How to merge 2 ext HDD into one partition?

[teky]

i have 2 external HDD each one of 300GB i wanted to merge them into one partition equivalent to approx 500GB(not less). i am using win7 and when attempt to do it with diskmgmt.msc tool:

Drive A = 300GB NTFS format
Drive B = 300 GB raw format (since already deleted volume)

when choose extend volume option for drive A and choose unallocated volume (drive B) got an error object is missing cant perform function

when try to create span volume got similar error.

any suggestions?

 

[derekimo]

Have you tried create spanned volume from the B drive?

Let's see what disk management looks like,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

 

[teky]

Main diskmgt.msc screen shot

when i del both volumes (raw format) of ExtHDD and try to create a span vol from either of one got below error:

when one volume in raw format and other in NTFS, tried to extend NTFS vol and selected raw got below error:

not getting any option when selected raw vol:

 

[derekimo]

Why is all of Disk 0 Dynamic? That shouldn't be like that.

 

[teky]

ouch it seems it is not a right configuration; well i dont know i just installed windows and let windows to create partitions and assigned everything

 

[gregrocker]

It looks like you actually converted DISK0 to Dynamic which is only meant to span a single partition across multiple HD's. You'll need to convert it back before Win7 stops booting. Back up your files first, Use Option 1 here to avoid having to wipe out your Win7 install: Convert a Dynamic Disk to a Basic Disk

After conversion I'd also convert D to a Logical data partition so you can add as many adjacent Logical partitions as you want: How to set partition as Primary or Logical with Partition Wizard

As to the externals, I don't think a spanned volume can or should be on removable drives because they are less stable than internal drives, hence you would be risking your data in case one would die or have its file system messed up. If you need a huge storage partition for video files, etc, then look into a larger internal HD for more stablity.

I notice you say you reinstalled Win7 but also kept the HP Tools partition. Is this because you confirmed the hardware diagnostics will still boot from F9 Boot menu, the only purpose for keeping that partition? See the Special Note for HP Owners at the end of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

 

[teky]

actually i am in mid of data recovery process lost 1TB bitlocker encrypted HDD passwords, long story short trying to recover one of the partition of 1TB HDD and need 500GB free space. at this moment i dont want to reformat either my main drive (Disk 0) however will definitely go through all the tutorials and set everything in proper format later. thanks for the support anyways.

 

[gregrocker]

If you're inclined to experiment then be sure to always have your data backed up, and not to a dodgy spanned pair of externals.

 

[Layback Bear]

It's me again and if you all could explain some things to me because I'm confused.

*We started of with.
i have 2 external HDD each one of 300GB i wanted to merge them into one partition

*Then went to all drives being Dynamic including C partition.
*Then to all but one drive being Dynamic. New drive being Basic.
*Then to a 1 TB drive that is Bitlocker encrypted and trying to get the data without a password.

Is this a correct understanding or have I been drinking to much coffee?
I'm trying to follow this thread because it is interesting but I think I must have missed something.
I will go back to watching.

 

[derekimo]

From a previous post by the OP Jack,

i encrypted my 1TB External HDD took backup of my laptop on it (including recovery keys backup files). formated my laptop reinstalled windows and now forgot the password for External HDD.

Any suggestions in recovering the key which is already backed up in the encrypted HDD.

thinking to format HDD and than attempt data recovery but not sure if i will be able to recover all or nothing.

It's only Disk 0 that is Dynamic, the other two in the screenshots are the externals they are trying to combine to be able to move 500GB of data from the 1TB drive mentioned in the previous post.

I don't remember all drives being Dynamic, just the system drive Disk 0.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

I USED to SPAN HDD's - but be careful especially with EXTERNAL HDD's as now you need ALWAYS to have ALL the HDD's in the spanned group connected and they HAVE to be dynamic disks. Beware also that any error and you lose data in the entire spanned group.

A better solution might be to use Libraries.

I've solved this particular issue by actually using Linux as you can "mount" these into a single "mount" directory or create soft symbolic links.

Windows spanning works fine but be aware of consequences - I wouldn't recommend it for EXTERNAL drives - but fine for INTERNAL ones. Wit a Spanned volume set it's EVEN MORE IMPORTANT to take regular backups of your data or you'll be regretting say the loss of your "6.7 TB Multi media file" with 100's of your ripped CD's / DVD's / iTunes etc all down the toilet !!!!.

Your spanned drives should look like this when working. - For example spanned two volumes -- it will show two F drives but properties will list a single "composite F drive" with the total space aggregated.

Windows explorer now treats the F drive to a single aggregated drive.

(I think for spanning you also need to make them GPT drives) - can't remember as I don't use this method any more.

Finally DO NOT BOOT from a spanned volume it won't work !!! - If you've got a small HDD (or better an SSD) use that for the OS partition. Also I have to disagree with Greg above -- Logical Partitions are a MEGA PAIN and in any case you don't need them with GPT drives.



Cheers
jimbo

 

[Layback Bear]

From a previous post by the OP Jack,

i encrypted my 1TB External HDD took backup of my laptop on it (including recovery keys backup files). formated my laptop reinstalled windows and now forgot the password for External HDD.

Any suggestions in recovering the key which is already backed up in the encrypted HDD.

thinking to format HDD and than attempt data recovery but not sure if i will be able to recover all or nothing.

It's only Disk 0 that is Dynamic, the other two in the screenshots are the externals they are trying to combine to be able to move 500GB of data from the 1TB drive mentioned in the previous post.

I don't remember all drives being Dynamic, just the system drive Disk 0.

Post #3 this thread. All are Dyanmic/Simple

 

[derekimo]

All the partitions on Disk 0 are Dynamic, making Disk 0 Dynamic.

A couple of the screenshots show one of the externals formatted NTFS Basic during the attempt to create a spanned volume.

I was taking your term "Drives" to mean "Disks", maybe that's where the confusion started.

I think you are waiting for someone else to answer anyway, I'll let them take it from here.

 

[Layback Bear]

I'm going to keep watching. This could be interesting.

 

[derekimo]

I'm going to keep watching. This could be interesting.

Did that answer your question?

 

[Layback Bear]

Sure did, thanks.

 

[qusiba]

I think the disk management utility in Windows won't allow you to merge your system partition.For this reason,it semms that you can only use some third-party software to do this.
There is something you must know before you merge 2 ext HDD into one partition:
1: This operation may change the original location of your data, so we suggest you to learn the tutorial “How to Safely Partition” before executing this operation.
2: You can only merge 2 partitions every time, and the two partitions must be adjacent. On the contrary, you can merge any unallocated space into a partition.
3: You can merge data partition into system boot drive, however, you cannot merge system boot drive into data partition.
4: "System Reserved" partition could not be merged.
After knowing this ,you can use a third-party partition software like Aomei Partition Assistant to merge you partition,here is the steps: How to Merge Partitions with AOMEI Partition Assistant?

 

[gregrocker]

Not exactly a Merge operation which is done on the same disk.

Across multiple disks it becomes a Spanning Operation requiring Dynamic Disks:
Create a Spanned Volume in Disk Mgmt - Technet
What's spanned volume and how to create spanned volume with Partition Wizard