expense of D:? Is so, how? I can delete
D:
| if it's necessary.
|
| Thanks for any relevant help
|
|
|
 
You can do it but you will need Symantec's Partition Magic or a similar
software package to do it. I have used Partition Magic and it is easy to
use and does the job just fine. XP does not contain a utility to do it.

GLLJR
 
J said:
I'm just about out of space in my XP op system partition and I'm hoping I
can expand that partition at the expense of the other partition/disk on that
hard drive, with a minimum of hassle.

Here's the situation:
* 20 gig hd with 2 partitions, one is C: with my o/s in it, the other is D:
with plenty of unused space.
* I use XP pro.
* I have Norton Systemworks 2003 installed.

Question: can I expand C: at the expense of D:? Is so, how? I can delete D:
if it's necessary.

Thanks for any relevant help
Click to expand...


http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/

Free 30-day fully functional trial. Good stuff.

Steve
 
Carey said:
The only way you can create, delete, resize or merge existing partitions,
and not harm your existing Windows installation, is to purchase and use
a third-party partitioning program such as Partition Magic 8.
http://www.symantec.com/partitionmagic/

The alternative is to perform a "Clean Install" of Windows XP.

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
Click to expand...

Not true:

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/

Free 30-day fully functional trial. Good stuff.

Steve
 
Note Carey stated "such as", meaning "for example". Partition Magic is one
such example. Like you, my choice would be BootIT NG, which is shareware
worth paying for. In this instance, it could be used for free by working
from a bootable floppy. However, the point of this response is that Carey is
correct in his response that this needs to be done with a third party
partitioning utility *like* Partition Magic.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
Rick said:
Note Carey stated "such as", meaning "for example". Partition Magic is one
such example. Like you, my choice would be BootIT NG, which is shareware
worth paying for. In this instance, it could be used for free by working
from a bootable floppy. However, the point of this response is that Carey is
correct in his response that this needs to be done with a third party
partitioning utility *like* Partition Magic.
Click to expand...

Ok.

Steve
 
A bit convoluted. Why not resize with a Linux live CD, say, Mepis? It
takes only a few minutes.
Click to expand...

How is downloading an ISO and burning it to a disc less "convoluted" than
downloading a small program and copying it to a floppy? You can do the
later without any ISO burning program.

The only thing convoluted here is the lengths to which Linux fanatics will
go to try and make Linux attractive.
 
This question is asked in numerous ways almost daily at this newsgroup.
Bottom line: cannot be done with what you have. You need a 3rd party
partitioning program that can expand/shrink partitions. The program cannot
be run in XP as the XP partition is being modified. The best way is what
you mentioned, deleting the other partition (D:\), then incorporating the
space into the XP partition (C:\).

Avoid merging partitions at all costs if the option is available.

Backup your entire XP partition before making these changes. The
partitioning program may have to realign the data and update the filesystem
of new file locations. Sometimes this fubars. Making the data, thus your
entire system unreadable.
 
J Antero said:
I'm just about out of space in my XP op system partition and I'm hoping I
can expand that partition at the expense of the other partition/disk on
that hard drive, with a minimum of hassle.

Here's the situation:
* 20 gig hd with 2 partitions, one is C: with my o/s in it, the other is
D: with plenty of unused space.
* I use XP pro.
* I have Norton Systemworks 2003 installed.

Question: can I expand C: at the expense of D:? Is so, how? I can delete
D: if it's necessary.
Click to expand...


I did this using Windows but it involves deleting the D partition which you
say you are prepared to do. Instructions are in Windows XP Help but put
simply, you delete the D partition, then create a smaller D partition and
finally expand the C partition into the remaining empty space.
 
Keith Willcocks said:
I did this using Windows but it involves deleting the D partition which
you say you are prepared to do. Instructions are in Windows XP Help but
put simply, you delete the D partition, then create a smaller D partition
and finally expand the C partition into the remaining empty space.
Click to expand...


I just realised my error. This only works if the partition being extended
is NOT the boot partition (hangs head in embarrassment).
 
Keith said:
I just realised my error. This only works if the partition being
extended is NOT the boot partition (hangs head in embarrassment).
Click to expand...

Don't be embarrased, at least you can be proud that you didn't recommend
using Partition Magic.
 
You can overcome your problem without modifying your partitions. Move
files / folders from C: to D:. Here are some ways to do just that.

Try Disk CleanUp to remove Temporary Internet Files and the System
Restore option in the More Options tab of Disk CleanUp.

To move programmes use Add / Remove Programs in Start, Control Panel,
Add / Remove Programs to uninstall programmes. Create a Programs
Directory on your other partition and reinstall there.

Some other notes you may find useful.

Create a My Documents folder in another partition and copy ( not move )
the contents of My Documents to your new folder. Then delete the files
in your My Documents folder ( if you encounter problems deleting use
Shift + Delete to bypass the Recycle Bin ). You will also need to
change Default File locations in the Microsoft Office programmes you
use. For Word go to Tools, Options, File Locations, highlight Documents,
click on Modify and change file path. For Excel go to Tools, Options,
General and change default file path.

For Temporary Internet Files select Start, Control Panel, Internet
Options, Temporary Internet Files. Settings, Move Folder.

To move the Outlook Express Store Folder select in Outlook Express
Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store Folder, Change.

http://www.tomsterdam.com/insideoe/files/store.htm

If you need more you could reduce the amount of space allocated to
system restore from 12% to 10% or even 8%. Right click My Computer,
select Properties, System Restore tab, place cursor on drive and click
on Settings.


--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA

Using invalid email address

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please tell the newsgroup how any
suggested solution worked for you.
 
Rick

I agree with your comments about Carey's advice. However, a simpler
solution to the problem is to move Folders / Files from one partition to
the other. Of course the other person asked a question instead of
directly requesting advice on the problem.

--


Regards.

Gerry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Keith Willcocks said:
I did this using Windows but it involves deleting the D partition which
you say you are prepared to do. Instructions are in Windows XP Help but
put simply, you delete the D partition, then create a smaller D partition
and finally expand the C partition into the remaining empty space.
Click to expand...

C:\ has Win XP in it, and is the boot disk/partition. Is there any problem
in expanding the boot partition?
 
J Antero said:
C:\ has Win XP in it, and is the boot disk/partition. Is there any problem
in expanding the boot partition?
Click to expand...


Yes. See my embarrassing follow up earlier.
 
Keith Willcocks said:
Yes. See my embarrassing follow up earlier.
Click to expand...

So what can be done when your o/s boot partition needs to be expanded due to
the endless bloated updates?
 
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