I find myself with a dilemma and a new notebook. I'd like to resize the one C: partition of its 100GB HD and create a D: and E: partition (or would they be logical drives?) for data and other purposes. If I install True Image and burn an image to either DVD or external HD (portable storage device?) before installing and resizing the partition, can I count on the saved image restoring the drive if anything goes haywire with the resizing? I've not performed a partition resizing before so I'm somewhat apprehensive. I certainly do not want to muck up a brand new laptop. The current configuration is factory new, I have neither installed nor changed anything yet.

Thank you!

Resizing with the correct software is generally not problematic though saving an image of your partition beforehand is always good advice. Saving a factory image is a very good idea in any case.

Unless one can verify an image (a thing one can do with drive image) there's no 100% way of knowing if the imaging went through successfully, but if the file has been correctly made on the recovery media it is almost certainly going to be OK. With a factory installation I would be even less concerned since you have no personal data which you might lose. Personal data is irreplaceable but a factory installation can of course be put back.

With most systems one can create/resize the partitions before installng/restoring the factory image or installation.

When you do non-destructively resize your current partition ensure you have the unallocated space/new partition(s) after the resized partition or the references in boot.ini will be incorrect and cause a failure to reboot.

Thank you, Paul, for your reply and assistance. When you wrote:

"When you do non-destructively resize your current partition ensure you have the unallocated space/new partition(s) after the resized partition or the references in boot.ini will be incorrect and cause a failure to reboot"

Does this mean simply checking this in Disk Management before I exit and restart?

You will not be able to use the Windows DiskManagement to do any non-destructive resizing. For that you would need a utility such as Partition Magic, BootIt-NG, Ranish etc. The only way that Windows Disk Management can "resize" is to first Delete and then recreate partitions; a long-winded and destructive resizing.

When one resizes a partition it is most common shrink it from the end so that it still starts in the same postition. One can also shrink it from the beginning so that there is new unallocated space in front of the partition. Such a manouvre takes longer because more files need to be relocated and would make the current boot.ini references obsolete. For completeness I was warning not to do the latter with a system partition.

It is probably wisest to create logical partitions for the new partitions, D, E, etc. You can then have virtually any number of them even though you will only be able to use Drive Letters up to Z. It is also safer since a new primary partition, even if physically following the current primary partition, can occupy the first partition table and be yet another reason for making the boot.ini references wrong and with the potential to prevent booting-up.

The partitioning utility should make everything clear enough and when all has been done you can go into DiskManagement and view the results there if that takes your fancy.

Again, thanks Paul.

Yes, I am clear on the logic behind resizing (non-destructive) vs. XPs Disk Mgmt. I was not clear in my question, but hopefully the software (True Image) will be self-explanatory. I was only wondering how I was going to confirm the actual resizing before exiting and rebooting, as you pointed out.

Additionally, if I create logical partitions for the new partitions, ideally D; and E; is it feasible to rename the factory D: (dumb Memory Stick slot) and E: (DVD burner) or best just to leave as is and assign my new logical partitions something else?

My apologies for the elementary questions -- I've not resized an "active" drive before, only partitioned a new one.

Thank you!

You can reassign any Drive Letters using Disk Management EXCEPT the boot partition (the partition that contains boot.ini) AND/OR the system partition (the partition that contains Windows). These are most commonly both on the same, C: drive. That being the case you can reassign all the other Drive Letters, whether they be HDD partitions, floppies, optical devices, etc.

Thank you very much, Paul, for your help and timely replies!

Cheers,

-Pat

Yes - as long as you create the image of the whole disk, and not just the C partition. Also, since this is for an emergency situation, please test that the True Image (http://www.acroniscom/homecomputing/products/trueimage/ ) Rescue CD is able to access/open the image on the external HD.

P.S: On the disk, it is partitions (primary, extended, or logical partitions). No letters. The lettering and "driverization" of partitions are done by Windows