Merging Partitons

August 20, 2008

Hi:

I have a friend who has a Sony desktop running Windows Home XP SP2. He has

20GB of HD space on C:\ and 60GB on D:\ and his problem is C:\ is almost

full and D:\ has practically nothing.

I purchased Norton Partition Magic 8.05 in an effort to merge the D:\

drive with the C:\ drive, as this was the most recommended software. Has

anyone used this to merge partitions successfully?

What concerns me is that I read a posting about the prior version 8.01

with someone trying to merge partitions and they lost everything in the

process.

Any comments and/or suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks

August 20, 2008

Re: Merging Partitons

"ColTom2" <noemailaddress@nomail.com> wrote in message

news:%23zUku1sAJHA.4368@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Hi:

>

> I have a friend who has a Sony desktop running Windows Home XP SP2. He has

> 20GB of HD space on C:\ and 60GB on D:\ and his problem is C:\ is almost

> full and D:\ has practically nothing.

>

> I purchased Norton Partition Magic 8.05 in an effort to merge the D:\

> drive with the C:\ drive, as this was the most recommended software. Has

> anyone used this to merge partitions successfully?

>

> What concerns me is that I read a posting about the prior version 8.01

> with someone trying to merge partitions and they lost everything in the

> process.

>

> Any comments and/or suggestions will be appreciated.

>

> Thanks

>

If you're concerned about the using Partition Magic's merge feature, why not

move the files on D to C, delete the partition containing the D drive, and

expand C to take up the entire hard drive?

Keep in mind that you should back up any of your friend's important files before

using PM.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

August 20, 2008

Re: Merging Partitons

These tools are well proven and in 99.999% of cases all goes well and

the results are flawless. However in the .001% of cases where things do

go wrong the results are usually catastrophic and most often *all* data

on the disk is lost! *Make sure* that you have a working backup of your

precious files before you do any partitioning work!

John

ColTom2 wrote:

> Hi:

>

> I have a friend who has a Sony desktop running Windows Home XP SP2. He has

> 20GB of HD space on C:\ and 60GB on D:\ and his problem is C:\ is almost

> full and D:\ has practically nothing.

>

> I purchased Norton Partition Magic 8.05 in an effort to merge the D:\

> drive with the C:\ drive, as this was the most recommended software. Has

> anyone used this to merge partitions successfully?

>

> What concerns me is that I read a posting about the prior version 8.01

> with someone trying to merge partitions and they lost everything in the

> process.

>

> Any comments and/or suggestions will be appreciated.

>

> Thanks

>

August 20, 2008

Re: Merging Partitons

I would lop off three digits from your figure: Things go well in

99% of all cases and fail catastrophically in one case out of

one hundred. But then this is just my personal opinion. Regardless

of any partition merging, the OP's friend should ***always***

maintain a backup of his important files. Not doing so will cause

a disaster. It's only a matter of time.

"John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message

news:g8h9cd$asp$1@aioe.org...

> These tools are well proven and in 99.999% of cases all goes well and the

> results are flawless. However in the .001% of cases where things do go

> wrong the results are usually catastrophic and most often *all* data on

> the disk is lost! *Make sure* that you have a working backup of your

> precious files before you do any partitioning work!

>

> John

I would lop off three digits from your figure: Things go well in

99% of all cases and fail catastrophically in one case out of

one hundred. But then this is just my personal opinion. Regardless

of any partition merging, the OP's friend should ***always***

maintain a backup copy of his important files. Not doing so will

result in a disaster. It's only a matter of time. We read the desperate

cries for help here several times each week and we can just about

hear the gnashing of the teeth.

August 20, 2008

Re: Merging Partitons

Yes, I think I may have been a bit too optimistic.

John

Pegasus (MVP) wrote:

> I would lop off three digits from your figure: Things go well in

> 99% of all cases and fail catastrophically in one case out of

> one hundred. But then this is just my personal opinion. Regardless

> of any partition merging, the OP's friend should ***always***

> maintain a backup of his important files. Not doing so will cause

> a disaster. It's only a matter of time.

>

> "John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message

> news:g8h9cd$asp$1@aioe.org...

>

>>These tools are well proven and in 99.999% of cases all goes well and the

>>results are flawless. However in the .001% of cases where things do go

>>wrong the results are usually catastrophic and most often *all* data on

>>the disk is lost! *Make sure* that you have a working backup of your

>>precious files before you do any partitioning work!

>>

>>John

>

> I would lop off three digits from your figure: Things go well in

> 99% of all cases and fail catastrophically in one case out of

> one hundred. But then this is just my personal opinion. Regardless

> of any partition merging, the OP's friend should ***always***

> maintain a backup copy of his important files. Not doing so will

> result in a disaster. It's only a matter of time. We read the desperate

> cries for help here several times each week and we can just about

> hear the gnashing of the teeth.

>

August 20, 2008

Re: Merging Partitons

Could I leave 10 GB including the 6 GB of files that he has on his D:\

drive and merge the remaining 50 GB into C:\ drive?

"ColTom2" <noemailaddress@nomail.com> wrote in message

news:%23zUku1sAJHA.4368@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

Hi:

I have a friend who has a Sony desktop running Windows Home XP SP2. He has

20GB of HD space on C:\ and 60GB on D:\ and his problem is C:\ is almost

full and D:\ has practically nothing.

I purchased Norton Partition Magic 8.05 in an effort to merge the D:\

drive with the C:\ drive, as this was the most recommended software. Has

anyone used this to merge partitions successfully?

What concerns me is that I read a posting about the prior version 8.01

with someone trying to merge partitions and they lost everything in the

process.

Any comments and/or suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks

August 20, 2008

Re: Merging Partitons

you don't want

to merge the partitions.

what you want to

do is to re allocate

free space from one

into the other.

you can calculate

how much to move

if you simply make

them equal (50/50)

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

"ColTom2" <noemailaddress@nomail.com> wrote in message news:exZU8dtAJHA.3728@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Could I leave 10 GB including the 6 GB of files that he has on his D:\

> drive and merge the remaining 50 GB into C:\ drive?

>

> "ColTom2" <noemailaddress@nomail.com> wrote in message

> news:%23zUku1sAJHA.4368@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Hi:

>

> I have a friend who has a Sony desktop running Windows Home XP SP2. He has

> 20GB of HD space on C:\ and 60GB on D:\ and his problem is C:\ is almost

> full and D:\ has practically nothing.

>

> I purchased Norton Partition Magic 8.05 in an effort to merge the D:\

> drive with the C:\ drive, as this was the most recommended software. Has

> anyone used this to merge partitions successfully?

>

> What concerns me is that I read a posting about the prior version 8.01

> with someone trying to merge partitions and they lost everything in the

> process.

>

> Any comments and/or suggestions will be appreciated.

>

> Thanks

>

August 20, 2008

Re: Merging Partitons

The date and time was 8/20/2008 8:14 AM, and on a whim, ColTom2 pounded

out on the keyboard:

> Could I leave 10 GB including the 6 GB of files that he has on his D:\

> drive and merge the remaining 50 GB into C:\ drive?

>

> "ColTom2" <noemailaddress@nomail.com> wrote in message

> news:%23zUku1sAJHA.4368@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Hi:

>

> I have a friend who has a Sony desktop running Windows Home XP SP2. He has

> 20GB of HD space on C:\ and 60GB on D:\ and his problem is C:\ is almost

> full and D:\ has practically nothing.

>

> I purchased Norton Partition Magic 8.05 in an effort to merge the D:\

> drive with the C:\ drive, as this was the most recommended software. Has

> anyone used this to merge partitions successfully?

>

> What concerns me is that I read a posting about the prior version 8.01

> with someone trying to merge partitions and they lost everything in the

> process.

>

> Any comments and/or suggestions will be appreciated.

>

> Thanks

>

You don't "merge" empty space. If all the data from D: can fit on C:,

then I would copy all the data from D: to C:, then in PM, delete the D:

partition and expand the C: partition to the required size. If your

friend still wants a D: drive, you could just resize D: making it

smaller, and resize C: making it larger. IMO, that is safer than a

merge (which adds data from one partition to another). But if you make

a good backup prior, you're covered either way.

--

Terry R.

***Reply Note***

Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.

Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

August 20, 2008

Re: Merging Partitons

ColTom2 wrote:

> Hi:

>

> I have a friend who has a Sony desktop running Windows Home XP SP2.

> He has 20GB of HD space on C:\ and 60GB on D:\ and his problem is C:\

> is almost full and D:\ has practically nothing.

>

> I purchased Norton Partition Magic 8.05 in an effort to merge the D:\

> drive with the C:\ drive, as this was the most recommended software.

> Has anyone used this to merge partitions successfully?

>

> What concerns me is that I read a posting about the prior version

> 8.01 with someone trying to merge partitions and they lost everything

> in the process.

>

> Any comments and/or suggestions will be appreciated.

Uh, I assume your "C:" and "D:" are on the same physical hard drive. If they

are on different drives, you'll need another solution.

August 20, 2008

Re: Merging Partitons

The User Licence means that if you use Partition Magic on your friend's

machine you cannot use it on any other machine:

http://www.symantec.com/content/en/us/about/media/PQ_Single_Standard_EULA_091603.pdf

I would relocate folders from C to D and keep Partition Magic for use

with your own machine.

You can generate more space in the system partition by relocation of

folders.

For Temporary Internet Files select Start, Control Panel, Internet

Options, Temporary Internet Files. Settings, Move Folder.

To move the Outlook Express Store Folder select in Outlook Express

Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store Folder, Change.

http://www.tomsterdam.com/insideoe/files/store.htm

How to Change the Default Location of the My Documents Folder:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310147

You may also need to change Default File locations in the Microsoft

Office programmes you choose to move the My Documents folder. For Word

go to Tools, Options, File Locations, highlight Documents, click on

Modify and change file path. For Excel go to Tools, Options, General

and change default file path.

My Documents is one of a number of system created Special Folders

including My Pictures and My Music. These can more easily be relocated

using Tweak Ui. Download TweakUI, one of the MS powertoys, from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

In TweakUi select My Computer, Special Folders. You can scroll down to

see the full list of Special Folders to the left of the Change

Location button.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ColTom2 wrote:

> Could I leave 10 GB including the 6 GB of files that he has on his D:\

> drive and merge the remaining 50 GB into C:\ drive?

>

> "ColTom2" <noemailaddress@nomail.com> wrote in message

> news:%23zUku1sAJHA.4368@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Hi:

>

> I have a friend who has a Sony desktop running Windows Home XP SP2.

> He has 20GB of HD space on C:\ and 60GB on D:\ and his problem is C:\

> is almost full and D:\ has practically nothing.

>

> I purchased Norton Partition Magic 8.05 in an effort to merge the D:\

> drive with the C:\ drive, as this was the most recommended software.

> Has anyone used this to merge partitions successfully?

>

> What concerns me is that I read a posting about the prior version

> 8.01 with someone trying to merge partitions and they lost everything

> in the process.

>

> Any comments and/or suggestions will be appreciated.

>

> Thanks

August 20, 2008

Re: Merging Partitons

You have two options 1. Merge the two partitions - meaning space and "Data"

on D are merged with C. 2. Resize C - convert D to "free space" and extend

C.

"ColTom2" <noemailaddress@nomail.com> wrote in message

news:%23zUku1sAJHA.4368@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Hi:

>

> I have a friend who has a Sony desktop running Windows Home XP SP2. He

> has

> 20GB of HD space on C:\ and 60GB on D:\ and his problem is C:\ is almost

> full and D:\ has practically nothing.

>

> I purchased Norton Partition Magic 8.05 in an effort to merge the D:\

> drive with the C:\ drive, as this was the most recommended software. Has

> anyone used this to merge partitions successfully?

>

> What concerns me is that I read a posting about the prior version 8.01

> with someone trying to merge partitions and they lost everything in the

> process.

>

> Any comments and/or suggestions will be appreciated.

>

> Thanks

>

August 20, 2008

Re: Merging Partitons

From what I have interpreted from most of the postings it would be simpler

and maybe safer just to merge D:/ into C:/.

Yes both partitions are on the same HD.

I really appreciate ALL the responses.

Thanks

"ColTom2" <noemailaddress@nomail.com> wrote in message

news:%23zUku1sAJHA.4368@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

Hi:

I have a friend who has a Sony desktop running Windows Home XP SP2. He has

20GB of HD space on C:\ and 60GB on D:\ and his problem is C:\ is almost

full and D:\ has practically nothing.

I purchased Norton Partition Magic 8.05 in an effort to merge the D:\

drive with the C:\ drive, as this was the most recommended software. Has

anyone used this to merge partitions successfully?

What concerns me is that I read a posting about the prior version 8.01

with someone trying to merge partitions and they lost everything in the

process.

Any comments and/or suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks

August 20, 2008

Re: Merging Partitons

It would be easier to move folders / files from one to the other?

Is it two drives or two partitions on one drive? How much free disk

space is there on each?

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ColTom2 wrote:

> From what I have interpreted from most of the postings it would be

> simpler and maybe safer just to merge D:/ into C:/.

>

> Yes both partitions are on the same HD.

>

> I really appreciate ALL the responses.

>

> Thanks

>

> "ColTom2" <noemailaddress@nomail.com> wrote in message

> news:%23zUku1sAJHA.4368@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Hi:

>

> I have a friend who has a Sony desktop running Windows Home XP SP2.

> He has 20GB of HD space on C:\ and 60GB on D:\ and his problem is C:\

> is almost full and D:\ has practically nothing.

>

> I purchased Norton Partition Magic 8.05 in an effort to merge the D:\

> drive with the C:\ drive, as this was the most recommended software.

> Has anyone used this to merge partitions successfully?

>

> What concerns me is that I read a posting about the prior version

> 8.01 with someone trying to merge partitions and they lost everything

> in the process.

>

> Any comments and/or suggestions will be appreciated.

>

> Thanks

August 20, 2008

Re: Merging Partitons

Gerry I indicated above that both partitions are on the same HD. C:/ has

20GB with 17GB used while D:/ has 60 GB with 6 GB used.

"Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:%23%238yIxwAJHA.4596@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

It would be easier to move folders / files from one to the other?

Is it two drives or two partitions on one drive? How much free disk

space is there on each?

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ColTom2 wrote:

> From what I have interpreted from most of the postings it would be

> simpler and maybe safer just to merge D:/ into C:/.

>

> Yes both partitions are on the same HD.

>

> I really appreciate ALL the responses.

>

> Thanks

>

> "ColTom2" <noemailaddress@nomail.com> wrote in message

> news:%23zUku1sAJHA.4368@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Hi:

>

> I have a friend who has a Sony desktop running Windows Home XP SP2.

> He has 20GB of HD space on C:\ and 60GB on D:\ and his problem is C:\

> is almost full and D:\ has practically nothing.

>

> I purchased Norton Partition Magic 8.05 in an effort to merge the D:\

> drive with the C:\ drive, as this was the most recommended software.

> Has anyone used this to merge partitions successfully?

>

> What concerns me is that I read a posting about the prior version

> 8.01 with someone trying to merge partitions and they lost everything

> in the process.

>

> Any comments and/or suggestions will be appreciated.

>

> Thanks

August 20, 2008

Re: Merging Partitons

Then the solution is as I indicted previously. By far the simplest.

The User Licence means that if you use Partition Magic on your friend's

machine you cannot use it on any other machine:

http://www.symantec.com/content/en/us/about/media/PQ_Single_Standard_EULA_091603.pdf

I would relocate folders from C to D and keep Partition Magic for use

with your own machine.

You can generate more space in the system partition by relocation of

folders.

For Temporary Internet Files select Start, Control Panel, Internet

Options, Temporary Internet Files. Settings, Move Folder.

To move the Outlook Express Store Folder select in Outlook Express

Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store Folder, Change.

http://www.tomsterdam.com/insideoe/files/store.htm

How to Change the Default Location of the My Documents Folder:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310147

You may also need to change Default File locations in the Microsoft

Office programmes you choose to move the My Documents folder. For Word

go to Tools, Options, File Locations, highlight Documents, click on

Modify and change file path. For Excel go to Tools, Options, General

and change default file path.

My Documents is one of a number of system created Special Folders

including My Pictures and My Music. These can more easily be relocated

using Tweak Ui. Download TweakUI, one of the MS powertoys, from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

In TweakUi select My Computer, Special Folders. You can scroll down to

see the full list of Special Folders to the left of the Change

Location button.

Also consider.

If your drive is formatted as NTFS another potential gain arises with

your operating system on your C drive. In the Windows Directory of

your C partition you will have some Uninstall folders in your Windows

folder typically: $NtServicePackUninstall$ and $NtUninstallKB282010$

etc. These files may be compressed or not compressed. If compressed

the text of the folder name appears in blue characters. If not

compressed you can compress them. Right click on each folder and

select Properties, General, Advanced and check the box before Compress

contents to save Disk Space. On the General Tab you can see the amount

gained by deducting the size on disk from the size. Folder

compression is only an option on a NTFS formatted drive / partition.

The default allocation to System Restore is 12% on your C partition

which is over generous. I would reduce it to 700 mb. Right click your My

Computer icon on the Desktop and select System Restore. Place the cursor

on your C drive select Settings but this time find the slider and drag

it to the left until it reads 700 mb and exit. When you get to the

Settings screen click on Apply and OK and exit.

Another default setting which could be wasteful is that for temporary

internet files, especially if you do not store offline copies on disk.

The default allocation is 3% of drive. Depending on your attitude to

offline copies you could reduce this to 1% or 2%. In Internet Explorer

select Tools, Internet Options, General, Temporary Internet Files,

Settings to make the change. At the same time look at the number of days

history is held.

The default allocation for the Recycle Bin is 10 % of drive. Change to

5%, which should be sufficient. In Windows Explorer place the cursor

on your Recycle Bin, right click and select Properties, Global and

move the slider from 10% to 5%. However, try to avoid letting it get

too full as if it is full and you delete a file by mistake it will

bypass the Recycle Bin and be gone for ever.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to

Empty your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also

select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,

More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System

Restore point. Run Disk Defragmenter.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System

Information, Tools, Dr Watson and verify that the box before "Append to

existing log" is NOT checked. This means the next time the log is

written it will overwrite rather than add to the existing file.

The default maximum size setting for Event Viewer logs is too large.

Reset the maximum for each log from 512 kb to 128 kb and set it to

overwrite.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ColTom2 wrote:

> Gerry I indicated above that both partitions are on the same HD. C:/

> has 20GB with 17GB used while D:/ has 60 GB with 6 GB used.

>

> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

> news:%23%238yIxwAJHA.4596@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> It would be easier to move folders / files from one to the other?

>

> Is it two drives or two partitions on one drive? How much free disk

> space is there on each?

>

> ColTom2 wrote:

>> From what I have interpreted from most of the postings it would be

>> simpler and maybe safer just to merge D:/ into C:/.

>>

>> Yes both partitions are on the same HD.

>>

>> I really appreciate ALL the responses.

>>

>> Thanks

>>

>> "ColTom2" <noemailaddress@nomail.com> wrote in message

>> news:%23zUku1sAJHA.4368@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>> Hi:

>>

>> I have a friend who has a Sony desktop running Windows Home XP SP2.

>> He has 20GB of HD space on C:\ and 60GB on D:\ and his problem is C:\

>> is almost full and D:\ has practically nothing.

>>

>> I purchased Norton Partition Magic 8.05 in an effort to merge the

>> D:\ drive with the C:\ drive, as this was the most recommended

>> software. Has anyone used this to merge partitions successfully?

>>

>> What concerns me is that I read a posting about the prior version

>> 8.01 with someone trying to merge partitions and they lost everything

>> in the process.

>>

>> Any comments and/or suggestions will be appreciated.

>>

>> Thanks

August 21, 2008

Re: Merging Partitons

My friend is paying for the software, so that is not an issue. I do not need

it, as both my computers have only one partition.

I have already accomplished most of the items you have mentioned in freeing

up HD space with the exception of moving folders etc which to me seems like

a lot of work plus you have two partitions still to work with rather than

one when completed.

If I merge the D:. into the C:/ which currently has all the OS files, then I

have everything in one partition which to me simplifies even more so. Only

one partition to defrag, CHKDSK, etc

I am sorry to say, but I do not follow your logic as you have outlined.

Thanks

"Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:%23EOFnwxAJHA.2056@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...