Merging local disk C and extended C ?

[Mort]

Hi,

I'm running Windows XP/SP-3, and have a storage problem on my hard
drive. Below are listed the total and remaining capacities of the two C
partitions on my hard drive:

Local Disk C total=127 GB, free=840 MB
Extended C total=21 GB, free=19.2 GB

If I merge the two C partitions into one, e.g by dragging one into the
other, will there be any adverse effects? I am looking for a way to
increase the free space on my internal hard drive, without having to
hook up an external hard drive. I have already deleted unnecessary programs.

Thanks for any help.

Mort Linder

 

[Stef]

Hi,

I'm running Windows XP/SP-3, and have a storage problem on my hard
drive. Below are listed the total and remaining capacities of the two C
partitions on my hard drive:

Local Disk C total=127 GB, free=840 MB
Extended C total=21 GB, free=19.2 GB

If I merge the two C partitions into one, e.g by dragging one into the

NO! Don't do that! You'll "break' both partitions.

other, will there be any adverse effects? I am looking for a way to
increase the free space on my internal hard drive, without having to
hook up an external hard drive. I have already deleted unnecessary programs.

Thanks for any help.

I'm assuming that BOTH partitions are on the same hard drive, and not on
different drives. You never said. And that there are no other
partitions on the drive like system hidden partitions, which with
Windows there usually are. So, check before doing anything.

Get a partition editor like Partition Magic or similar. Copy all the
files on Extended C to another device like a thumb drive. Start the
parttion editor. Delete the partition Extended C. Expand Local Disk C
to fill the empty space. Copy the files from Extended C to C. Done!

Stef

 

[Mort]

NO! Don't do that! You'll "break' both partitions.


I'm assuming that BOTH partitions are on the same hard drive, and not on
different drives. You never said. And that there are no other
partitions on the drive like system hidden partitions, which with
Windows there usually are. So, check before doing anything.

Hi Stef,

Yes, both partitions are on the same hard drive, and came that way from
the factory. Even though I have a full backup including registry on an
external hard drive, I would never do anything risky or unknown before
getting advice
from our newsgroup members such as you. I will certainly look into a
recent edition of Partition Magic and follow your advice.

Thanks ever so much for your very helpful insights.

Regards,

Mort

 

[Mort]

Hi Stef and group,

How do I look for hidden partitions on my "extended C" on my hard drive?
I have no experience with hidden partitions.

Thanks again,

Mort

 

[Barry Schwarz]

Partition Magic (and probably every other partitioning utility)
provides a table and a "map" that identifies every partition and all
unallocated space on every drive it recognizes. In addition to the
name, size, location, drive letter, and consumption, it also provides
the status of the partition which will indicate hidden or not.

 

[Barry Schwarz]

Hi Stef,

Yes, both partitions are on the same hard drive, and came that way from
the factory. Even though I have a full backup including registry on an
external hard drive, I would never do anything risky or unknown before
getting advice
from our newsgroup members such as you. I will certainly look into a
recent edition of Partition Magic and follow your advice.

Symantec has abandoned Partition Magic. They no longer offer it on
their web site. V8 is the latest(?) version and it is five years old.
XP is the last Windows version it will run on. Google shows lots of
places offering downloads but you never know what lurks within. If
you know someone with it, they may be able to build you a stand alone
CD.

 

[Mort]

Symantec has abandoned Partition Magic. They no longer offer it on
their web site. V8 is the latest(?) version and it is five years old.
XP is the last Windows version it will run on. Google shows lots of
places offering downloads but you never know what lurks within. If
you know someone with it, they may be able to build you a stand alone
CD.

Hi Barry,

Thanks for the 2 posts. Although my newest PC runs windows 7 Home Pro,
my problem hard drive is on an older PC running XP. Therefore, I assume
that the old Partition Magic will still work. We'll see. I do have a
full external hard drive back-up including registry in native format,
so I'll try using the Partition Magic, albeit carefully.

Thanks again,

Mort Linder