Remove Partition

[Guest]

I have an ACER Laptop. It is set up 50/50 C Drive, D Drive. Is ther a way to
remove the D Drive , so that I only have a C Drive?Im about to fill up my C
Drive and dont really know how to run my desktop programs on C Dive to the D
Drive. Thanx...

 

[John]

I have an ACER Laptop. It is set up 50/50 C Drive, D Drive. Is ther a way to
remove the D Drive , so that I only have a C Drive?Im about to fill up my C
Drive and dont really know how to run my desktop programs on C Dive to the D
Drive. Thanx...

If you are running Windows then not without a 3rd party application,
Partition Magic for example. An application like that can remove the
second partition and extend the first into the unused space or just take
some space from the second partition and add it to the first partition.
Windows unfortunately doesn't natively have this capability. Just be
sure to backup anything you can't afford to lose. From personal
experience I advise running this operation from a floppy or CD rather
than booting into the OS partition that you are manipulating. Bad things
can happen when you move the floor that you are standing on.

John

 

[Guest]

So basically, what you are saying is I need Partition Magic? I can actually
clear the whole harddrive if there is a way to start over and just set up one
Drive.

 

[Guest]

So, Basically, I have to use a Partition Magic type program? I can clear out
my hard drive to reinstall only 1 partition. My back up restore CDs
automatically installs 2 Drives. Anyway to avoid this? I dont have an XP
stand alone disc.

 

[John]

So basically, what you are saying is I need Partition Magic? I can actually
clear the whole harddrive if there is a way to start over and just set up one
Drive.

Yes, Partition Magic can do what you want while preserving what you have
but there are others, some free or nearly so, but buyer beware. Actually
Partition Magic can perform this operation while booted into Windows but
it can also do what you don't want if you happen to make a mistake,
misunderstand its operation or don't have a grasp of how your comp is
capable of booting. That is why I advised booting from its CD or even
better the rescue floppies it offers to make when you install it to
perform this sort of thing.

If you spend a little you don't need to start from scratch but that is
always an alternative.

John

 

[John]

So, Basically, I have to use a Partition Magic type program? I can clear out
my hard drive to reinstall only 1 partition. My back up restore CDs
automatically installs 2 Drives. Anyway to avoid this? I dont have an XP
stand alone disc.

Partition Magic, Acronis and others can do what you want but Windows by
itself can't.

John

 

[John]

Partition Magic, Acronis and others can do what you want but Windows by
itself can't.

John

And by the way, the professional programs can not only change your
partition scheme but also *preserve your XP install* and all its
applications.

John

 

[Guest]

Hi Anthony,

Without an XP CD (from Microsoft) you cannot re-install with just one
partition. The restore CDs have an image of XP on them, and whatever way
they are set up is the way they will copy onto your hard drive -- from what
you've said, they create two partitions, so you can't change that.

Three options:

1. Move programs and data to your D: drive -- this is accomplished by
backing up your data, uninstalling (Add/Remove Programs) some / all programs
on C:, re-installing those programs on D:, and then restoring your data to D:
There may also be programs that can automate this for you -- you'd have to
Google for one. (one of my clients had such a program, but this was years
ago)

2. Get Partition Magic (or something similar), as was suggested. This is
probably the easier way to go, although it will cost you a bit of money.
With this, you can remove your D: drive and use the whole hard drive for your
C: drive. Just make sure there's nothing important on D: first -- back up
any files there you want to keep.

3. Purchase Windows Vista (retail upgrade), and do a "clean install",
removing your two partitions and creating one partition, then formatting /
installing on it. Before doing this, you should download and run the Vista
Upgrade Advisor, and make sure your computer is ready for Vista.

Best Wishes,
Kurosh

 

[John John]

You don't absolutely need Partition Magic to do this. Partition Magic
is just one of the many tools available to merge partitions. You can
use BootIt NG http://www.bootitng.com/bootitng.html to do this. The
trial version is fully functional for 30 days and you will be able to
use it to do what you want. You don't need to install the utility, just
boot the computer with the BootIt NG diskette or ISO imaged CD and when
asked to install it click on cancel and you will then enter the
Maintenance mode and you will be able to do partition work.

Be warned that anything can happen when you do partition work! These
partitioning tools are mostly safe and in 99.99% of cases nothing goes
wrong. The .01% of cases where thing do go wrong the results are
usually catastrophic! MAKE SURE that you have a backup of your personal
data files!

John

 

[peter]

I have an Acer Laptop with the HD partitioned into 2..The OS and all of the
prgrams are on a recovery partition.
When I activated this partition on 1st boot it installed everything onto the
C partition ..the D partition was empty for me to install other programs
into.
If you are hesitant about this Partition merge..might I suggest that you
uninstal some/all of the prgrams that you have installed and have the CD's
for...saving your work/personal files 1st to a folder of your choosing.Then
reinstall those programs to the D drive.Most if not all newer programs
nowadays do give you the option as to where to install to.

peter

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have an ACER Laptop. It is set up 50/50 C Drive, D Drive. Is ther
a way to remove the D Drive , so that I only have a C Drive?Im about
to fill up my C Drive and dont really know how to run my desktop
programs on C Dive to the D Drive. Thanx...

Others have answered your question, but I'd like to add two points:

1. First, what you want to do is not simply "Remove the D Drive." If you do
that, you will have a single C: drive, but it will be the same size as it
was was before. What you want to do is remove the D: partition and *also*
resize the C: partition, extending it to fill the entire drive.

I don't say that to make fun of your use of the words, but if you use a
third-party program to accomplish this, you are likely to misread the
directions unless it's clear in your mind exactly what you need to
accomplish, and the way the technical language is used.

2. How big is your drive in total? A much simpler and cheaper way to
proceed might well be to learn how to use the second partition. It really
isn't at all hard.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

And by the way, the professional programs can not only change your
partition scheme but also *preserve your XP install* and all its
applications.

Although what you say is basically true, that bald a statement, without an
accompanying warning, scares me. It is very important to realize that no
matter what program you use to do this, there is always a risk of problems
when you take such a big step affecting your entire drive. A power failure
at the wrong point, a mistake in following the directions, etc. can easily
cause the loss of everything on the drive. For that reason it's foolhardy to
do this without first being sure you have a backup of anything you can't
afford to lose.

 

[peter]

I would like to add to this..after you have moved whatever you can to the D
partition use an imaging program..my Favorite is Acronis True Image...to
image your C partition to a DVD/CD..or better still to an external HD
This way you have a Backup that will not create 2 partitions.....be sure to
keep that image up to date.
Most imaging programs allow you to make a Emergency Boot Disk that allows
you to restore the image if/when XP fails to start.
peter