W 8 Disk Parttion Management
I have a client (W 8) with one hdd configured with a c partition to the left (180 gigs) and and a data d partition with 820 gigs on the right. There are no other partitions.
The d partition has the recover to factory data on it I think.
My objective is to expand the c partition and leave about 50 gigs on the d partition with the recovery data on the d in tact. If that is not possible or is to risky I am ok with losing that recover capability.
My questions:
1) What software (preferably trial or free) is the easiest to use to do this?
2) What is the step by step process I need to take to complete the task?
Both questions need to be answered in order to earn any points.
Thanks
The d partition has the recover to factory data on it I think.
My objective is to expand the c partition and leave about 50 gigs on the d partition with the recovery data on the d in tact. If that is not possible or is to risky I am ok with losing that recover capability.
My questions:
1) What software (preferably trial or free) is the easiest to use to do this?
2) What is the step by step process I need to take to complete the task?
Both questions need to be answered in order to earn any points.
Thanks
SOLUTION
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1.) Windows has a build in option to create a recovery partition.
Some vendors put their own recovery images onto the disc and sometimes even driven by their own software.
As long as the recovery disk is alive, means same drive and same folder, the recovery option should not be touched.
On the other hand, as I can see you want to store everything on drive c:, this makes recovery more complicate when data is stored on the same drive than the OS. Some of these solutions just overwrites the system partition and destroys all user data.
2.) The procedure how to recreate such a recovery is as individual as the vendors. So there is no general instruction how to work with this. The windows default procedure can be found here:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/create-a-system-repair-disc
Some vendors put their own recovery images onto the disc and sometimes even driven by their own software.
As long as the recovery disk is alive, means same drive and same folder, the recovery option should not be touched.
On the other hand, as I can see you want to store everything on drive c:, this makes recovery more complicate when data is stored on the same drive than the OS. Some of these solutions just overwrites the system partition and destroys all user data.
2.) The procedure how to recreate such a recovery is as individual as the vendors. So there is no general instruction how to work with this. The windows default procedure can be found here:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/create-a-system-repair-disc
With built-in diskmanagement this is not possible, as you can only shrink or extend partitions, but you can't move them which would be required in your case.
So you do need a 3rd party tool.
I can recommend Paragon's free partition Manager (and you can also use the free backup tool to create a backup beforehand):
http://www.paragon-software.com/free/
So you do need a 3rd party tool.
I can recommend Paragon's free partition Manager (and you can also use the free backup tool to create a backup beforehand):
http://www.paragon-software.com/free/
ASKER
Now Bambi has really confused me. Can I or can't I shrink D leaving space to the left of it so I can expand C???
I don't care about the ability to recover back to factory data anymore, I just want to be positive that the disk will be operational and no data will be lost on the C partition.
I don't care about the ability to recover back to factory data anymore, I just want to be positive that the disk will be operational and no data will be lost on the C partition.
ASKER
By the way it is W 8.1
vlogg5, I grow drives like this constantly on servers and have never experienced data loss from extending one. There may be some risk of data loss when altering partitions in this way but I've never seen it. If you are not concerned with the data on D:, just delete the D: partition and extend C: to it in disk management. If you are skeptical about the process, just be sure to make good backups of everything before going through.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Sorry, I didn't want to confuse you....
One point is the question with shrinking the partition.
My point was that it is a good idea to store data not on the same drive than the OS.
So the solution to have the OS on C:\ and to store data on D;\ makes it easier to recover the OS but to keep your data. Recovery may overwrite the whole drive, but depend from the way, the image oder recovery option works and this is vendor specific.
Some vendors keep the recovery drive hidden (no drive letter), in your case it seem to be on drive D:\ If you don't want to use this drive, you can move the space and create a drive E:\
If you remove then the drive letter from D:\ to make the recovery image of the vendor invisible is possible, but nor sure if it still works this way - also depends from the vendor.
The other option was to create a recovery, this was the link I provided. But in case of a failure, I is also an option to reinstall the OS from the scratch as long as your data is still alive and secured. Windows has a build in functionality to create restore points, which allows you to revert the system to one of the older states. Also you can use windows backup to create an image everywhere and recover it if needed, as long as the image is still available.
So in my mind, there are some build in features to keep your data and OS save, nevertheless some 3rd part tolls may be a bit more comfortable.
One point is the question with shrinking the partition.
My point was that it is a good idea to store data not on the same drive than the OS.
So the solution to have the OS on C:\ and to store data on D;\ makes it easier to recover the OS but to keep your data. Recovery may overwrite the whole drive, but depend from the way, the image oder recovery option works and this is vendor specific.
Some vendors keep the recovery drive hidden (no drive letter), in your case it seem to be on drive D:\ If you don't want to use this drive, you can move the space and create a drive E:\
If you remove then the drive letter from D:\ to make the recovery image of the vendor invisible is possible, but nor sure if it still works this way - also depends from the vendor.
The other option was to create a recovery, this was the link I provided. But in case of a failure, I is also an option to reinstall the OS from the scratch as long as your data is still alive and secured. Windows has a build in functionality to create restore points, which allows you to revert the system to one of the older states. Also you can use windows backup to create an image everywhere and recover it if needed, as long as the image is still available.
So in my mind, there are some build in features to keep your data and OS save, nevertheless some 3rd part tolls may be a bit more comfortable.
SOLUTION
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I think you must have looked at the wrong versions of the utilities. There is a free version (not trial) of paragon's partition manager, and the free version allows you to move partitions, or at least reduce it's size from the front end of the partition (in which case you wouldn't have to move it). The non-free products of paragon also have trials, but I think those are different from the free products, so those may not have some of the features enabled until you buy the product.
ASKER
In awarding my points.
rindi was right on and the most helpful except that trial versions don't apply the actions required so you need to buy them.
zulzen first comment was wrong (see rindi's comment) 2nd comment very helpful
cwstad2 see comment to rindi about free versions.
bembi sorry just confusing and didn't address my isssue
rindi was right on and the most helpful except that trial versions don't apply the actions required so you need to buy them.
zulzen first comment was wrong (see rindi's comment) 2nd comment very helpful
cwstad2 see comment to rindi about free versions.
bembi sorry just confusing and didn't address my isssue
http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm