re-partition disk

[KRK]

Hello,

My Disk is split into 2 partitions, Vista (C: ) and Data (E, each is about
70 Gb.

I do not use the Data partition. I want to delete it and allow Vista(C to
use all 140 Gb.

The Help pages suggest that if I delete (or reduce the size of) "Data", the
free space becomes unallocated ?

Can I repartition the disk to allow Vista C: to acces all 140 Gb?

Thanks

KK

 

[Bob F.]

When Vista was built on your system, did you not have a D: partition? If it
did, what happened to it?

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

You would have to remove the E: volume, as shrinking it will not accomplish
what you want unless you use third party tools. When you shrink it, the free
(or unallocated) space will be at the end of the E: volume. In order to
incorporate the space into C:, it would have to be at the end of that
volume, which would require sliding E: back - something you cannot do with
Vista's drive tools, it requires a third party partitioning utilty.

However, assuming that D: is your CD/DVD drive and that E: is immediately
after C: on your hard drive, if you remove the E: volume with disk manager
you will have the unallocated space immediately after C:. You can then
expand C: to encompass this free space resulting in the desired larger
volume. Be aware that when deleting E:, any data currently housed there will
be permanently lost.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[John Barnes]

Rick's solution and warnings are correct on both points.

 

[pro-testor]

Rick's solution and warnings are correct on both points.

The reply is not good enough.
although he is replying to the question of the OP, his advice is a time
bomb that will go off in the future.
You should never store personal data on the same partition as windows,
you might need to format C for many reasons, in that case you lose all
data.

 

[DL]

Data should be backed up anyway, as when the hd fails then so does whatever
partition its installed on, together with any hidden recovery partitions

 

[Rick Rogers]

I don't disagree and ascribe to the same practice of keeping data off the OS
volume. However, the OP asked how to do it and I supplied them with an
appropriate answer. If they choose to handle thier data that way, then
that's thier choice. Frankly, I see drives go bad more often than corrupt
installation volumes, so location of data would be immaterial.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

Data should be backed up anyway, as when the hd fails then so does
whatever partition its installed on, together with any hidden recovery
partitions

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

The reply is not good enough.
although he is replying to the question of the OP, his advice is a time
bomb that will go off in the future.
You should never store personal data on the same partition as windows,
you might need to format C for many reasons, in that case you lose all
data.

Apart from ease of access, one should never keep important data on any part
of the hard drive used to run the OS unless it is regularly backed up some
place else.

A second hard drive either running as a slave or externally is a better
option as either will be worked way less than the boot drive, but even then
there is a chance that the drive could fail.

--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

 

[John Barnes]

Unless they also put the paging file on it, so would require a minimum of 3
drives?

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Unless they also put the paging file on it, so would require a minimum of
3 drives?

John

One good reason to keep the page file contained on C.. I always keep the
page file on the boot drive.

--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

 

[Bob F.]

Problem is moot guys. The OP said it was a Laptop. And if he uses his
like I use mine, it's not practical to carry around another drive for this
purpose. Everything goes on the one drive. It's just a question of how you
partition it.

 

[John Barnes]

As was covered by Rick initially very well. With some backup products it is
easier to keep the data on a separate partition and with others you can
backup easily from the boot partition once set up.

 

[KRK]

Hello,

Thanks for your reply which was very helpful, and I think I understand.

On my laptop; I have a DVD multi-drive which is drive F:. D: is not
allocated unless I insert a usb memory stick which configures as D:

My C: drive still has 20 Gb free (out of 70) so there is no immediate
problem. The E: partition is empty.

I'm surprised (if I understand you correctly) that the 'logical' drives C:
and E: have to be physically separate , i.e. there is a line 'drawn' on the
disc, this side is C: , that side is E: ?

Do I understand correctly that If I delete E: I can then expand C: to take
up the extra space, and can do this from within Vista (home premium) Disk
Management?

In the short term I will probably move 'My Documents' to E:, The total
space taken up by my data files (My Documents) is only 8Gb. so I don't gain
an awful lot by moving it to E: However I think I know how to do it (you
have advised me on this before on this).


Thanks again

KK

 

[Luan Pham]

Trying to partitioning my disk, for having one for data and other for
system and programs. Vista says there is no space enough in disk, and I
have 71 GB not allocated!!!
I can not see why.

I used acronis disk director suit 10.0 to correct this problem, and
you can download this software at:

http://www.acronis.com

 

[Adam Albright]

Trying to partitioning my disk, for having one for data and other for
system and programs. Vista says there is no space enough in disk, and I
have 71 GB not allocated!!!
I can not see why.
Please, help.

Unallocated space is just that, space not used by anything. So it
boils down to how much "empty" space you have on your hard drive not
presently being assigned as available verses how much can be used.

This should help you through the steps to use some or all of this
"wasted" space.

READ CAREFULLY! You can lose data and you ability to restore your
system to it's out of the box condition if you have some "hidden"
partition, which most pre build PCs come with these days. If after
reading you're not sure, DON'T!

http://www.maximumpcguides.com/extend-a-volume-in-windows-vista/

 

[Nonny]

I used acronis disk director suit 10.0 to correct this problem, and
you can download this software at:

http://www.acronis.com

It's cheaper from Newegg