partition resizing

  • Thread starter Thread starter Andrew Bullock
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A

Andrew Bullock

Hi,

Can anyone recommend any non-destructive, STABLE/SAFE ntfs partition
resize software?

I seem to remember a version of partition magic i had screwed me over
once (can't remember the version)


I need to extend my boot partition and shrink my 2nd partition if that
helps.


Thanks

Andrew
 
No software tool is entirely Stable or Safe - they all have conditions
or system states that might result in bad results. I still use Partition
Magic 8.01 - but from a Bootable CD-R. BootItNG is another tool
that should perform those maintenance operations.
Before doing that type of operation, make sure that both partitions
are "Clean" and free of drive inconsistencies. (Chkdsk). Also a defrag
before disk maintenance wouldn't be a bad idea.
With Partition Magic, I usually do the re-allocation in separate steps.
Reduce Size, Apply - Then resize the unallocated space into the
destination partition. As always, backup/image system before starting
something of this nature.
Partition Magic is now a Symantec product. Natively it runs from
within Windows and does it actions as a boot type process. Part of
it's setup is to create a Bootable Diskette set to run outside of XP.
I believe BootItNG has a 30-Day full functional trial, but has a less
intuitive interface than PQMagic's. As a 3rd choice I believe Acronis
also makes a Disk Maintenance package.
BootItNG http://www.bootitng.com/bootitng.html
PQMagic http://www.symantec.com/partitionmagic/
Acronis http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/diskdirector/
 
Hi, Andrew.

Well, yes - and no.
Can anyone recommend any non-destructive, STABLE/SAFE ntfs partition
resize software?

Diskpart /extend. Check it out in WinXP's Help and Support by searching for
extend. But keep reading, because the left hand takes away most of what the
right hand gives. :>( There are many gotchas that can keep you from using
this program, or can make it work differently than you expect.

It's non-destructive, stable and safe. But it will only extend a partition,
not shrink one. And the biggest limitation, from your standpoint, is that
it won't work on the System Partition or Boot Volume.

Of course, when that HD is a data drive in a different computer, then that
boot volume is "just another volume" to the copy of WinXP that is running.
So, you can move the HD temporarily to another computer, extend the
partition, then move it back home. To make room for the extension of the
first partition, you can first delete the second partition (after backing up
its contents), then recreate it after extending the first one and restore
its data.

Note that DiskPart.exe in WinXP is NOT the same as the DiskPart command in
the WinXP Recovery Console. Run DiskPart.exe from the command prompt in a
"DOS" window. Type diskpart to enter the shell; you should see a new
prompt: DISKPART> Type Dir to see a list of nearly 2 dozen functions,
including extend.

If you have access to a third-party program, such as Partition Magic or
BootItNG, you probably should use the proper version of one of those.

RC
 
Hi,

Can anyone recommend any non-destructive, STABLE/SAFE ntfs partition
resize software?

I seem to remember a version of partition magic i had screwed me over
once (can't remember the version)


I need to extend my boot partition and shrink my 2nd partition if that
helps.


Thanks

Andrew
I have never had a problem with Partition Magic, but it DOES warn you
to back up your disk before doing anything!
 
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