Remove Harddrive Partitions

[Nooyawkah]

I recently set up a new computer and divided the hard drive into three partitions, now known as drives C,E and F. I know this is a good idea but it's driving (haha) me nuts. I'd like to delete the partitions and just have a C drive.

I'm using Windows XP and downloaded Recovery Console from Microsoft. I have directions for commands, but they're unclear, and besides, I'm not really good at DOS. Is this the best way to do what I want or is there any better/easier way? If I must use Recovery Console, can anyone make the directions clearer for this DOS-DUMMY? Thanks much.

[andyswork@beci.net]

In your case I would use partition Magic, it is easy to use and you do not lose data.

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One day I will be a pro, Thanks Andy

[iisbob]

The recovery console has nothing to do with your partion setup-it's for recovering from Hardware/software related problem's when you have either a corrupt program that won't allow you to boot into safe mode, or for a serious hardware install that also won't allow a last known good configuration/safe mode boot.

If you have XP then simply open disk management ( shortest way is to go to my computer/right click and choose Manage-then choose disk management ) and delete the two unwanted partiton's. Then recreate them into just C/D. I know this isn't exactly what you want to do, but in order to completely remove all partion's and set up only one you're going to have to use a third party tool as mentioned in the above post.

You'll have to use PM7 'cause 6 doesn't work in XP. If you find this is more than you're financially able to afford, then just use XP to remove all partiion's ( from the CD ) and do a clean reinstall of XP after you've recreated your one partion. I know it's a pain to do a reinstall-but it's a lot less than paying $70-$100 for software you may only have to use once.

I want to add that there is a command in Recovery console that is called Diskpart-it is the DOS equivalent of Disk Manager-and acts the same, so you would still be only able to create a second partion-not expand the C into a larger one without removing it first.




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iisbob

"It is by the fortune of God that, in this country, we have three benefits: freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and the wisdom never to use either."
-Mark Twain { Samuel Clemen's }



[This message has been edited by iisbob (edited 02-24-2002).]

[Nooyawkah]

iisbob:
Considering I just built the system less than a week ago, reinstalling the OS isn't a big deal. How do I use the CD to uninstall ALL partitions?

[This message has been edited by Nooyawkah (edited 02-24-2002).]

[Jacko]

If your not all that bothered about having to set the machine up from scratch again - just use FDisk.

But the real point of this reply is to recommend that you consider having more than one partition!

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Memory Upgrade?

[Paleo Pete]

No, fdisk wouldn't be best in some cases. XP is an NT kernel based OS and handles partitioning during installation. That would probably be the best way to go, if reinstalling is necessary, and if it was set up with NTFS partitions to begin with they might not even show up in fdisk.

IMHO multiple partitions is the way to go. If you have 3 partitions you can use C for OS installation and program installations, the others for storage. If and when you have to reinstall for some reason you don't lose files you saved, like pictures, documents, MP3 etc. Reinstalling only formats the C partition, everything else stays put.

In addition your partitions are more magageable. Smaller partitions are quicker to defrag, and use smaller cluster sizes, so when you save files you have less wasted disk space. With a FAT32, 4 or 5 GB partition for instance, the clusters would be much smaller than one 20GB partition. When you save a file it marks the entire cluster as used, even if the file is only 1K in size, like a small Notepad file with someone's address in it. If cluster size is 32K that leaves 31K unused space. (I'm not positive about the exact cluster sizes actually used, this is a hypothetical example.)

If cluster size is 512K for a huge partition, the same 1K text file would leave 511K unused space, that cannot be used, since the cluster is already marked as used in the FAT. (File Allocation Table) Save a dozen small text files or pictures and you're looking at 5MB wasted space. It adds up...

I'd leave it alone, after you use multiple partitions for a while and get accustomed to it, you may find that you like it that way. I definitely did, even with only a 2.8GB drive with two. One is 2GB, the other almost 800MB. When I have to reinstall Windows, most of the files I want to keep are already on the D: partition, I just have to copy a few things there and go for it. Of course I always forget to copy something...

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