resizing hard drive partitions

[kamecar]

I have a 250GB hard drive with 3 partitions, D: HP Recovery (approx 5GB), C: Windows System (approx 30GB) & G:Spare space (approx 201GB).
I am using Windows XP Home.
My question is, if I delete the G drive through the windows disk management, what happens to the space left behind? Does it become unallocated space that I can then share with the C: drive? Reinstalling the G drive and the info already on it is no drama, but purchasing Partition Magic etc is very costly for a one time only use. I would ideally like the C drive to be approx 80GB.

Any suggestions. GParted looks way too complicated.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

80 gigs for a C: drive? :eek:

You say 'like' to have, but why? For 9x versions I use up to 6 gigs, for NT (XP), up to 20. Why is 80 so important?

Relocating 'My Documents' and other apps should be able to keep your C: drive trimmed for speed and efficiency. When you install programs there's options many times to install to another folder/partition. That's where the correct choice keeps things running lean and mean... ;)

[kamecar]

The 250GB Hard drive replaced an old 40GB hard drive and just about everything is already installed on the C: Drive. Since having to install SP2, the updates are using just about all the spare spce I had. I now only have 5 GB space on the C drive when all larger programs I use have already been installed on the G drive.

It doesn't help that when I purchased the computer, XP was pre loaded and I never received a disk, so reinstalling XP is not an option.

[kamecar]

oops! I meant reinstalling XP on the G drive is not an option

[Sylvander]

COMPARTMENTALISE!

1. Move ALL your data files off C: to make it as small as possible.

2. Hold all you personal data files on a small partition all their own.
Other data files might be held on different partitions by data type [music, images, video].

3. C: should hold Windows, Program Files, registry, Hibernation file, Swap file.
Uninstall the programs on G: and reinstall them on C:

4. Use a FREE TRIAL copy of BootIT NG (http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html) to non-destructively resize partitions.

5. THIS (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=53717) is my latest method for backup and restore.
Syncback [free version] synchronisation of data files is so much quicker and easier than making image backups [which are easy enough], but image backups of C: are still needed to recover a working installation of Windows and Programs.

6. MOVE PERSONAL DATA FILES
a. My Documents. [Use “TweakUI” to move their home]
b. E-mails for all identities. [use the email client to move their home]
c. Internet Explorer Favourites. [Use “TweakUI” to move their home]
d. Temporary Internet Files. [use the browser (Internet Explorer) to move them]
e. Re-home the Windows Address Book as shown here http://tinyurl.com/24q6l . Use the key “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4\Wab FileName” to specify its new address. [Its normal home address [in Win98] is C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book\(the name of your user profile).WAB]