Merging partions..

[awdark]

I just built a new system.. and my old 160 gig drive is beginning to be annoying. I have installed xp pro and sp1 I know the board supports the drive.
I used to use a controller card and I dont intend to use it.
Under control panel admin tools computer management there is a disk management.
I see my 130gigs and the 20gigs of unpartioned data.

Without the use of partition magic how do i merge these partiotions?

[viper11885]

Only other way besides using Partition Magic that I know of is by using Fdisk. However, it requires you to format your hard drive which means that you will lose your data.

[stub]

I know there are some free tools to merge partitions out there, which may or may not be as easy to use/reliable as Partition Magic, but YMMV.

I know that the Mandrake Linux installer uses a lite version of PM.

You will probably find a solution for FAT32, but NTFS is a nazi, so less programs support it well.

I'm sure you already know this, but your best bet is Partition Magic-- get it however you need to.

[Ice Czar]

if its unallocated space - diskpart.exe

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/new/diskpart-o.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/default.asp?url=/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/diskpart.asp

How to Use Diskpart.exe to Extend a Data Volume (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=325590)
You can use the Diskpart.exe utility to manage disks, partitions, and volumes from a command-line interface. You can use Diskpart.exe on both Basic disks and Dynamic disks. If an NTFS volume resides on a hardware RAID 5 container that has the capability of adding space to the container, you can extend the NTFS Volume with Diskpart.exe while the disk remains a Basic disk.

Do not "upgrade" :rolleyes: to Dyanmic Disks
unless your fully aware of the cosequences
see the advanced HDD Issues Sticky Thread for Dyanamic Disk Linkage
(Id recommend reviewing ALL of them) once converted there is no going back short of a format or buying software

[awdark]

Okay Ill try the microsoft utility. I dont want to use Partition magic because of a very very bad experience I had of loosing all my data in attempt to merge two of the partions.

[Ice Czar]

the odds are about the same either way
the way to avoid that is to backup the data first

[Lord_Balance]

Originally posted by Ice Czar
if its unallocated space - diskpart.exe

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/new/diskpart-o.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/default.asp?url=/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/diskpart.asp

How to Use Diskpart.exe to Extend a Data Volume (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=325590)


Do not "upgrade" :rolleyes: to Dyanmic Disks
unless your fully aware of the cosequences
see the advanced HDD Issues Sticky Thread for Dyanamic Disk Linkage
(Id recommend reviewing ALL of them) once converted there is no going back short of a format or buying software

Actually, I converted back from Dynamic with Paragons Hard Disk Manager Technician License :D Works WONDERS :D :D

-/LB/-

[Ice Czar]

I hear Partition Commander 8 can revert them as well
easier not to have to :p

Dyanamic Disks offers limited advantages
if I was looking at a software RAID Id probably go with a Linux \ NAS

[ciscokid454]

you don't want to merge the partition..all you want to do is resize the partition.Partition magic is by far the easiest way to do so.
if you're unfamilir with any of this, i'd suggest making a backup of your data...q