Keep recovery drive working while repartitioning

Bare Foot Kid · 13 Dec 2010

Hello again, good to see you got it converted back, a few questions if I may ...

1) The 199MB "System" partition, is that how it came or did you create that?

2) The HP_Tools E:, did you convert that to FAT32 or did it come that way?

3) Will the Recovery D: boot now?

4) What/how did you get it converted back to Basic, Partition Wizard?

The way it is now, you have reached the 4 Primary partition limit imposed by Windows and no more Primary partitions can be created.

There is a way to convert the C: to an Extended partition so that Logical drives can be created; but you need to backup everything on C: to be on the safe side just in case before you do that. I have done only cursory simulations with converting a Windows 7 OS partition to an Extended and I have no guarantees it will not destroy your data in the process.

whs · 13 Dec 2010

You start out again with 4 primaries. Your best bet is to convert the C partition to Logical before you shrink C and define an extended. Use Partition Wizard for the conversion (You find it in the Partition tab > Modify, but highlight C first). If you do not do that, you will again run into the dynamics.

Hmm, just saw that BFK posted the same thing. Missed that because it was on Page 2. Cannot hurt to have the confirmation - LOL.

gregrocker · 13 Dec 2010

I concur with Ted and Wolfgang: Boot PW CD, rightclick C>Modify>Convert to Logical, OK, Apply.

If this works and boots correctly, use Disk Mgmt to Shrink C to create new partition, or boot PW CD to rightclick C to Resize, make space for new Logical NTFS data partition.

Be aware that Win7 is now installed up on a Logical partition which cannot itself boot. But since the System Active first partition is booting Win7, this is allowed. You simply won't be able to recover the System MBR into Win7's own partition if ever need be until you convert it back to Primary. You will need the Primary System partition included in all backup images for this reason.

El Cobre · 13 Dec 2010

Thanks again for all the replys.

To answer questions from Bare Foot Kid this the way it came out of the box. I made an image with windows recovery/backup when I first got the pc. I was able to boot off the repair disk and recover the image. And yes everything works with this.

I will study your sugestions and give it a try. I still have to get partition wizzard.

Will post back later.

In light of what gregrocker said about booting , is this tth only option? I guess the recovery partition has to be primary also so it can boot.

Bare Foot Kid · 13 Dec 2010

There is another way; have a look at Option Two of this tutorial at the link below, you could absorb the "199MB System" partition into the left side of the Windows C: partition then you could then use Windows disk management to shrink then create another partition to the right of C: that would be a little less risky.

Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

El Cobre · 13 Dec 2010

Thanks

I will read the tutorial and get back.

Earlier it was mentioned that I might need version 5 or earlier of partition wizard so I am getting that now.

whs · 13 Dec 2010

El Cobre said:

Thanks

I will read the tutorial and get back.

Earlier it was mentioned that I might need version 5 or earlier of partition wizard so I am getting that now.

Version 5 or earlier is required if you want to convert dynamic partitions to primaries or extended (logical) partitions. Other than that you can go with version 5.2.

Bare Foot Kid · 14 Dec 2010

What did you use to convert the HDD back to Basic, if you said earlier I missed it.

El Cobre · 14 Dec 2010

I reinstalled an image that I made with windows backup/recovery before I started changing anything.

Bare Foot Kid · 14 Dec 2010

El Cobre said:

I reinstalled an image that I made with windows backup/recovery before I started changing anything.

You're a smart person!