Partitioning challenge with this HD

tofts

tofts

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Partition File Label Size Used Unused
unallocated 1.00MiB
sda1 NTFS System 1.46 GiB 500.25 MiB 999.75 Boot
sda2 NTFS TI105838WOG 286.59GiB 37.94 GiB 248.65 GiB
sda3 NTFS HDD Recovery 10.03 GiB 9.44 GiB 610.43 MiB Hidden

The above represents my HD and because of the 3 existing primary I am having some difficulty wrapping my tired brain around how to create an extended. This is a new computer and I never dreamed a HD would look like this out of box (my limited expertise) That being said what if I resized sda2 to 100 GB with 148 unallocated. Could I then create an extended from that and be within my primary limitations. By way explanation I am more comfortable in Linux and its my only hobby:cry:
Appreciate and direction or pointing to any resource to help
 

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Hi tofts and Welcome to SevenForums

If you could go into control panel / admin tool / computer mgmt / disk mgmt and post a picture of that screen so we could see how the hdd is set up it would make it alot easier to explain.
 

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1Bowtie said:
Hi tofts and Welcome to SevenForums

If you could go into control panel / admin tool / computer mgmt / disk mgmt and post a picture of that screen so we could see how the hdd is set up it would make it alot easier to explain.
Click to expand...

Happy to and thanks for your reply
 

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You have 3 primary partitions so the 4th created in Disk Management should be Extended Logical which will then allow as many Logical sub-partitions as there are remaining letters.

Your first partition is the Recovery partition - be sure to make your Recovery Disks now if you haven't already - which shouldn't be touched as the most stable way to run Recovery is by running that partition from Windows or from boot, with the disks only as a backup.

You cut off the Free Space column so we cannot see if anything is on the 3rd partition - see if you can right-click explore to post back a screenshot of its contents. As it has no disk letter it may be a utility partition for factory utilities you don't need or use. We'll have to see to know for sure.

For now, it looks you can use Disk Mgmt to shrink your Win7 partition to the size you want (again we can't recommend because the Free Space column is cut off) to create an Extended Logical.

Whatever you do, don't accept conversion to Dynamic Disk if so prompted. But this should only happen if there are four Primary partitions.
 
gregrocker said:
You have 3 primary partitions so the 4th created in Disk Management should be Extended Logical which will then allow as many Logical sub-partitions as there are remaining letters.

Your first partition is the Recovery partition - be sure to make your Recovery Disks now if you haven't already - which shouldn't be touched as the most stable way to run Recovery is by running that partition from Windows or from boot, with the disks only as a backup.

You cut off the Free Space column so we cannot see if anything is on the 3rd partition - see if you can right-click explore to post back a screenshot of its contents. As it has no disk letter it may be a utility partition for factory utilities you don't need or use. We'll have to see to know for sure.

For now, it looks you can use Disk Mgmt to shrink your Win7 partition to the size you want (again we can't recommend because the Free Space column is cut off) to create an Extended Logical.

Whatever you do, don't accept conversion to Dynamic Disk if so prompted. But this should only happen if there are four Primary partitions.
Click to expand...

Sorry about cutting off that info. Hope this helps and it sure is helping me Thanks
 

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Do you need the 10.03 gig partition? Is it empty? The 1.46 gig partition appears to be your recovery partition.

You can certainly shrink the largest partition, but what do you want to do with the space that generates?

What exactly are you trying to do by resizing?
 

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Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bitIntel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
CPU
Intel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked
Motherboard
AsRock Z170M Extreme 4, micro ATX
Memory
8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)
Graphics Card(s)
none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Sound Card
onboard: Realtek ALC1150; external: USB Behringer UF0-202
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell S2340M 23 inch IPS
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
System: Crucial MX100 series SSD, 128 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD30EZRX-00D8PB0, 3 TB
PSU
Rosewill SilentNight 500 watt fanless, semi-modular
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Antec Solo II
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Noctua NH-U12S; Noctua F12 intake, Noctua S12A exhaust
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Microsoft 200 6JH-00001 USB
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Dell or Microsoft optical wired; USB
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Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Premium
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Other Info
All fans PWM; speeds at idle: CPU circa 500 rpm; intake circa 600 rpm; exhaust circa 600 rpm; CPU temps 27 idle and 47 C load in a warm room (27 C/81 F) when running Intel Extreme Tuning Utility stress test.
While I seem critically challenged in win 7 and I am that is not the case in Linux, which is my entire reason.
In my old PC with XP I had extended with 4 ext partitions and depending how I felt I would play with one, try another and for a retired chef it offered diversion and an interest. If I could have ever figured out virtualbox none:cry: of this would be necessary.
Unless I hear differently I intend to shrink that largest partition to 100 GB take that 148 GB unallocated create extended and go from there. To me this present partitioning is like a kitchen lacking equipment, bunch empty space.
I really appreciate your help.
 

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The Disk mgmt listings still don't show the Free Space column so we don't know which are empty or how full.

Did you explore the 10gb partition to see what it contains? If necessary unhide files in Control Panel>File Options>View tab.
 
One more time

Question, why or what could possibly be the point in Toshiba creating a primary with nothing in it? See attachment and does that change anything.
Please advise
 

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I wouldn't necessarily believe it is really empty.

You need to go to windows explorer/tools/folder options/view tab and ensure that "show hidden files" is checked and "hide operating system files" is unchecked.
 

My Computer My Computer

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Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bitIntel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
CPU
Intel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked
Motherboard
AsRock Z170M Extreme 4, micro ATX
Memory
8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)
Graphics Card(s)
none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Sound Card
onboard: Realtek ALC1150; external: USB Behringer UF0-202
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell S2340M 23 inch IPS
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
System: Crucial MX100 series SSD, 128 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD30EZRX-00D8PB0, 3 TB
PSU
Rosewill SilentNight 500 watt fanless, semi-modular
Case
Antec Solo II
Cooling
Noctua NH-U12S; Noctua F12 intake, Noctua S12A exhaust
Keyboard
Microsoft 200 6JH-00001 USB
Mouse
Dell or Microsoft optical wired; USB
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Premium
Browser
Pale Moon
Other Info
All fans PWM; speeds at idle: CPU circa 500 rpm; intake circa 600 rpm; exhaust circa 600 rpm; CPU temps 27 idle and 47 C load in a warm room (27 C/81 F) when running Intel Extreme Tuning Utility stress test.
Sorry for delay I never use IE and when I went there and I did know what I was looking for, but tools or none of those were displayed. I appreciate all you have tried, but my 80 year old brain has had it. I will think about it some more and possibly partition tomorrow. I need to get to Ubuntu, Suse, mint and where I am comfortable. You are indeed a credit to this forum and I thank you
 

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Tofts:

NOT Internet Explorer. NOT a browser.

Windows Explorer, where you can see your entire folder structure.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bitIntel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
CPU
Intel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked
Motherboard
AsRock Z170M Extreme 4, micro ATX
Memory
8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)
Graphics Card(s)
none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Sound Card
onboard: Realtek ALC1150; external: USB Behringer UF0-202
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell S2340M 23 inch IPS
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
System: Crucial MX100 series SSD, 128 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD30EZRX-00D8PB0, 3 TB
PSU
Rosewill SilentNight 500 watt fanless, semi-modular
Case
Antec Solo II
Cooling
Noctua NH-U12S; Noctua F12 intake, Noctua S12A exhaust
Keyboard
Microsoft 200 6JH-00001 USB
Mouse
Dell or Microsoft optical wired; USB
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Premium
Browser
Pale Moon
Other Info
All fans PWM; speeds at idle: CPU circa 500 rpm; intake circa 600 rpm; exhaust circa 600 rpm; CPU temps 27 idle and 47 C load in a warm room (27 C/81 F) when running Intel Extreme Tuning Utility stress test.
When you get a chance unhide the Hidden and Systems files as described and Explore the contents of the two smaller partitions by rightclicking each in Disk Management to Explore. Post back a screenshot of the contents with windows maximized.

Did you make your Recovery disks yet? Browse into the Start>All Programs menu to find your computer maker's name and the Recovery Disks maker program. We can help you further so don't hesitate to ask back if you're unsure.
 
The very best I can do

I expanded this as far as I could
 

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You still have to confirm if that 10.03 GB partition is in fact empty.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bitIntel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
CPU
Intel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked
Motherboard
AsRock Z170M Extreme 4, micro ATX
Memory
8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)
Graphics Card(s)
none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Sound Card
onboard: Realtek ALC1150; external: USB Behringer UF0-202
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell S2340M 23 inch IPS
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
System: Crucial MX100 series SSD, 128 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD30EZRX-00D8PB0, 3 TB
PSU
Rosewill SilentNight 500 watt fanless, semi-modular
Case
Antec Solo II
Cooling
Noctua NH-U12S; Noctua F12 intake, Noctua S12A exhaust
Keyboard
Microsoft 200 6JH-00001 USB
Mouse
Dell or Microsoft optical wired; USB
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Premium
Browser
Pale Moon
Other Info
All fans PWM; speeds at idle: CPU circa 500 rpm; intake circa 600 rpm; exhaust circa 600 rpm; CPU temps 27 idle and 47 C load in a warm room (27 C/81 F) when running Intel Extreme Tuning Utility stress test.
Since I have the same setup as the OP's computer I have been following this thread with great interest. I too have 2 partitions that appear not to have anything in them. I have to assume one is the Toshiba Factory restore partition. You will see by the 2 attached screen shots that even with folder view set to show all hidden/system files, it will not show anything with a right click on the partion. The partition on the left just shows a "help" sign when right clicked and the right partition has the "explore" greyed out. Very curious.
Cheers
JohnnyA
 

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My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows Home Premium 64bitT61-- 2.0ghz4 GBOn board
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Toshiba C650
OS
Windows Home Premium 64bit
CPU
T61-- 2.0ghz
Motherboard
Toshiba
Memory
4 GB
Graphics Card(s)
On board
Sound Card
On board
Monitor(s) Displays
15.6"
Hard Drives
500 GB
Johnnya:

Can you assign a drive letter to your 10.65 gb partition? Can you in any way look at it in Windows Explorer to see if it has any contents?

It surely is there for a reason and I'd find it difficult to believe it is truly empty.

What does Customer Service say about it--if they are responsive at all?

What does your manual say about it?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bitIntel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
CPU
Intel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked
Motherboard
AsRock Z170M Extreme 4, micro ATX
Memory
8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)
Graphics Card(s)
none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Sound Card
onboard: Realtek ALC1150; external: USB Behringer UF0-202
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell S2340M 23 inch IPS
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
System: Crucial MX100 series SSD, 128 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD30EZRX-00D8PB0, 3 TB
PSU
Rosewill SilentNight 500 watt fanless, semi-modular
Case
Antec Solo II
Cooling
Noctua NH-U12S; Noctua F12 intake, Noctua S12A exhaust
Keyboard
Microsoft 200 6JH-00001 USB
Mouse
Dell or Microsoft optical wired; USB
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Premium
Browser
Pale Moon
Other Info
All fans PWM; speeds at idle: CPU circa 500 rpm; intake circa 600 rpm; exhaust circa 600 rpm; CPU temps 27 idle and 47 C load in a warm room (27 C/81 F) when running Intel Extreme Tuning Utility stress test.
Thanks for the reply IGNATZATSONIC. The Manual is pretty skimpy and says nothing about partitions. About assigning a drive letter, I'm not sure how to do that. You will note that in my screen shot, the "change drive letter and path" is also greyed out. I'm a great believer in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"
I think I will just not let "curiosity get to me" and start changing things.
It just seems odd.
Many thanks
JohnnyA
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows Home Premium 64bitT61-- 2.0ghz4 GBOn board
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Toshiba C650
OS
Windows Home Premium 64bit
CPU
T61-- 2.0ghz
Motherboard
Toshiba
Memory
4 GB
Graphics Card(s)
On board
Sound Card
On board
Monitor(s) Displays
15.6"
Hard Drives
500 GB
Thanks Johnnya, I assume it is not shown in Windows Explorer at all.

Tofts:

Suppose we stipulate that the 10 GB partition is valuable and you should leave it alone.

What then do you want to do with your other partitions? You only have 3 and you are allowed 4 before you need to use an extended partition. So you can just shrink your C and make another regular primary NTFS partition from the space that generates.

You do that through disk management.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bitIntel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
CPU
Intel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked
Motherboard
AsRock Z170M Extreme 4, micro ATX
Memory
8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)
Graphics Card(s)
none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Sound Card
onboard: Realtek ALC1150; external: USB Behringer UF0-202
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell S2340M 23 inch IPS
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
System: Crucial MX100 series SSD, 128 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD30EZRX-00D8PB0, 3 TB
PSU
Rosewill SilentNight 500 watt fanless, semi-modular
Case
Antec Solo II
Cooling
Noctua NH-U12S; Noctua F12 intake, Noctua S12A exhaust
Keyboard
Microsoft 200 6JH-00001 USB
Mouse
Dell or Microsoft optical wired; USB
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Premium
Browser
Pale Moon
Other Info
All fans PWM; speeds at idle: CPU circa 500 rpm; intake circa 600 rpm; exhaust circa 600 rpm; CPU temps 27 idle and 47 C load in a warm room (27 C/81 F) when running Intel Extreme Tuning Utility stress test.
Partition Wizard will allow you to explore hidden or restricted partitions in both it's free Home and CD version. Free Download Magic Partition Manager Software - Partition Wizard Online

The question to ask is if you need the Tools partition to run any of the useless factory utilties which have much better versions built into Win7, or need the Recovery Partition since it is a more stable way to run Recovery than the Recovery disks which should be made as a back up.

Most users who decide they don't need one or both of these partitions do away with them with a clean reinstall to a wiped HD following the tips given here to get a purrfect factory OEM reinstall without the bloatware: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

FYI: Disk Management will create the Extended partition as the fourth partition, while Partition Wizard will allow you to create a fourth Primary.
 
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