Partition volumes

[sam]

Please help !! Somehow I've managed to create two
partitions on my hard drive : C & F. C-drive is only 2GB
but that's where Windows etc is loaded. F-drive is 7GB &
is empty.

The C-drive is full & everytime I try to run or load
anything I get problems because of that. I don't need two
partitions & I really just want my 9GB hard drive back.
Try as I might I can't figure out how to do it. I can
delete the F partition to free up the space, but I can't
reallocate the volume to C.

Very grateful for any advice.

thanks

Sam (saminthestars(remove this)@yahoo.com)

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

At this point, the only thing you can do is backup your critical files
and proceed with a "clean install".

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

Note: If you are unable to activate Windows XP again via the internet,
then select the option to "activate by telephone".

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Please help !! Somehow I've managed to create two
| partitions on my hard drive : C & F. C-drive is only 2GB
| but that's where Windows etc is loaded. F-drive is 7GB &
| is empty.
|
| The C-drive is full & everytime I try to run or load
| anything I get problems because of that. I don't need two
| partitions & I really just want my 9GB hard drive back.
| Try as I might I can't figure out how to do it. I can
| delete the F partition to free up the space, but I can't
| reallocate the volume to C.
|
| Very grateful for any advice.
|
| thanks
|
| Sam (saminthestars(remove this)@yahoo.com)

 

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

You can combine the two partitions, or you take some space from the second
and add it to the first, but you'll need third party software to do it. Use
Partition Magic 8.0, by Symantec (which acquired the program's creator:
PowerQuest.). You can learn about it here:

http://www.symantec.com/partitionmagic/

Without third party software, you will have to delete your partitions (=
wipe out everything on your hard drive) and start all over again.

Rocky

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Sam.

Even 9 GB is quite small to install and run WinXP and any useful
applications. :>(

And there's no good and easy way to "grow" a partition once it is created.
WinXP's Disk Management utility can delete a partition and create a new one
in that space. Diskpart can "extend" a partition into contiguous
unallocated space, which exist after you delete F:. However, Diskpart can't
work with the system partition - which is C:. You would need to put the
drive into a different computer (or boot to a parallel install of WinXP on a
separate HD) to do the surgery, then return it to your machine. If that is
feasible in your case, post back with details of your system and I'll give
you some instructions - or you can search for "extend" in the WinXP Help and
Support file and read it for yourself.

Your best course of action would probably be to simply boot from the WinXP
CD-ROM and let Setup delete your current partitions, create and format a new
one, and install WinXP again from scratch. Be sure to back up your data
first, of course. You will need to reinstall your applications from their
original media after reinstalling WinXP. And, of course, soon as you get
your firewall and antivirus back in place, visit Windows Update to get the
latest Service Pack and later fixes.

RC

 

[Mike]

You can install programs onto your second partition