Changing a Partition

[Benzowner]

Hi all, I need some help. I have a Toshiba Satelite 350 with a 160gb hard drive which has been partitioned in three. The first, 1.46gb, has no letter but is EISA configuration(not a clue) the second, 73.21gb, is drive E data, and the third, 74.37gb, is drive C and contains the operating system as usual. Now, what I want to do is take some disc space from drive E and move it to drive C. All I am able to do is reduce the drive sizes, but not increase. If I reduce the drive E to 38gb, I only create another partition, which it will not allow me to add to the C. Needless to say with only 74gb, drive C is filling up. Running Vista home premium SP2

 

[Igurisu]

You can do it in windows and its pretty straight forward. Quick guide here Resize a Partition for Free in Windows 7 or Vista - How-To Geek

I've used it lots of times without any trouble.

 

[Benzowner]

I looked at the link, and yes, as I have said, I can reduce the E partition, which creates another partition, but I cannot make the C partition any bigger by taking up the new partition, the partition extend is greyed out so maybe it is not possible.

 

[grober]

The first 1.46 EISA partition usually contains the system recovery/backup data from the factory So leave well alone. PARTITIONING IS A BLACK ART E.G. you are only allowed one visible primary partition [ 1 of 4 potential primaries] and one extended partition [ which can be divided into multiple logical partitions] Its unfortunately over simplifying it to simply call them C E i think that's the root of the problem. Some systems allow you to merge partitions -of the same type--- another way round it is free up the disc space but not partition it- then add it to the partition you want.--- [irrc ] As I say its a black art. Disk partitioning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[BTB 500]

I must admit I left the partitions well alone when re-installing Win 7 on a netbook recently!

There's a 'RESTORE' one that's too small to contain any backup or system image, and a 'SYSTEM' one that shows no files or folders (visible or hidden) yet is using 100 Mb or so

And another one called 'HP UTILITIES' that seems to contain diagnostic data.

 

[Shude]

I had to do this on a windows xp laptop a while ago. I downloaded a live ubuntu build, booted into that from a flash drive then resized using the included partitioning tool. I don't think windows likes resizing the partition the OS is running from.

 

[Benzowner]

Umm best leave well alone then. Seems to be such a waste of space though did I just write that

 

[John]

You never used to be able to extend the system partition with Windows itself - I don't know 100% you cannot do it in Vista or 7 but I would be surprised.

You either need to:

A) Locate more of your data from C: to E:

or

B) Re-install and create the system partition so it uses the whole hard disk (Windows will always reserve some for things like converting the disks to dynamic etc. which uses space in itself)

or

C) Take the opportunity to buy a larger disk, which means you can re-install, set the partitions you want and not affect your existing installation - which can simply be plugged back in if required

 

[neilz]

D) Download and burn a live boot CD and use that to resize the partition

 

[Rory]

You could try this: EaseUS Partition Master Home Edition - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com but it's considered really dodgy to mess about with partitions unless you have a full backup.

I used the link above so you can read through the user comments and decide for yourself.

 

[neilz]

I've played around with partitions a lot, never done any damage

 

[Stratman]

This free alternative to Partition Magic implies it can do all you have mentioned.

 

[Benzowner]

This free alternative to Partition Magic implies it can do all you have mentioned.

Tried this today, same problems, I cannot increase the size of the C partition, even if the E partition is reduced to 10GB and I have 60+GB spare, guess I'm stuck with it.

 

[Stratman]

I've no doubt you've tried this, but just in case you missed it here's the tutorial for increasing partition size.

 

[Rory]

Tried this today, same problems, I cannot increase the size of the C partition, even if the E partition is reduced to 10GB and I have 60+GB spare, guess I'm stuck with it.

Your drive arrangement is a bit odd - normally there would be the recovery partition, then Programs (usually C) then Data (usually D).

Assuming what you wrote is correct, to resize partitions some utilities need the space to be in right place - so in your case you might need to create space at the end of your E partion so it's next to your C partition and ready to be added to C.

 

[Beetnik]

If you've not yet sorted it I can vouch for EaseUS - link in post above^^

 

[grober]

Well first you need to get down to WICKES and buy a load of 3x2" studding and some plaster board, you'll probably need a plumbline, a level and some round nails----oh hang on a minute.


PS Rory might be right about the partitions to be merged being contiguous.