Increasing Partition on Drive.
 

Is there any way of increasing the partition of a drive without having to start from scratch and re-loading XP. I initially partitioned my 250gb drive into two 20gb for drive C: the rest made into drive D:.

I have just noticed because some programs don't give you the option to load to another drive other than C: I am now left with only 3gb of space left after windows takes its share as a page file, I could do with increasing this drive to 40gb is it possible without stating from scratch.
I have just found a program called Gparted has anyone used this and found it safe to use

You can move the page file to the other drive: My computer->Properties->Advanced->Performance.

In order to increase the partition size you will need partitioning software, you can download a working demo copy of Partition Magic here.

http://www.idilis.ro/downloads/idl/E...RETAILDEMO.ZIP

nirofo.

Thanks walwyn I will do that until I can find a solution.

Nirofo, the demo version is just that it won't do anything unless you buy, I tried it:(. Considering it will be only used once its a bit expensive at £39.

The alternative would be to reinstall XP on your drive, repartitioned as necessary. This would habe no monetary cost.

Foxy, I don't really want to do that it could take days to put everything back as you know that can be a nightmare. I have just removed the pagefile but it doesn't help I only have 3gb left. Some programs just don't give you the option to install to another disk, they only load to C: I have gone through every file to see what I can delete but they are so small it makes no difference. Its my own fault I should have left the disk without any partitions.

I need a bit more help, even though I have removed the pagefile on drive C: and set it up for drive D:it is still showing on the disk and in defrag so it hasn't given me the space back.

Hi Sapphire

Changing the location and size of the Windows page file does not increase your drive partition size, all it does is give Windows more headroom to work in! As the available space left on your physical drive becomes less then Windows will find it harder and harder to keep working at a reasonable pace and may eventually refuse to operate altogether. As you have already said one way to overcome this is to re-partition your available hard disk space to give your 'C' drive, (Windows drive) more room. The easiest way to do this is via third party partitioning software, there are many variations freely available for download if you do a quick search with Google. Make sure you do a backup of any important files/data etc before you do this.

Personally I would go for a system re-boot, (after backing up important files/data etc) and re-partition your drive at this stage, give your 'C' drive at least 80Gb. Your system drive becomes more and more clogged up with redundant files, registry entries, temp files and all sorts of other rubbish that only a full system re-boot will get rid of.

This might be a good time to add another drive to your system, a 250Gb SATA drive can be had for as little as £36 now, keep this one purely for data/files.

nirofo.

Thanks for all your help nirofo, I will be buying another drive soon I am just waiting for Aldi to get some 500gb usb's in they are only £49. I already have two backup of backup of all my photos.
I never have had much luck in backing up the important files/data for some reason the folder or files are never readable after, I always end up loading from scratch. What I normaly do is just copyy all files onto another disk and then slowly reload each program one at a time which can take days. I hate doing it.

Norton Ghost... image the drive, repartition, re image the drive ... 1/2 hr :D

Thanks Gidders I backed up everything then took the plunge and tried partition magic and it worked great with no hiccups. I increased the c: partition to 60gb.
I will get another drive hopefully soon and won't be putting any partitions on it.

Once you've moved it you should be able to just delete it from the C drive.

You can also change where your "My Documents' lives too. If you right click over it in windows explorer and click properties you can change its location. Not all programs will honour the move though and some insist on recreating it back on C: for their own purposes, but most do. Unfortunately I've never found a way to move "Application data" from the C drive, but maybe some in in our systems dept knows how to do that too.

Thanks walwyn, good tip, I have done that now.

you can increase partition size by using a software called, Partition Magic, its a great softie

With HDs so cheap and so large these days, there is really no need to put yourself into hassle of getting compression that will surely brings its drawbacks in more that one way soon. Just add the second or third in house drive. You will be a lot happier.

i did it with partition magic, good job

I did that too. in fact keep on doing it as my photo files increase (also used it to convert to Linux and back to Windows).... Takes next to no no time and is very intuitive.:)