New
#31
Fair enough. Everybody does things that work best for them. I have no problem with that.
Images are more important than ever
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New #32
I think I have just run into a stopper. The maximum shrink space on C is 25MB. There is a bitmap file near the end of the volume.
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New #33
Simple answer - I don't know.
There clearly isn't any attempt to breach the license in doing this but you may screw up the technical aspects of the OS authentication process.
The retail OS you install authenticates differently to the OEM PC you buy from a shop.
I changed the C: partition from primary to logical and and ended up with an error suggesting some authentication element was missing. Startup repairs were unable to repair the PC.
It was just a nuisance to get the PC up and running again. So I'm just sending a word of caution. If you get it to work - great - I'd be interested to know.
There are at least 2 different OEM OS licenses. Is WHS referring to the preinstalled OS that comes with machines like Acer (mine), HP etc. Or and OEM license he buys and installs? They are different.
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New #34
That is no stopper. What has happened is that your MFT (master file table) sits high up in the partition and Disk Management cannot move it. If you use the Partition Wizard that I linked earlier ( Best Free Partition Manager Freeware for Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP 32 bit & 64 bit. MiniTool Free Partition Manager Software Home Edition. ), you can do it. PW can move the MFT. Use the bootable CD.
And make sure you first take an image before you manipulate the system - just in case.
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New #36
And pay attention to the PW instructions. If I remember right, you specify the amount of space you want to retain for C - not the amount of space you want to shrink like in Disk Management. And whilst you are in there, you might as well convert C to logical - if you have not done that yet.
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New #37
Thanks. This is a big decision on my only PC so I am going to give it a lot of thought before going ahead. I will post back with my decision.
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New #38
Kado, if you take an image before you start the work, you can always bail yourself out in case things go sour. This is the most important step.
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New #39
Do only one operation at a time with plenty of system (Windows) restarts between each step, do not try to do a lot of operations all at once and use the bootable CD not the installed version of Partition Wizard.
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New #40
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