I have a total of 40 gb hard drive and i have them in two parts one is in 19.53GB and is FAT32 format and the other is in a as a logical drive and not formated yet it has 17.73gb in it free the other only has 3.13gb free and i want to find out how to use the other part of my hardrive that is not yet formated as one big hard drive without re installing windows because i dont have a windows install disc and is it safe to do anything?
hard drive partiton problem
- Thread starter mr.popper
- Start date
tlarkin
VIP Member
you can use a third party utility like parition magic or an open source parition software package like gparted
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php
yeah i want to use the free space as one big hard drive so i can store more files because iam running low but how would i do this and i dont have the windows install disc is there any possible way to free up space into one parition? because i heard you can just delete it and one parition will go into another all fo the free space adn if there is no possible way can i format the other parition adn have 2 places to keep my files and how would i switch back and forth between hard drives? and does this require a windows xp install disc?
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If you are running XP on the first partition or a first drive while that is a second hard drive you can easily delete the other partitions using the Disk Managment tool found in "Cpntrol Panel>Administrative Tools>Computer Management>Storage". Once there you see all drives in a small window as rectangular blocks with a drive letter or unallocated space total. This includes all logical drives as well as optical drives there.
For any partition other then where Windows is installed to you simply right click on it and choose the delete option. Once the two other partitions are removed you can then right click on the now unallocated drive space to create a new logical drive there using that space as a now single second partition. After creating it you then go through the same steps to choose the format option. But the new partition will now be NTFS not Fat32. The screen shot here is Vista's with some new things added but shows how this is done.
Gee? still have XP sitting on a Fat32 partition? The older article seen at the link here goes into detail on how to convert the existing Fat32 partition into an NTFS type. Then both partitions on the drive will be the same type. http://aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm
For any partition other then where Windows is installed to you simply right click on it and choose the delete option. Once the two other partitions are removed you can then right click on the now unallocated drive space to create a new logical drive there using that space as a now single second partition. After creating it you then go through the same steps to choose the format option. But the new partition will now be NTFS not Fat32. The screen shot here is Vista's with some new things added but shows how this is done.
Gee? still have XP sitting on a Fat32 partition? The older article seen at the link here goes into detail on how to convert the existing Fat32 partition into an NTFS type. Then both partitions on the drive will be the same type. http://aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm
Ok so if i follow these steps will the parition gop into on parition so i can use that free space as one hard drive parition? and do u need the install disc because i need to know if u need it or not?
here is a picture http://img119.imageshack.us/my.php?image=comppicture1dk0.png
here is a picture http://img119.imageshack.us/my.php?image=comppicture1dk0.png
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With that being a second drive you can also copy any files you want to save into a temp folder on the primary after you have converted it to NTFS. This is done prior to deleting any partiton other then the primary Windows is installed onto since you can't accidently delete that with Windows running at the same time.
The Disk Management tool can delete, create, and format partitions but is unable to streeeeeeetch partitions to use up the then unallocated drive space once any other partitions are removed. The GParted(free) or other partitioning software would be needed. You would first delete the second partition due to it's size and create a new one to use the total amount of space available with the DM tool.
That's why you copy anything from the other partition into a temp folder on the primary after the NTFS conversion. With GParted you can resize or even move the location on the drive of any partition as long as there is free space. Here you only need the DM to simply delete the old and create one brand new one. Makes the task a little easier!
The Disk Management tool can delete, create, and format partitions but is unable to streeeeeeetch partitions to use up the then unallocated drive space once any other partitions are removed. The GParted(free) or other partitioning software would be needed. You would first delete the second partition due to it's size and create a new one to use the total amount of space available with the DM tool.
That's why you copy anything from the other partition into a temp folder on the primary after the NTFS conversion. With GParted you can resize or even move the location on the drive of any partition as long as there is free space. Here you only need the DM to simply delete the old and create one brand new one. Makes the task a little easier!
Ok so should i format it then delete it or when i format it can i use it for free space? like under my computer can i drag files into the parition that i want and im a little confused of what you are saying do i need to delete it or not and how would all of the other space go into one drive? just tell me easily sorry for all fo this trouble.
As long as you have any files on the second hard drive saved you can simply delete any partitions on it and create one single partition. Of if one is already an NTFS type you can delete any others and stretch that one. You wouldn't reformat a partition first unless you want to get familiar with how to do this before deleting one. That's a good way to learn how this is done.
For simply time saving with nothing important left on any partition you would simply delete the Fat32 type partitions in order to create the new and superior NTFS type unless you still use dos or a Fat based version of Windows. For 2000, XP that you are now running, and any thought of upgrade to Vista you would want NTFS.
For simply time saving with nothing important left on any partition you would simply delete the Fat32 type partitions in order to create the new and superior NTFS type unless you still use dos or a Fat based version of Windows. For 2000, XP that you are now running, and any thought of upgrade to Vista you would want NTFS.
Crypto
New Member
I would suggest (as someone else did) downloading a partitioning tool. I use Acronis Disk Director. I just recently did what you are trying to do. You simply use a slider to enlarge the partition. The trial version wont allow you to do this tho.
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/diskdirector/
If you have a cd writer and a blank cd-r not rw you can easily download GParted and use the free version of one program for burning the iso image onto disk. Once done you boot from that like you would the Windows installation disk but prepare for something else. By pressing the enter/return key at each prompt until seeing the option for choosing the default 1024x768 or 1280x1024 screen resolution you avoid getting lost.
The 1024x768 default screen seems to be the best for this anyways. Once you see how things are once at the main gui it becomes easier to set what you want and watch the changes being made after clicking the apply button there. Moving a partition is also available if a third is removed and you want to enlarge the first. The second is then moved to the back end of the drive. Depending on how large a third partition was in that case it can take hours for this.
For a good look at what GParted is go to the link here to review the screen shots provided by sourceforge.net. http://gparted.sourceforge.net/screenshots.php You simply click on the image you want to look over and click the back button on IE to go to the next there. This is a good visual reference to keep in mind since Linux uses "hda1" to represent the first drive and the first partition on it.
In your case your concern would be the "hdb2" which equals second ide drive, second partition you want to remove. Highlight the partition and click the remove button and then click the apply button and watch the scroll bar get busy after you answer yes to the prompt that comes up for confirmation.
The 1024x768 default screen seems to be the best for this anyways. Once you see how things are once at the main gui it becomes easier to set what you want and watch the changes being made after clicking the apply button there. Moving a partition is also available if a third is removed and you want to enlarge the first. The second is then moved to the back end of the drive. Depending on how large a third partition was in that case it can take hours for this.
For a good look at what GParted is go to the link here to review the screen shots provided by sourceforge.net. http://gparted.sourceforge.net/screenshots.php You simply click on the image you want to look over and click the back button on IE to go to the next there. This is a good visual reference to keep in mind since Linux uses "hda1" to represent the first drive and the first partition on it.
In your case your concern would be the "hdb2" which equals second ide drive, second partition you want to remove. Highlight the partition and click the remove button and then click the apply button and watch the scroll bar get busy after you answer yes to the prompt that comes up for confirmation.
Ok but what would happen if i format the parition can i use it and does it require a windows CD if i format it will i have to re install windows because these programs are too confusing for me i just want to use it for extra space or make it into one hard drive parition what ever one is the easyest way and it dont care if its not one parition but i would prefer if it was 1 parition. Sorry for the trouble
With Windows already on the first partition which is called the primary you can remove the second and create a new NTFS with the Disk Management tool found in the Contol Panel under "Administrative Tools>Computer Management>Storage" and format it as well if the present one is Fat32. For increasing the primary to fill the drive then you would need GParted or another partitioning tool for that.
A second partition would give you a second logical drive for storing files there if you ever need to reformat and reinstall Windows on the first primary. The installation disk is only required for reinstalling Windows on the first not second. The choice there of how to use the drive space available is upto you. All anyone else can do is explain the different ways you can use one or more partitions.
A second partition would give you a second logical drive for storing files there if you ever need to reformat and reinstall Windows on the first primary. The installation disk is only required for reinstalling Windows on the first not second. The choice there of how to use the drive space available is upto you. All anyone else can do is explain the different ways you can use one or more partitions.
With it being Fat you would have to use a dos boot floppy that has the "format.com" file on it to manually type in the "format D:" command at the dos prompt. With steps taken to convert it to NTFS you could then use the Disk Management tool found in XP for the reformet there.
You may find it easier eirher way to delete the second one in order to create a new NTFS. You first have to figure out how much drive space you need for the primary by knowing the number of programs that will be installed. Softwares like to chew up drive space on smaller drives as well as files you start saving to folders. But your first partition with the 19.53gb is more then needed for just the OS and a few programs.
The remaining space once redone can be increased by slightly reducing the first. The best way here would be to first convert the current Fat32 primary to NTFS or start fresh again. That would give you one or two NTFS partitions rather then struggling with the current ones. You would do this when everything was already backed up on removable. The second one now however is the first thought by either replacing it with GParted or simply trying to reformat by dos. With GParted creating a new NTFS after removing the one or two smaller ones(17gb and 3+gb) you would then use the DM tool to make that into a new logical drive for storage and be a fresh NTFS.
It doesn't really take that much to see this done. Performing a full format with the DM tool takes a while but nowhere near to what was seen on a 500gb sata drive just added in earlier! That ran about 1/2hr. there.
You may find it easier eirher way to delete the second one in order to create a new NTFS. You first have to figure out how much drive space you need for the primary by knowing the number of programs that will be installed. Softwares like to chew up drive space on smaller drives as well as files you start saving to folders. But your first partition with the 19.53gb is more then needed for just the OS and a few programs.
The remaining space once redone can be increased by slightly reducing the first. The best way here would be to first convert the current Fat32 primary to NTFS or start fresh again. That would give you one or two NTFS partitions rather then struggling with the current ones. You would do this when everything was already backed up on removable. The second one now however is the first thought by either replacing it with GParted or simply trying to reformat by dos. With GParted creating a new NTFS after removing the one or two smaller ones(17gb and 3+gb) you would then use the DM tool to make that into a new logical drive for storage and be a fresh NTFS.
It doesn't really take that much to see this done. Performing a full format with the DM tool takes a while but nowhere near to what was seen on a 500gb sata drive just added in earlier! That ran about 1/2hr. there.