Partitioning Of Hard drive

halifax

I want to partition my hard drive but don't want to loose any existing data.

Help.

Anyone suggest any programs out there that can help me.

Thanks in Advance

Hx.

gizmoleeds

I use Partition Magic. Very good, but there may be free alternatives.

intel

In XP I think this can be done by Disk Management...

Yep it Can http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=309000

tigermatt

If you need to transfer, for example, your system partition from an old partition to the new one, use a great utility called Norton Ghost. It runs in DOS and allows you to easily transfer all data from one partition or disk from another, or create and restore "image files" of your Hard Disk or individual partitions as backups. Even though it isn't free, I recommend it.

More information about Norton Ghost (Latest version 10) http://www.symantecstore.com/dr/v2/ec_Main.Entry17c?V1=765165&PID=765165&PN=1&SP=10023&SID=27685&CUR=826&CID=196236&DSP=&PGRP=0&ABCODE=&CACHE_ID=196236

Or, purcahse from eBuyer (current price £39.68 inc. VAT) http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=98162

You could even have a look at eBay (this is where I got my version of 2002 from) http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.co.uk%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=Norton+Ghost+10&category0= although try not to get the versions including "Internet Security" as you don't need this - you would just need the Norton Ghost program.

Mark_LJ

intel wrote:

In XP I think this can be done by Disk Management...

Yep it Can http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=309000

I don't think you can start making changes to an existing partition using Disk Management - I use it when setting up new machines or partitioning additional drives. I think if you're trying to partition a currently used drive you'll lose your data.

I'd go with Partition Magic as previously suggested - good tool and at the end of the day you get what you pay for.

intel

Mark_LJ wrote:

I don't think you can start making changes to an existing partition using Disk Management - I use it when setting up new machines or partitioning additional drives. I think if you're trying to partition a currently used drive you'll lose your data.

I'd go with Partition Magic as previously suggested - good tool and at the end of the day you get what you pay for.

Good job I left a link then, and put the word think... :beer:

tigermatt

No, you can't use it to partition existing space. I only use it when I have left some Free Space and would like to make a partition out of it. It doesn't allow you to partition things like the System Partition because Windows is running whilst it partitions and formats so it would be virtually impossible.

Chippy_Minton

intel_(are_you_Mr_Skint_in_disguise?) wrote:

In XP I think this can be done by Disk Management...

Yep it Can http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=309000

XP's Disk Management can only create a new partition or a new logical drive if you've got unallocated space on the disk or extended partition.

If your disks or extended partitions are fully allocated then you'll need a partition manager to manipulate them.

I can recommend BootIt NG which I used recently to resize my partitions without losing any data.

It really is excellent and the 30 day free trial is the full product without restrictions. You can install it, manipulate your partitions as required and then completely uninstall it. It's also a multi-boot manager so you can run Windows, Linux etc. on the same PC.

halifax

Thanks all who replied. Gonna try Partition Magic, as you say it'll be be worth the investment.

Thanks again

hx.

esuhl

I've used Partition Magic in the past and thought it was pretty good, but I've just used Paragon Hard Disk Manager, and found it so much more intuitive to use, and a lot faster too.

It was given away free on the cover of Personal Computer World magazine which I bought two or three weeks ago, so it should be in the shops for another week before the next issue comes out.

Hope this helps... :-)