norwegian
Premium
join:2005-02-15
Outback
 ·WestNet Broadband
| [hard drive] Partitions
I'm not quite sure where to post this one, software, Microsoft, or here. As it pertains specifically to the HDD, thought I'd try here. Please move If I've picked the wrong area.
With partitions, can you delete one of 2, this is a backup FAT partition? I'm wondering, as this is a 20GB HDD, if now with everything installed and hardly any space left, if there is any way to delete the backup partition and "extend" the NTFS partition? I know I can format the partition, and it will be a second NTFS partition, can you however "extend" one? Not to be mistaken for an extended partition, or have I that wrong too?
I'm just wondering if there is a way around starting a fresh format for the whole 20GB to be utilized.
History: The owner is a new user and needs time to be familiar with the computer before spending money on bigger HDD's etc, as short term there is no need for just running the box and developing what personally they find they need in the computer. It is an old box they thought was broken and so far a new DVD drive (only had a cdrom) is the only item they have bought off me to have it run. This I updated as they want to copy all their music CD collection, some packages you may never see again, and an up to date CD/DVD seemed a logical addition for minimum cost. I have also donated a 10GB spare HDD for file swap for the burning of their precious collection, due to the lack of space on the system HDD we are discussing.
--
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing - Edmund Burke |
|
psafux
Got Grep?
VIP
join:2005-11-10
| said by norwegian  :if there is any way to delete the backup partition and "extend" the NTFS partition? I know I can format the partition, and it will be a second NTFS partition, can you however "extend" one? Not to be mistaken for an extended partition, or have I that wrong too? With a program like Partition Magic, you have the option to delete a partition and extend the main partition to use the entire disk.
It doesn't always work, but in my experience more often than not it is successful. As with any time you make any changes to the system you should have a complete backup before you attempt it just in case worst comes to worst.
With the size of your current drive, have you considered just buying a larger hard drive and ghosting the old drive over? The cost of data storage is cheap right now.
--
Yes. the cat in my avatar is indeed mine. |
|
norwegian
Premium
join:2005-02-15
Outback
·WestNet Broadband
| I have already explained that he needs a new HDD. Because of age of this box, 80GB should be fine, or at least be the safest option, it is a small box and can fit in 2 of these. Reason being I've not done too much research into it's age and bios and HDD limits.
For the record this is a HP Pavilion 503a. There isn't even an AGP slot, it uses an onboard chipset for graphics, so any money spent really needs to be scrutinized. The less the better, as it is a far better decision to buy a new box. As a learner though it will do just fine.
Thanks for the tip on Partition Magic, I will do more homework then; as I was expecting a simple 'no' from the forum, but thought it worth asking all the same.
--
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing - Edmund Burke |
|
CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
| I believe Parted can do it as well (not positive though). Back up the drive juts in case but I ran Partition Magic before Symantic bought them and never had any issues with moving partitions and extending space.
--
Brian
"It drops into your stomach like a Abrams's tank.... driven by Rosanne Barr..." A. Bourdain |
|
norwegian
Premium
join:2005-02-15
Outback
·WestNet Broadband
| reply to norwegian
I did a little digging and it seems there is a couple of programs out there.
On Parted, I seem to have ended up looking up GParted, talk about a big program? Why that large?
I ended up using EASEUS Partition Master to do the job. However my usual tool is Fdisk or Cute Partition. I had no idea tables could be played with so easily. Guess that is only due to setting up partitions when I load the OS, or at the beginning, rather than at the end as in this case.
It may save me needing to use the spare 10GB drive for file swap now.
Thanks.
--
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing - Edmund Burke |
|
CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County | GParted is what I was thinking about then writing my post. |
|
psafux
Got Grep?
VIP
join:2005-11-10
| reply to norwegian
said by norwegian :On Parted, I seem to have ended up looking up GParted, talk about a big program? Why that large? Its basically a live operating system that runs from disk, like Bart or Knoppix. Very handy software.
In any case glad you figured it out 
--
Yes. the cat in my avatar is indeed mine. |
|
norwegian
Premium
join:2005-02-15
Outback
·WestNet Broadband
| reply to norwegian
Now I understand the size of the file. I may have a look at it then too even though the job is done, as Partition Master requires it to be installed, which I prefer to not do if it became a tool I keep for future needs . I'd much prefer a bootable environment if it is available.
--
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing - Edmund Burke |
|
