Creating a new partition on my new laptop

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  1. Posts : 31
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
       #1

    Creating a new partition on my new laptop


    I've just purchased a new laptop, a HP-DV6. It has a 640 gb HDD, the C partition is 582 gb. I like to have my data on a separate partition to the OS and programs so that I can more easily image and restore the active partition and deal with my data backups independently from the C drive images.
    I presume that means shrinking the C drive. Can anyone help me with the maths, and the steps toward a new partition?
    In the shrink window it says:
    Total size before shrink in mb: 595995
    Size of available shrink space in mb: 290572
    Enter the amount of space to shrink: 290572
    Total size after shrink: 305423

    Why am I limited to 290572? I was figuring on a C partition of about 120gb, giving me about 462 gb for data, which is the amount I want.

    Is there another way to achieve what I want?

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 2,072
    Windows 7 x64 Professional SP1
       #2

    There may be data spread all throughout the drive, i.e. non-contiguously so the maximum size of available shrink space depends of that...

    To get better results you could try to defragment your drive a couple of times prior to the shrink..

    Hope that helps!
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #3

    I have a brand new Toshiba Ultrabook with 128GB SSD and want to create a D: drive for my data. It already has 4 volumes ("Active, Recovery Partition", "Hibernation Partition", "Primary Partition" and "Boot, Page File, Crash Dump, Primary Partition" - all Simple Basic). I have shrunk the last partition and now have 30GB unallocated. But, if I try to create a new volume (D:) I get a message that says I am about to convert my basic drive(s) to a dynamic drive(s), with consequences. Others have said this should not be done. So, how can I create a new D: drive?? Or, can't I make the change?
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  4. Posts : 31
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    solarmystic said:
    There may be data spread all throughout the drive, i.e. non-contiguously so the maximum size of available shrink space depends of that...

    To get better results you could try to defragment your drive a couple of times prior to the shrink..

    Hope that helps!
    Thanks, I thought that may be the case. Gave it a try but it didn't help. Guess I'll just have to have some of my data files on the C drive.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 2,072
    Windows 7 x64 Professional SP1
       #5

    I'm sorry that didn't work out Alleyoop,

    If you're willing to try out some other Disk management software for shrinking your partitions, give Acronis Disk Director (Hard disk drive management software, partitioning manager and partition recovery utility) a shot, i've had better results using it than the default Disk Management software that comes with windows.... It's not free though (only comes with free trial), but i've had great success using it for other purposes so it's worth the purchase cost for me...
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 2,171
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #6

    As you've found, the Disk Mangement tool is somewhat limited when it comes to doing this sort of partition manipulation. This tool can come in handy, providing more flexibility in managing partitions: Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD (by Bare Foot Kid)

    And the version that runs under Windows 7: http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-...n-manager.html
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2,171
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #7

    For DavidL: don't do the conversion from a basic disk. You can only have 4 primary partitions, or 3 primaries and 1 extended. Within the extended you can create numerous logical partitions.

    One of your primaries needs to be converted to extended first. It would be best if you gave us a screenshot of Disk Management, window maximized and columns/panes adjusted to reveal max info.

    Better yet would be to start your own thread for your issue.
      My Computer

  8.    #8

    With HP's what works best to keep Factory Recovery and bootable Tools Diagnostic partitions operable is to convert C to Logical, then Resize it to desired size to create a new Logical data partition in the shrink space. Use Partition Wizard CD linked above.
    How to set partition as Primary or Logical.
    Partition Wizard Move/Resize Partition Video Help.

    With HP's you also get the worst load of preinstalled crapware in the industry. At a minimum I would Clean Up Factory Bloatware although most tech enthusiasts Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 31
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    gregrocker said:
    With HP's you also get the worst load of preinstalled crapware in the industry. At a minimum I would Clean Up Factory Bloatware although most tech enthusiasts Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.
    Thanks, a clean reinstall appeals to me. That way I can set it up how I want it. Now is the time, as I haven't begun to load my programs yet. I've taken an image of how it is now just in case. :)
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 2,171
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #10

    Way to go! With nothing loaded on it your timing is perfect for going clean. In addition to an image, make your recovery disks. Keep in touch.
      My Computer


 
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