| Windows 7: Format HDD with 2 partitions |
21 May 2012
|
#1 | | |
Format HDD with 2 partitions Hello. here's the background.
My SSD system hdd crashed. Took it back to retailer, unsure whether I would get a replacement, so bought a velociraptor HDD and installed Win7etc. Some time later received replacement SSD for the failed one, so installed it, disconnected the velociraptor, and reinstalled Win 7 on the replaced SSD.
Now I want to format the velociraptor and use it for backup.
It has 2 partitions:
100mbNTFS healthy, active, primary and
139.64gbNTFS healthy, Primary
How do I combine these into one partion and format them so I end up with a clean, basic disk
I have read about extending volumes and have formatted plenty of disks in the past, but it seems there is the possibility of changing the disk to a dynamic disk, and I want to avoid that.
I would greatly appreciate advice on how to do this.
AG | My System Specs |
| OS 7 Professional 32bit CPU AMD Phenom X II 955 Motherboard GA-MA 790FXT-UD5P Memory 4 gb DDR3 Graphics Card ATI 4850 Monitor(s) Displays 22" LCD PSU 600w Coolermaster Case Modified Thermaltake Armour Cooling NOCTUA CPU PLUS 3 NOCTUA 120mm CASE FANS Hard Drives 2 X WD in RAID 1 400gb
1 X WD 200gb |
21 May 2012
|
#2 | | Windows 8 64 bit PRO Somewhere in California |
I suggest just formatting the hard disk drive. Unless there is information on it that you need it should be ok to format it.  - > type in "Disk Management" ->
In here you will need to find your HDD that corresponds to the WD Raptor. You should see both partitions on ONE disk (or row).
In the same row you should see the 139GB and 100MB, just delete both volumes.
You should now have 2 unaalocated volumes. In order for Windows to use them you need to format them. When you do so it will just be 1 single partition disk.
PLEASE TAKE EXTREME CAUTION Partition or Volume - Delete
This is a tutorial that guides you trough the process of deleting volumesm, in case my instructions were a mess.
Please ask questions if you have any doubts
THIS SHOULD RESULT IN A BASIC DISK TYPE. Is that what you want? | My System Specs | | Computer type PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number Gateway / Slight Modifications OS Windows 8 64 bit PRO CPU AMD Phenom X4 9100e Motherboard Gateway RS780 Memory 2GB X2 DDR2 Graphics Card Sapphire HD 6850 Sound Card Integrated Monitor(s) Displays Gateway 19" + Dell 19" Screen Resolution 1440X900 sometimes 2880 by 900 Keyboard Saitek Eclipse II Mouse Gigabyte GM-M6800 PSU Antec BP 550watts Case Antec 300 Cooling Stock Cooling Hard Drives WD 80GB
WD 640GB
WD 1,000GB Internet Speed D: 30Mbps U:4Mbps Antivirus Avast version 8 Browser Internet Explorer ver 10 64 bit Other Info This is my work computer.
I have another laptop running Windows 7 64 bit.
Another PC running Windows 8 64 bit pro.
Total of 3 |
21 May 2012
|
#3 | | Windows 7 SP1, Home Premium, 64-bit |
A screen shot of Disk Management would be helpful.
Does the SSD boot the PC when the Velociraptor is not connected?
Is there an active system partition on the SSD?
If so, you can likely just delete the partitions on the Velociraptor.
But a screen shot would be preferable to confirm what is going on.
You should not have dynamic disk issues until you go beyond 3 partitions on a disc. As far as I know, Disk Management will always warn you if it is considering dynamic disks. Always say no and instead go to extended/logical partitions. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one OS Windows 7 SP1, Home Premium, 64-bit CPU Intel Sandy Bridge i5-2500, not overclocked Motherboard Gigabyte H67A-UD3H-B3, full ATX Memory 4 GB Crucial DDR3-1333 Graphics Card none; graphics are integrated on CPU Sound Card onboard: Realtek ALC892; external: USB Behringer UF0-202 Monitor(s) Displays NEC 90GX2-BK 19" LCD Screen Resolution 800 x 640 Keyboard Leopold Tenkeyless with Cherry Blue switches, USB Mouse Logitech or Microsoft optical wired; either USB or PS 2 PSU Seasonic SS-560KM, modular Case Antec Solo II Cooling CPU: Scythe Big Shuriken; Case: Scythe Slipstream 800 & 500 Hard Drives System: Intel 320 Series SSD, 80 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD15EADS-00P8B0, 1.5TB Other Info Power consumption of this system, including monitor: 68 watts at idle; 144 watts at full load |
21 May 2012
|
#4 | | Windows 7 Ultimate x64, XP Mode, W8 RP VM, Linux Mint Debian 2nd OS HD- 7 Pro x64 second case New England |
While you are in the Disk Management tool if booting from the SSD you can simply right click on the 100mb System Reserved boot and Main primary seen on the WD drive to select the delete volume option. That remove both partitions where you then simply create a new volume and format it after.
Others of course prefer the Disk Part tool and manually delete and create partitions using the command line approach. Or they would use a 3rd party app. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64, XP Mode, W8 RP VM, Linux Mint Debian 2nd OS HD- 7 Pro x64 second case CPU AMD Phenom II X4 975 Deneb 3.6ghz - 965 on new mini tower Motherboard Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4 Memory Kingston Hyper X DDR3 1600 1.5v 16gb - Mushkin on 2nd build Graphics Card MSI HD Radeon 5750 1gb - MSI HD Radeon 6450 on mini tower Sound Card Creative Labs X-Fi XtremeGamer - Realtek onooard 2nd case Monitor(s) Displays 2 x Acer P191W 19" widesscreen - HP 20" widescreen mini towe Screen Resolution 1440x900 native - 1600x1024 on 7 Pro x64 build Keyboard Microsoft Recusa Razor - MS Comfort 3000 on second build Mouse MS Trackball Explorer - A4TECH dual scroll wheel trackball PSU Corsair 750TX - primary / Corsair CX600 - second Case Antec 900-2 - SSD compatible / NZXT Vulcan mini tower Cooling Zalman CNPS9900A Hard Drives Primary Ultimate x64 build-
WD Black Edition 1tb Sata 6.0 = 2
WD Black Edition 1tb Sata 3.0 = 2 (OS drives)
WD 1tb Green Power sata = 2 1 external
usb flash drives = 18
Second 7 Pro x64 mini tower-
WD Caviar SE 500gb sata II single drive presen Internet Speed 30mbps upgrade - primary hard wired - mini tower usb WiFi |
22 May 2012
|
#5 | | |
Wow! Thank you all for the response
I have included a 'snip' of disk management.
G and H are on the VRaptor.
C is the replaced SSD.
Ignatzatsonic, the computer boots from the SSD, with or without the VR connected. I have set the SSD as 1st. boot priority in the bios. When I boot, it does not recognise that there is another O/S installed.
I think I am in tune with what you are saying, but look forward to your reply[ies].
Must be getting cautious in my old age!
Thank you. Greg | My System Specs | | OS 7 Professional 32bit CPU AMD Phenom X II 955 Motherboard GA-MA 790FXT-UD5P Memory 4 gb DDR3 Graphics Card ATI 4850 Monitor(s) Displays 22" LCD PSU 600w Coolermaster Case Modified Thermaltake Armour Cooling NOCTUA CPU PLUS 3 NOCTUA 120mm CASE FANS Hard Drives 2 X WD in RAID 1 400gb
1 X WD 200gb |
22 May 2012
|
#6 | | Windows 7 SP1, Home Premium, 64-bit |
That's quite a mess.
What is the purpose of drive D and drive F? Do they contain only data of some type?
Do you want to end up with just one operating system: Windows 7 on drive C, the SSD? | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one OS Windows 7 SP1, Home Premium, 64-bit CPU Intel Sandy Bridge i5-2500, not overclocked Motherboard Gigabyte H67A-UD3H-B3, full ATX Memory 4 GB Crucial DDR3-1333 Graphics Card none; graphics are integrated on CPU Sound Card onboard: Realtek ALC892; external: USB Behringer UF0-202 Monitor(s) Displays NEC 90GX2-BK 19" LCD Screen Resolution 800 x 640 Keyboard Leopold Tenkeyless with Cherry Blue switches, USB Mouse Logitech or Microsoft optical wired; either USB or PS 2 PSU Seasonic SS-560KM, modular Case Antec Solo II Cooling CPU: Scythe Big Shuriken; Case: Scythe Slipstream 800 & 500 Hard Drives System: Intel 320 Series SSD, 80 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD15EADS-00P8B0, 1.5TB Other Info Power consumption of this system, including monitor: 68 watts at idle; 144 watts at full load |
22 May 2012
|
#7 | | |
Hi ignatzatsonic,
Yes, D and F contain mainly music and some other data.
And yes I just want one O/S on drive C.
Originally, when disk 0 was the O/S disk, it was drive C.
After I installed the replacement SSD [disk 2] and loaded Windows 7, it became drive C.
Then, when I re-connected Disk 0, it was automatically designated as G and H, even 'tho, it had only been one partition when it was the O/S disk.
And this is what got me concerned in the first place...originally 1 partition, now 2.
Seems to be getting complicated.
But on reading all the answers, which I really appreciate, I think I am complicating this more than it needs.
Mind you , when one 'Bings' or 'Googles' this question, there are some very complicated type of answers given... most of them pushing a third party software.
Hence my caution and decision to seek answers to my exact situation.
Regards Greg | My System Specs | | OS 7 Professional 32bit CPU AMD Phenom X II 955 Motherboard GA-MA 790FXT-UD5P Memory 4 gb DDR3 Graphics Card ATI 4850 Monitor(s) Displays 22" LCD PSU 600w Coolermaster Case Modified Thermaltake Armour Cooling NOCTUA CPU PLUS 3 NOCTUA 120mm CASE FANS Hard Drives 2 X WD in RAID 1 400gb
1 X WD 200gb |
23 May 2012
|
#8 | | Windows 7 Ultimate x64, XP Mode, W8 RP VM, Linux Mint Debian 2nd OS HD- 7 Pro x64 second case New England |
The best move since once any drive is added in can offset the default boot/OS drive is to OS the SSD first. Once done and adding the other drive in by replugging that you enter the bios setup boot or Hard Drives to see the SSD moved to the top of the list of drives to see it made the default boot drive again.
This will isolate the other drive as well from seeing boot files placed there and insure the SSD sees a stand alone 7 install. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64, XP Mode, W8 RP VM, Linux Mint Debian 2nd OS HD- 7 Pro x64 second case CPU AMD Phenom II X4 975 Deneb 3.6ghz - 965 on new mini tower Motherboard Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4 Memory Kingston Hyper X DDR3 1600 1.5v 16gb - Mushkin on 2nd build Graphics Card MSI HD Radeon 5750 1gb - MSI HD Radeon 6450 on mini tower Sound Card Creative Labs X-Fi XtremeGamer - Realtek onooard 2nd case Monitor(s) Displays 2 x Acer P191W 19" widesscreen - HP 20" widescreen mini towe Screen Resolution 1440x900 native - 1600x1024 on 7 Pro x64 build Keyboard Microsoft Recusa Razor - MS Comfort 3000 on second build Mouse MS Trackball Explorer - A4TECH dual scroll wheel trackball PSU Corsair 750TX - primary / Corsair CX600 - second Case Antec 900-2 - SSD compatible / NZXT Vulcan mini tower Cooling Zalman CNPS9900A Hard Drives Primary Ultimate x64 build-
WD Black Edition 1tb Sata 6.0 = 2
WD Black Edition 1tb Sata 3.0 = 2 (OS drives)
WD 1tb Green Power sata = 2 1 external
usb flash drives = 18
Second 7 Pro x64 mini tower-
WD Caviar SE 500gb sata II single drive presen Internet Speed 30mbps upgrade - primary hard wired - mini tower usb WiFi |
23 May 2012
|
#9 | | |
Thanks all for your help.
I followed the advice given and now have a 139 GB healthy (Primary Partition).
I should not have been so timid, and truly appreciate all your advice.
Thanks Greg | My System Specs | | OS 7 Professional 32bit CPU AMD Phenom X II 955 Motherboard GA-MA 790FXT-UD5P Memory 4 gb DDR3 Graphics Card ATI 4850 Monitor(s) Displays 22" LCD PSU 600w Coolermaster Case Modified Thermaltake Armour Cooling NOCTUA CPU PLUS 3 NOCTUA 120mm CASE FANS Hard Drives 2 X WD in RAID 1 400gb
1 X WD 200gb Format HDD with 2 partitions problems? All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:41 AM. | |