"resizing" boot partition using Norton Ghost

[shawnn]

Hello,

I have a Windows 2003 server machine with a small main partition and
huge secondary partitions. I need to resize the main partition to make
it larger. I tried to do this using Partition Magic and about 10 other
repartition programs but none of them can handle the resize due to the
fact that the partition is "dynamic" type!!

Anyway I have a plan to "resize" my main boot partition:

1) Buy a second hard disk.
2) "Clone" main partition of old disk onto new hard disk but with a
much larger partition size.
3) Boot off new disk with old disk still in system as second hard disk.

Are there any problems with this plan? If I clone the boot partition
over to a new disc and then boot off that new disc, Windows won't go
crazy on me right??

This is an important production server and I can't have anything go
wrong so I'm just trying to cover all avenues.

Thanks for the help.

 

[R. McCarty]

I've faced this a couple of times. Here's a possible easier solution. You
can image a Dynamic partition with Ghost 2003+. However, to restore
it can only be done to a "Basic Disk".
(If the Secondary, Tertiary...partitions are Dynamic this will NOT work)
1.) Image the primary, Dynamic Partition. (Verify)
2.) Boot to PQMagic DOS boot mode
3.) Remove the Dynamic Partition
4.) Resize the adjacent partition to create "Unallocated Space"
5.) Restore the Ghost Image, as a Basic Disk
6.) Resize the partition, including the Unallocated Space
7.) Use DiskMgmt.Msc to convert from Basic to Dynamic

 

[Kerry Brown]

Hello,

I have a Windows 2003 server machine with a small main partition and
huge secondary partitions. I need to resize the main partition to make
it larger. I tried to do this using Partition Magic and about 10 other
repartition programs but none of them can handle the resize due to the
fact that the partition is "dynamic" type!!

Anyway I have a plan to "resize" my main boot partition:

1) Buy a second hard disk.
2) "Clone" main partition of old disk onto new hard disk but with a
much larger partition size.
3) Boot off new disk with old disk still in system as second hard
disk.

Are there any problems with this plan? If I clone the boot partition
over to a new disc and then boot off that new disc, Windows won't go
crazy on me right??

This is an important production server and I can't have anything go
wrong so I'm just trying to cover all avenues.

Thanks for the help.

I have done something similar using Acronis True Image on a Server 2003 DC
but I didn't have dynamic disks. I think The TI server version will work
with dynamic disks. One caveat is that you shouldn't have both drives
installed the first time you boot from the new drive. Occasionally Windows
will write something to one or the other drive and Windows will not boot
from either drive after that. After the initial boot from the new drive you
can reinstall the old drive if needed.

Kerry

 

[Kerry Brown]

I have done something similar using Acronis True Image on a Server
2003 DC but I didn't have dynamic disks. I think The TI server
version will work with dynamic disks. One caveat is that you
shouldn't have both drives installed the first time you boot from the
new drive. Occasionally Windows will write something to one or the
other drive and Windows will not boot from either drive after that.
After the initial boot from the new drive you can reinstall the old
drive if needed.

Forgot one other fairly important point. You'll have to move all the
partitions on the old drive to the new drive. You'll need a drive big enough
to do this and still increase the size of the system partition.

Kerry

 

[Timothy Daniels]

I have a Windows 2003 server machine with a small main
partition and huge secondary partitions. I need to resize
the main partition to make it larger. I tried to do this using
Partition Magic and about 10 other repartition programs
but none of them can handle the resize due to the
fact that the partition is "dynamic" type!!

Anyway I have a plan to "resize" my main boot partition:

1) Buy a second hard disk.
2) "Clone" main partition of old disk onto new hard disk
but with a much larger partition size.
3) Boot off new disk with old disk still in system as
second hard disk.

Are there any problems with this plan? If I clone the boot
partition over to a new disc and then boot off that new disc,
Windows won't go crazy on me right??

Caxper XP will copy dynamic volumes, but not dynamic
disks. (I don't know the difference, but you might.) If they
behave like Basic Disks, the clone should boot up exactly
as the "parent" did. See the FAQ at http://fssdev.com/products/casperxp/faq.aspx#q8 for info
about the "dynamic" capabilities. You can download a
30-day free trial copy of Casper XP from:
www.FSSdev.com/products/casperxp/ . Also, heed
Kerry's advice about not starting up the clone for the 1st
time with its "parent" visible to it.

*TimDaniels*