Merging two drives into one?

  • Thread starter Thread starter It Is Me Here
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It Is Me Here

I've just got my new computer (Windows Vista Ultimate) and despite it coming
with just one hard drive (if I'm not mistaken), when I open Computer, it
displays two different hard drives: "OS_Install (C:) [102 GB free of 231 GB]"
and "New Volume (D:) [465 GB free of 465 GB]".

Anyway, how, instead of working with this bizarre set-up, could I "merge"
C:\ and D:\ into one hard drive (in Windows Explorer's eyes, at least) so
that I do not have files arbitrarily split into two?
 
It Is Me Here said:
I've just got my new computer (Windows Vista Ultimate) and despite it
coming
with just one hard drive (if I'm not mistaken), when I open Computer, it
displays two different hard drives: "OS_Install (C:) [102 GB free of 231
GB]"
and "New Volume (D:) [465 GB free of 465 GB]".
Click to expand...

Are you really saying that the OS install takes up ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY
NINE GB?
Anyway, how, instead of working with this bizarre set-up, could I "merge"
C:\ and D:\ into one hard drive (in Windows Explorer's eyes, at least) so
that I do not have files arbitrarily split into two?
Click to expand...

It's not a "bizarre" setup - many users have their machines setup this way.
There are some advantages in having your HDD partitioned into two - OS and
apps go on the C drive, data goes on the D drive. It simplifies data backup,
and in the event of having to re-install the OS (not Restore you notice),
the data remains untouched.
And no, files are NOT "arbitrarily split in two", you cannot split a file
across two partitions.
 
Gordon said:
Are you really saying that the OS install takes up ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY
NINE GB?
Click to expand...

Apparently so
It's not a "bizarre" setup - many users have their machines setup this way.
There are some advantages in having your HDD partitioned into two - OS and
apps go on the C drive, data goes on the D drive. It simplifies data backup,
and in the event of having to re-install the OS (not Restore you notice),
the data remains untouched.
And no, files are NOT "arbitrarily split in two", you cannot split a file
across two partitions.
Click to expand...

Well, maybe, but I'm going to run out of space on my apps drive (i.e. C:\)
pretty soon, so I'd rather just bung them together. If you could tell me how
to do that, that would be great.
 
I've just got my new computer (Windows Vista Ultimate) and despite it coming
with just one hard drive (if I'm not mistaken), when I open Computer, it
displays two different hard drives: "OS_Install (C:) [102 GB free of 231 GB]"
Click to expand...


Something is very much wrong with those numbers. If 102GB is free out
of 231GB, that means that 129GB is in use. That's an *enormous* number
for a computer you just got, and is almost certainly wrong.


and "New Volume (D:) [465 GB free of 465 GB]".

Anyway, how, instead of working with this bizarre set-up,
Click to expand...



Bizarre? Why is it bizarre? In fact, it's very common. You have one
physical drive, which has been partitioned into two logical drives.
Many people prefer such a setup, especially those who have a very
large physical drive, such as your 696GB drive (your manufacturer
probably calls this a 750GB drive).

could I "merge"
C:\ and D:\ into one hard drive (in Windows Explorer's eyes, at least) so
that I do not have files arbitrarily split into two?
Click to expand...


Files are *never* split in two, arbitrarily or not. You have two
logical drives, which are treated just as if they were two physical
drives. What gets put on each drive (always complete files, never
split ones) is entirely up to you, and there's nothing arbitrary about
it.

Yes, there are ways to change this so you have a single partition
rather than two, but before you decide to do this, you should learn
something about the reasons why people *choose* to do what you call
"bizarre," and decide for yourself what kind of partition setup best
meets *your* needs.

I'm sure that others will respond, telling you why they prefer two or
more partitions, but in the meantime, I suggest that you read my
thoughts on partitioning at
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=326
 
Thanks, that was really interesting, and I'm more convinced than ever now to
departition my drive and have one logical drive. So, how would I go about
doing that?

Ken Blake said:
I've just got my new computer (Windows Vista Ultimate) and despite it coming
with just one hard drive (if I'm not mistaken), when I open Computer, it
displays two different hard drives: "OS_Install (C:) [102 GB free of 231 GB]"
Click to expand...


Something is very much wrong with those numbers. If 102GB is free out
of 231GB, that means that 129GB is in use. That's an *enormous* number
for a computer you just got, and is almost certainly wrong.


and "New Volume (D:) [465 GB free of 465 GB]".

Anyway, how, instead of working with this bizarre set-up,
Click to expand...



Bizarre? Why is it bizarre? In fact, it's very common. You have one
physical drive, which has been partitioned into two logical drives.
Many people prefer such a setup, especially those who have a very
large physical drive, such as your 696GB drive (your manufacturer
probably calls this a 750GB drive).

could I "merge"
C:\ and D:\ into one hard drive (in Windows Explorer's eyes, at least) so
that I do not have files arbitrarily split into two?
Click to expand...


Files are *never* split in two, arbitrarily or not. You have two
logical drives, which are treated just as if they were two physical
drives. What gets put on each drive (always complete files, never
split ones) is entirely up to you, and there's nothing arbitrary about
it.

Yes, there are ways to change this so you have a single partition
rather than two, but before you decide to do this, you should learn
something about the reasons why people *choose* to do what you call
"bizarre," and decide for yourself what kind of partition setup best
meets *your* needs.

I'm sure that others will respond, telling you why they prefer two or
more partitions, but in the meantime, I suggest that you read my
thoughts on partitioning at
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=326
Click to expand...
 
Well, the problem is that my C:\ drive WILL soon be 'broke' in that it will
be full up.

Can someone please just tell me how to stick the two drives back together
without blowing my PC up?

Bob said:
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

It Is Me Here said:
Thanks, that was really interesting, and I'm more convinced than ever now
to
departition my drive and have one logical drive. So, how would I go about
doing that?

Ken Blake said:
On Mon, 7 Apr 2008 09:33:02 -0700, It Is Me Here

I've just got my new computer (Windows Vista Ultimate) and despite it
coming
with just one hard drive (if I'm not mistaken), when I open Computer,
it
displays two different hard drives: "OS_Install (C:) [102 GB free of
231 GB]"


Something is very much wrong with those numbers. If 102GB is free out
of 231GB, that means that 129GB is in use. That's an *enormous* number
for a computer you just got, and is almost certainly wrong.



and "New Volume (D:) [465 GB free of 465 GB]".

Anyway, how, instead of working with this bizarre set-up,



Bizarre? Why is it bizarre? In fact, it's very common. You have one
physical drive, which has been partitioned into two logical drives.
Many people prefer such a setup, especially those who have a very
large physical drive, such as your 696GB drive (your manufacturer
probably calls this a 750GB drive).


could I "merge"
C:\ and D:\ into one hard drive (in Windows Explorer's eyes, at least)
so
that I do not have files arbitrarily split into two?


Files are *never* split in two, arbitrarily or not. You have two
logical drives, which are treated just as if they were two physical
drives. What gets put on each drive (always complete files, never
split ones) is entirely up to you, and there's nothing arbitrary about
it.

Yes, there are ways to change this so you have a single partition
rather than two, but before you decide to do this, you should learn
something about the reasons why people *choose* to do what you call
"bizarre," and decide for yourself what kind of partition setup best
meets *your* needs.

I'm sure that others will respond, telling you why they prefer two or
more partitions, but in the meantime, I suggest that you read my
thoughts on partitioning at
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=326
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Yes, but that would mean that some of my files are in C:\ and some are in D:\
for no apparent reason (i.e. not because I had organised my files to be like
that), which would not be very convenient for me.
 
It Is Me Here said:
Yes, but that would mean that some of my files are in C:\ and some are in
D:\
for no apparent reason (i.e. not because I had organised my files to be
like
that), which would not be very convenient for me.
Click to expand...

No, move ALL your Documents and Videos and Pictures to the D drive. It's
terribly easy....you can move your email and favorites too.
 
Thanks for the guide, but I have a problem with following it. I managed to
delete D:\ OK, but the option to Extend Volume for C:\ is still greyed out.
This does not change after a reboot, nor after enabling and logging on as the
Administrator account.

Brink said:
I've just got my new computer (Windows Vista Ultimate) and despite it
coming
with just one hard drive (if I'm not mistaken), when I open Computer,
it
displays two different hard drives: "OS_Install (C:) [102 GB free of
231 GB]"
and "New Volume (D:) [465 GB free of 465 GB]".

Anyway, how, instead of working with this bizarre set-up, could I
"merge"
C:\ and D:\ into one hard drive (in Windows Explorer's eyes, at least)
so
that I do not have files arbitrarily split into two?
Click to expand...

Hello,

This tutorial will show you how to delete the D partition and extend
the C partition to make C one large drive again.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/95418-disk-management-delete-extend.html

Hope this helps you,
Shawn


--
Brink

*There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask
them.*
'*VISTA FORUMS*' (http://www.vistax64.com)
*Please post feedback to help others.*
Click to expand...
 
If I were you, I would recreate the D drive and transfer your user
folders to D. The idea of having 2 drives is that you have all your
personal folders on D, with the OS and installed programs on C.

Before you do anything else ( I was too late to say this before you
deleted D) make sure you have backups of all your files and a plan for
if it all goes wrong and you find you cannot boot Vista anymore.

It Is said:
Thanks for the guide, but I have a problem with following it. I managed to
delete D:\ OK, but the option to Extend Volume for C:\ is still greyed out.
This does not change after a reboot, nor after enabling and logging on as the
Administrator account.

Brink said:
I've just got my new computer (Windows Vista Ultimate) and despite it
coming
with just one hard drive (if I'm not mistaken), when I open Computer,
it
displays two different hard drives: "OS_Install (C:) [102 GB free of
231 GB]"
and "New Volume (D:) [465 GB free of 465 GB]".

Anyway, how, instead of working with this bizarre set-up, could I
"merge"
C:\ and D:\ into one hard drive (in Windows Explorer's eyes, at least)
so
that I do not have files arbitrarily split into two?
Click to expand...

Hello,

This tutorial will show you how to delete the D partition and extend
the C partition to make C one large drive again.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/95418-disk-management-delete-extend.html

Hope this helps you,
Shawn


--
Brink

*There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask
them.*
'*VISTA FORUMS*' (http://www.vistax64.com)
*Please post feedback to help others.*
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
How would I know if it's to the right? I thought that logical drives didn't
have set "positions" as such?
 
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