Having a separate Data Partition?

[mjf]

You did a clean install last week so presumably all your data is backed up. So it's seems the worse thing that can happen is you may need to do a clean install again.
With Partition Wizard use the bootable version NOT the installed version.

Why such a large system reserved partition? 100MB is the default and really too small. 200MB is good and 300MB on the conservatively high side.

Edit: I think 80GB would be a good choice for C:. Nothing less.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

How much space you need for data depends purely on the type of data you generate.

If you generate only text files, you could likely get away with 220 for C and 15 for data.

On the other hand, if you generate only video files and lots of them, you would probably want to keep C to a bare minimum of 40 to 70, depending on how many programs you have.

I use 60.

You've got a very small drive by today's standards, but it is plenty big enough for tens of thousands of text files.

Even high quality mp3 files take up only about 100 gigabytes per 25000 songs.

So analyze what type of data you put out and decide accordingly.

 

[RJ12]

You did a clean install last week so presumably all your data is backed up. So it's seems the worse thing that can happen is you may need to do a clean install again.
With Partition Wizard use the bootable version NOT the installed version.

Why such a large system reserved partition? 100MB is the default and really too small. 200MB is good and 300MB on the conservatively high side.

Edit: I think 80GB would be a good choice for C:. Nothing less.

The System Reserved partition was like that when I got the system, I have kept it the way it is (even through the clean install)

 

[RJ12]

Ok, so I should just bootup the disc and shrink the partition? I just backed up my system. No need to disable anything or any other prep?

So it is recommended to have your data on a separate partition right?

 

[Dave76]

Correct.
For all the reasons mentioned, I have been using a Data partition for at least 20 years.
No need for any other prep.

As mentioned previously, you have received good advice, many members here use Partition Wizard and recommend it to others, with no problems.
I have used it many times and it is an excellent tool, it will do easily what the native Win7 Disk Management can not do.

If you have a system backup, then you are safe to proceed.
Use Method Two in this tutorial posted previously:
Partition / Extended : Logical Drives

Your first partition is a Toshiba Recovery partition.

Where did you store the backup?
It is best to put it on another HDD or external HDD, but if you don't have those putting it on your system HDD is better than not having one.
It is highly recommended to get an external HDD for backup storage.

Let us know your progress, and if you have any questions.

 

[RJ12]

I have stored the backup on an External Seagate 500GB drive, so it should be safe. I'm currently a little busy right now and will probably have to pick this up tomorrow. I will keep you guys updated though.


I'll keep my fingers crossed

 

[whs]

I did not read every post of this thread so I apologize if I repeat things. But here something to watch for:

1. if you already have 4 primary partitions (as many brand new OEM systems have), you cannot proceed without first converting one primary into a logical partition. Check that in Disk Management.

2. Here is my tutorial how to create a Data Partition and how to move the user data. ( http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/72427-data-partition.html ). It may help you. It is very important that you first create empty folders in the new partition (you can name them anything - the system will rename them anyhow) and move (with MOVE in the Location tab of Properties) your user folders to these empty folders (e.g. Docs to F1, Music to F2, etc.). Do not move your user folders to the data partition itself. That will create a mess.

 

[Dave76]

Hi whs, the OP has two primary partitions, Toshiba Recovery partition and the C partition with Win7 and data.
The new partition can be Logical or Primary, personally I would make it Logical.

 

[RJ12]

Hi whs, the OP has two primary partitions, Toshiba Recovery partition and the C partition with Win7 and data.
The new partition can be Logical or Primary, personally I would make it Logical.

Actually, I don't know if the other partition is the Toshiba Recovery Partition, there was a 8GB partition called "HDDRecovery", but after I installed Ubuntu (sadly before making a recovery DVD), it was useless. When I reinstalled Windows, I deleted that partition since it had no use anymore. That one GB partition has always been there too, I assumed it was the System Reserved partition, but I soon figured out that since there wasn't a boot option to get to the recovery options that the partition holds, I figured it was something else important and that I shouldn't touch it.

 

[whs]

I just saw the Disk Management snip. Sorry I missed it before.

 

[RJ12]

Are you guys sure those are the only partitions. Is this what Disk Management shows. The 100MB active boot partition and the tools partition may be hidden and then you do not see it in Computer.

Yup, I'm sure. I have a screenshot of Disk Management in the beginning of the thread.

 

[Dave76]

Yes, in the first post is the Disk Management snip.

The first partition is labeled 'Active, Recovery Partition' 1.46GB with 100% free space, with no drive letter.

Though showing that it's empty, it's marked Active so should have the boot files in it.

 

[whs]

Yeah, but this 1.46MB partition is very strange. It is marked as "active" but contains nothing. I don't know how your system boots without a bootmgr.

 

[RJ12]

Yeah, but this 1.46MB partition is very strange. It is marked as "active" but contains nothing. I don't know how your system boots without a bootmgr.

MB? Do you mean GB? Also I believe there is stuff on that partition, earlier I booted up the PW CD to comfirm the burn was succesfull, and I think it said there was about 100mb of space being used. When I check tomorrow, I will know for sure.

A quick question, I can move the Desktop folder too right? It has a location tab too but I want to know its safe to do so.

 

[whs]

Of course GB. And yes, any folder with a location tab can easily be moved. But are you sure your Desktop folder has a location tab. Mine does not have one. And why would you want to move it anyhow. If it is because of the shortcuts, I would have a better suggestion which would keep your desktop clean.

 

[RJ12]

Yup it does, but your right, it really doesn't need to be moved

I figured out that System partition is the System Reserved, when I restarted the computer, I hit F8 and was able to select "Repair Your Computer" and it successfully booted

Don't know how it became a GB, oh well it doesn't matter to me

 

[whs]

I must have a retarded system without a location tab for Desktop.

If you want to protect your icons/shortcuts. move them all into a folder that you store in Documents. Then right click on the taskbar > Toolbars > new Toolbar. Select that folder and the shortcuts will always be accessible from the taskbar. You can even create subfolders if you have a lot so that you have good order. Give the main folder a short name, then it takes less space in the taskbar - I always call it "All". Here is more: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/72092-toolbars-how-use-windows-7-vista.html

 

[Dave76]

Yup it does, but your right, it really doesn't need to be moved

I figured out that System partition is the System Reserved, when I restarted the computer, I hit F8 and was able to select "Repair Your Computer" and it successfully booted

Don't know how it became a GB, oh well it doesn't matter to me

Did the "Repair Your Computer" change the 'Active' designation to the C drive?

Can you post another snip of your Disk Mangement?

Win7 will usually put the boot files in the first available Primary partition, I've seen this before.
Have you done startup repair or any other repairs before, the 'Boot' designation on the C drive indicates there are boot files in there also.
This is kind of strange. As long as they are both boot files for Win7 it should boot from either partition.

Edit:
Just noticed that you have previously installed Ubuntu, the Recovery partition might still have the Ubuntu boot files.

 

[gregrocker]

I figured out that System partition is the System Reserved, when I restarted the computer, I hit F8 and was able to select "Repair Your Computer" and it successfully booted

Don't know how it became a GB, oh well it doesn't matter to me

The fact that it lacks the System flag in screenshot is concerning. It's Active and likely contains the boot files as well as the link to WinRE in Win7 which it places on the F8 Advanced Boot Tools menu.

Can you rightclick>Explore it in PW to see exactly what is on the partition?

Did the System Flag return when you ran WinRE from F8? What did you run on it exactly?

 

[mjf]

I would clean up the 1.46GB partition first and make it a 200-300MB system reserved (active) partition. It appears to be the remnants of your original recovery partition.
If it just had the boot files it would contain ~30MB out of 1.5GB.