Resetting Partitions

[clv309]

For whatever reason, I was redirected here from Microsoft's
specific-to-Vista-hardware forum. I don't understand why, but maybe someone
can help me:

Recently I installed Ubuntu, creating a partition. There were issues
connecting to my network that I could not see when booting from the live CD,
as it only happened at startup (and no changes are ever saved when using the
live version of Ubuntu). So I deleted the partition, removed the GRUB menu,
and thought all would be fine. Until I tried repartitioning my hard drive.

I now have 80 GB of unallocated space on my hard drive that I am unable to
use. I'm not able to extend my C drive, the option is grayed out and using
the command line won't work either. I'm not able to create a new Simple drive
with the 80 GB either, because for whatever reason, it says that there isn't
enough space available when I try. If I try to delete the free space
partition, it says that if I remove it, it will become inaccessible. I've
tried using GParted to repartition the hard drive, but it didn't work. Is it
possible at all to reset the hard drive partitions to factory settings?
Nothing I have done has worked. Thank you in advance for any help.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

If I try to delete the free space partition, it says that if I remove it,
it will become inaccessible.

Actually, this is exactly what you need to do. Delete the existing volume
(likely an ext one that Vista cannot read) and create a new one from the
resulting free space.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

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

 

[Tom Ferguson]

You do not provide enough detail of your system and how it was configured,
particularly the disks, to allow a full, useful reply. Nevertheless, I'll
deal with a couple of possibilities.

If the system was purchased already set up with Vista by one of the larger
providers, there might be a provision to start the system and, while it is
booting, press a series of function keys that will cause the system to
reconfigure to the as-delivered state. If so, back up your user files (such
as Word documents) and do that. Probably, there are instructions in the
users manual whether printed or on the maker's web site.

Sometimes, there is a CD or DVD the maker provides or has available that
will accomplish the same thing if the box is booted from that CD or DVD. If
so, back up user files and do that. If such a CD or DVD was not provided,
check with the maker about availability.

If neither of these are options:

If you have a drive which has 80 GB of free space and the system is
otherwise operating normally, get a partition manager such as Acronis Disk
Director or Terabyte's BootIt NG and enlarge the Windows partition to fill
unallocated space. All should be well after rebooting. As a precaution, back
up all user files before doing anything.
http://www.acronis.com/
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/index.htm

 

[Chad Harris]

After you follow Rick's instructions, to use the partition typing
diskmmt.msc into your run box or search box above start>right click it>quick
format and you can use the partition/drive. I do this when I want to
install another operating system on a box for multibooting (decide how large
you want the partition to be).

CH

 

[Tom Ferguson]

PS
I am wondering exactly what you did when you "So I deleted the partition". I
wonder because the following description of the problem you are having seems
to indicate that there is still a partition in place that is formatted for
the Linux system and which Windows cannot read or otherwise use.