Combining Partitions?

[pincher]

My Tosh laptop appears to have a partitioned hard drive (at least I think it's partitioned, as I have a C:\ and D:\ drive).

C:\ is running at about 75% capacity but D:\ has nothing on it at all (possibly one system file of some sort).

How can I combine them without losing anything on the existing C:\ drive or having to reinstall anything?

Running Vista - is there a way to do it from within?

[Salgar]

This is always a dangerous game, But I think vista can do it.

If you go to Control panel - Administrative tools - Computer Management - Disk Management

You will see your drives there. You will have to delete the empty partition - D:\ - (make sure it is empty as you wont be able to get the data back)
Once that is marked as 'free space', you can then right click on the C:\ and do a 'extend' and then follow the instructions.

Disclaimer:
However, I don't have vista, and i've never done it. Also I have used partition magic before which froze in the middle of the process and I did lose a whole drive full of data. If a partition is left in an inconsistent state, you lose. But I've also done it successfully before.

[pincher]

So, it's 50/50 on whether it will work or not?

Encouraging!

Thanks for the info - I'll give it a whirl tonight.

[Jinx]

Is the D:\ the recovery partition (as it is on mine - 10 gigs given over to it)? If so it may be unwise to delete this (unless you have backup OS DVD)

[pincher]

Not sure - will need to check it out tonight.

[Man-At-Arms]

pincher said:

Thanks for the info - I'll give it a whirl tonight.

make a backup first
or clone the drive onto another with http://clonezilla.org/

Jinx said:

Is the D:\ the recovery partition

i thought the recovery partition is normally hidden ?

[Salgar]

I think it will try and tell you to gtfo if you try and delete a recovery partition with the computer manager. I tried to delete mine the other day and it wouldn't let me.

[Salgar]

By his silence, we can safely assume he's now reinstalling a fresh copy of windows.

[pincher]

Had a quick look and the hard drive is split 50/50 between C:\ and E:\ (not D:\ as I thought when I was at work).

Had a look at the first suggestion but don't hugely trust Vista to do it properly.

I think I'll wait until I can get a copy of something like Partition Magic and do it properly.

Thanks for all the suggestions (and doubters!)

[Salgar]

I kind of almost think Vista will do a better job than PM, as it has native support for it which XP didn't. Also i've heard a few people that say Acronis Disk Director is better than Partition Magic. Although i'm sure they're all capable.

[pincher]

Salgar said:

This is always a dangerous game, But I think vista can do it.

If you go to Control panel - Administrative tools - Computer Management - Disk Management

You will see your drives there. You will have to delete the empty partition - D:\ - (make sure it is empty as you wont be able to get the data back)
Once that is marked as 'free space', you can then right click on the C:\ and do a 'extend' and then follow the instructions.

Disclaimer:
However, I don't have vista, and i've never done it. Also I have used partition magic before which froze in the middle of the process and I did lose a whole drive full of data. If a partition is left in an inconsistent state, you lose. But I've also done it successfully before.

Holy thread resurrection! Finally got round to doing this just now

Took about 30 seconds and I now have a lovely great big C:\ drive - woohoo!