Merging a hidden parition and seeing it?

[Brian V]

Since I recently installed Windows XP Home and have just installed all my
programs, and gotten pretty much all the updates I was wondering if I can
find the hidden parition and unhide it or merge it or destroy it.

The next step is to do Norton 360 system scans, disk defragmenting, disk
clean up and error checking. I would then create a restore point. I am really
really concidering buying software to make disk images then.

I put in so much work and I cannot afford to spend all this time to
constantly re-install everything.

So since there are people who know what I am talking about: When I installed
Windows XP I saw the 2 partitions I am use to. There was a 3rd. It had a -
beside it and no drive name. I was wondering if I can merge it and not lose
all my data/work/effort.

A big reason is: Since I took the hard-drive out of an Acer Aspire OEM, it
had Acer related stuff on it. The drive name I saw in the XP installation had
an acer name. I am concerned that in future if there is a problem or jsut
because: There could be a conflict. I want some more space on my drive.

I have searched on the topic. I have found ways to see it, maybe merger it
and not lose data, etc.

Since there are people on this board who may have dealt with this issue: Is
there anything you recommend to do or not do? Are there any specific programs
you can recommend?

I do not have a Floppy A drive. I can't remember how to get into Dos. I
think you press a F1-F12 key at start-up. But I never go into Dos, so I don't
know. Some of the stuff I read mentions floppy A and Dos.

If I would lose everything: Until I do a clean install or upgrade my
computer I can wait to get rid of that partition.

I can re-insert the Windows XP cd and select that partition: But I don't
want windows XP installing on there and I don't know how to unhide it, unless
that option comes up. Would that option come up? If I did do this: will all
my other stuff be erased?

 

[John Inzer]

Since I recently installed Windows XP Home and have just installed
all my programs, and gotten pretty much all the updates I was
wondering if I can find the hidden parition and unhide it or merge it
or destroy it.

The next step is to do Norton 360 system scans, disk defragmenting,
disk clean up and error checking. I would then create a restore
point. I am really really concidering buying software to make disk
images then.

I put in so much work and I cannot afford to spend all this time to
constantly re-install everything.

So since there are people who know what I am talking about: When I
installed Windows XP I saw the 2 partitions I am use to. There was a
3rd. It had a - beside it and no drive name. I was wondering if I can
merge it and not lose all my data/work/effort.

A big reason is: Since I took the hard-drive out of an Acer Aspire
OEM, it had Acer related stuff on it. The drive name I saw in the XP
installation had an acer name. I am concerned that in future if there
is a problem or jsut because: There could be a conflict. I want some
more space on my drive.

I have searched on the topic. I have found ways to see it, maybe
merger it and not lose data, etc.

Since there are people on this board who may have dealt with this
issue: Is there anything you recommend to do or not do? Are there any
specific programs you can recommend?

I do not have a Floppy A drive. I can't remember how to get into Dos.
I think you press a F1-F12 key at start-up. But I never go into Dos,
so I don't know. Some of the stuff I read mentions floppy A and Dos.

If I would lose everything: Until I do a clean install or upgrade my
computer I can wait to get rid of that partition.

I can re-insert the Windows XP cd and select that partition: But I
don't want windows XP installing on there and I don't know how to
unhide it, unless that option comes up. Would that option come up? If
I did do this: will all my other stuff be erased?

========================================
Maybe the following links would be worth a look:

(FWIW...it's always a good idea to create a System
Restore point before installing software or updates)

EASEUS Partition Manager
http://www.partition-tool.com/download.htm
Win 2000, XP, Vista, 7(32 bit only)

How To Resize Your Partitions with EASEUS Partition Manager
http://maketecheasier.com/how-to-resize-your-partitions-with-easeus-partition-manager/2008/12/04

The following freeware may be useful for creating
an image of your system.

Download From CNET
Paragon Backup & Recovery 10 Free Edition
http://tinyurl.com/yc8m6lm
or.....
http://download.cnet.com/Paragon-Backup-Recovery-Free-Edition-32-bit/3000-2242_4-10972187.html

Good luck.

--

J. Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[Andrew E.]

It's too bad you already installed xp,cause,if you had set pc to boot to
xp cd,press r (recovery console) key at xp cd boot menu,in recovery
type: DiskPart In DiskPart,delete any or all the partitions,create one,then
press ESC key,type: EXIT Reboot to xp cd,select install xp,format the hd
& install xp auto.....In xp,go to run,type: cmd In cmd type: DiskPart
In DiskPart type: list disk type: list volume type: HELP for all cmds.

 

[Brian V]

Thank you.

This is good to know, I should have asked before I installed. But I plan on
installing a new OS one day. So for now the showing, merging, etc can wait.

But if I make a disk image and they do what you have told me: Can I just
install the Disk image and let it be wrote over the hard-drive with one less
partition: so I can walk away as it installs again throught he disk image?

Thank you.

 

[Dragon]

Merge Partition, there is one software can help you just need a few steps,which is named MiniTool Parttition Wizard.
Merge Partition function can help you merge two adjacent partitions. This function only works for NTFS partitions. If your partition is FAT12/FAT16/FAT32, please use "Convert FAT to NTFS" function of Partition Wizard, convert partition to NTFS partition.

To start merging partition, please click Merge from the Partition menu. Alternatively, you can start merging partition by clicking Merge Partition from the Action Panel.

Step one: Select partition you like to expand from the partition list. This partition will be expanded to include all content from the adjacent partition which will be selected in the second step.
Step two: Select an adjacent partition that will be merged to the previous partition. All data of this partition will be merged to the expanding partition that selected in the first step.

Step three: Choose a name for the new folder.
The drive E will be expanded to 139.54 GB. And the data of drive F will be stored to the e:\merged_partition_content.