Hard Drive partition query

[Stevo]

I am using a Fujitsu Siemens PC, with Windows XP (Professional). My
Hard Drive was partitioned on installation of Windows XP. Both
partitions were formatted NTFS, Partition 1 contains the operating
system etc.. partition 2 had media/work files on. I have now deleted
everything off Partition 2, and deleted the partition through the
Computer Management section. This second partition now shows 99% free,
despite it being empty, the GB available, and it's status is not
allocated. - The primary partition states 'healthy (system)' and also
the GB available. How do I get the available space from that second
partition to be included as part of the primary partition. (In effect, I
want there to be just one hard drive volume, and no actual partition.)
Can this be done without having to install Windows XP again?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I am using a Fujitsu Siemens PC, with Windows XP (Professional). My
Hard Drive was partitioned on installation of Windows XP. Both
partitions were formatted NTFS, Partition 1 contains the operating
system etc.. partition 2 had media/work files on. I have now deleted
everything off Partition 2, and deleted the partition through the
Computer Management section. This second partition now shows 99% free,
despite it being empty, the GB available, and it's status is not
allocated. - The primary partition states 'healthy (system)' and also
the GB available. How do I get the available space from that second
partition to be included as part of the primary partition. (In
effect, I want there to be just one hard drive volume, and no actual
partition.) Can this be done without having to install Windows XP
again?

Unfortunately, no version of Windows provides any way of changing the
existing partition structure of the drive nondestructively. The only way to
do what you want is with third-party software. Partition Magic is the
best-known such program, but there are freeware/shareware alternatives. One
such program is BootIt Next Generation. It's shareware, but comes with a
free 30-day trial, so you should be able to do what you want within that 30
days. I haven't used it myself (because I've never needed to use *any* such
program), but it comes highly recommended by several other MVPs here.

Whatever software you use, make sure you have a good backup before
beginning. Although there's no reason to expect a problem, things *can* go
wrong.

 

[Jerry]

You cannot do that using the software you have. Windows will not merge
partitions. Partition Magic or Partition Commander can be purchased to do
it.

 

[Gordon]

I am using a Fujitsu Siemens PC, with Windows XP (Professional). My
Hard Drive was partitioned on installation of Windows XP. Both
partitions were formatted NTFS, Partition 1 contains the operating
system etc.. partition 2 had media/work files on. I have now deleted
everything off Partition 2, and deleted the partition through the
Computer Management section. This second partition now shows 99% free,
despite it being empty, the GB available, and it's status is not
allocated. - The primary partition states 'healthy (system)' and also
the GB available. How do I get the available space from that second
partition to be included as part of the primary partition. (In effect, I
want there to be just one hard drive volume, and no actual partition.)
Can this be done without having to install Windows XP again?

Only by third party software such as Acronis or BootitNG. But why did you do
this in the first place? It's a great thing not to have to worry (too) much
about your data when you have to reformat and re-install the OS if your data
is on a second partition. Many IT knowledgeable people (me included!) do
this.

 

[Jonny]

I am using a Fujitsu Siemens PC, with Windows XP (Professional). My
Hard Drive was partitioned on installation of Windows XP. Both
partitions were formatted NTFS, Partition 1 contains the operating
system etc.. partition 2 had media/work files on. I have now deleted
everything off Partition 2, and deleted the partition through the
Computer Management section. This second partition now shows 99% free,
despite it being empty, the GB available, and it's status is not
allocated. - The primary partition states 'healthy (system)' and also
the GB available. How do I get the available space from that second
partition to be included as part of the primary partition. (In effect, I
want there to be just one hard drive volume, and no actual partition.)
Can this be done without having to install Windows XP again?

Unless you're strapped for space for XP and 3rd party applications, this is
probably a big mistake.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Unless you're strapped for space for XP and 3rd party applications,
this is probably a big mistake.

Why? There's nothing wrong with having a single large partition, and it can
be a good choice for many people.

My view is that most people's partitioning scheme should be based on their
backup scheme. If, for example, you backup by creating a clone or image on
the entire drive, then as ingle partition might be best. If, on the other
hand, you backup only your data, then the backup process is facilitated by
having all data in a separate partition.