Adding a 5th partition

[Vincenzo]

I am going to be helping a friend who has an HP computer that has 4 primary partitions already. We need to add a 5th partition.

Seems like the two options are:
1. convert a partition to Extended and add logical partitions in it

2. Eliminate the System Reserved partition, mark the C: partition as active, and then run startup repair 3 times to recreate the boot files into the C: drive.

Is this an accurate assessment, and if so, what are the tradeoffs of each method?

I know that with #2 you would lose use of the system tools that are there, but a Win 7 Repair Disc would work for those purposes when needed.

I don't have access to the computer now, so I can't post any screenshots.

Thanks

 

[pbcopter]

Personally, I prefer the extended partiton option.
To me, it has no down side.
The logical partitions can be bootable if an operaing system is installed on them.
Just my opinion.

 

[whs]

I would make the C partition logical - use the bootable CD of this program Best Free Partition Manager Freeware for Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP 32 bit & 64 bit. MiniTool Free Partition Manager Software Home Edition. The controls are in Partition tab > Modify.

 

[Vincenzo]

If I am understanding correctly, are you both suggesting the same solution - to convert the C partition into a logical drive? Then to shrink it, and create a new logical partition in the unallocated space?

Are there any steps to be done to ensure that it stays bootable?

Thanks

 

[pbcopter]

I would not make the C: partiton logical. I would make one of the non operating system partitions extended and logical.
But then that's just me.

 

[Mark Phelps]

My own recommendation, having run into a similar problem, would be more along the lines of what you already proposed:
1) Move the Win7 boot loader files into the "C" partition. You can install EasyBCD from NeoSmart Technologies and it has a menu item to do this for you.
2) Reboot to confirm that the migration of boot loader files worked
3) Using the Disk Management utility, remove the small System Reserved partition. Reboot to confirm this was OK
4) Using the Disk Management utility, shrink the Win7 "C" partition to make some room; reboot afterward to confirm this was OK.
5) Add a new Extended partition into the unallocated space, and create Logical partitions inside that.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Not to go off topic, but is there a reason your friend wants to over-partition the crap out of his drive? Maybe there's a better way to accomplish the end result.

 

[whs]

If I am understanding correctly, are you both suggesting the same solution - to convert the C partition into a logical drive? Then to shrink it, and create a new logical partition in the unallocated space?

Are there any steps to be done to ensure that it stays bootable?

Thanks

This is an absolutely safe way that I have done on several systems on members of my computer club. Since you have the 100MB active partition that contains the bootmgr, there is nothing that can go wrong.

Converting the recovery or tools partition is more risky. I have never tried that but they may not work as logicals.

Ps: but for converting C to logical, you have to use the bootable CD of PW. It will not work with e.g. Disk Management whilst C is operational. Here is the direct link for the CD download (last entry on the page) http://www.partitionwizard.com/download.html Just burn the .iso to a CD.

 

[Vincenzo]

I would not make the C: partiton logical. I would make one of the non operating system partitions extended and logical.
But then that's just me.

Seems like the only other candidate for this would be the "HP tools" partition. (Probably better not to mess with the Recovery partition that is presently there). But I am wondering if HP Tools would still work if converted to logical. But in reality, I also am considering just deleting the contents of HP Tools and using it for my friend's needs, saving all this trouble. I am wondering how useful the HP Tools are anyway.

My own recommendation, having run into a similar problem, would be more along the lines of what you already proposed:
1) Move the Win7 boot loader files into the "C" partition. You can install EasyBCD from NeoSmart Technologies and it has a menu item to do this for you.
2) Reboot to confirm that the migration of boot loader files worked
3) Using the Disk Management utility, remove the small System Reserved partition. Reboot to confirm this was OK
4) Using the Disk Management utility, shrink the Win7 "C" partition to make some room; reboot afterward to confirm this was OK.
5) Add a new Extended partition into the unallocated space, and create Logical partitions inside that.

Would I be able to eliminate the System Reserved Partition using the Windows Startup Repair like I detailed in the first post? If I can avoid 3rd party software I'd rather do that.

Not to go off topic, but is there a reason your friend wants to over-partition the crap out of his drive? Maybe there's a better way to accomplish the end result.

I'll check with him and get back to you.

Thanks

 

[whs]

But I am wondering if HP Tools would still work if converted to logical

You could try that and see what happens. You can always change it back. I do not have such a partition because all my Windows7 are either new installs from an installation disk or other OEMs that do not have such a partition.

If you experiment with the tools partition, let us know what happens. Would be interesting for future cases.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Vincenzo.


It's perfectly safe and very easy to convert the Windows partition to an Extended partition and shrink that to create as many Logical drives as there are available drive letters; if you convert one of the OEM 'tools' partitions you may lose functionality.


Have a look at Method Two of this tutorial at the link below.

Partition / Extended : Logical Drives



Whatever you do, do not convert the disk to Dynamic.

 

[SIW2]

This is the way I would recommend.

If you really want the F8 option - it can be added afterwards.

Any partition changes may affect the normal access to the oem recovery app. - depending how it is set up. Usually can be reinstated also. Your friend should have already run off the oem recovery discs - just in case he wants to return to factory state at any time in the future.

My own recommendation, having run into a similar problem, would be more along the lines of what you already proposed:
1) Move the Win7 boot loader files into the "C" partition. You can install EasyBCD from NeoSmart Technologies and it has a menu item to do this for you.
2) Reboot to confirm that the migration of boot loader files worked
3) Using the Disk Management utility, remove the small System Reserved partition. Reboot to confirm this was OK
4) Using the Disk Management utility, shrink the Win7 "C" partition to make some room; reboot afterward to confirm this was OK.
5) Add a new Extended partition into the unallocated space, and create Logical partitions inside that.

I assume he has good reasons for wanting another partition - keeping his data separate from the o/s for example . That does make any housekeeping, imaging , restoring, etc vastly simpler.

 

[Vincenzo]

OK, thanks to all for the help. I expect to be working on this over the weekend.

Knowing my friend as I do, I think he may want to consider an option that does not involve changing the C partition from primary to logical, so I'd like to have another option to offer to him.

If he decides he can live without the HP Tools partition, is there any problem with deleting it? This will allow creation of another primary partition, which can be created from space gained by shrinking the C partition. Are there any downsides to this approach? I guess I can image the partition before deletion in case there is a problem.

Thanks

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello again Vincenzo.



Just so you will know and not be surprised; if there are already 4 Primary partitions and you use Windows disk management to delete one of them and create another to take its place, it will be an Extended partition by default and not another Primary, which is just as good, if not better as you can create as many Logical drives within the Extended as there are available drive letters.

It is possible to use Windows diskpart to create a fourth Primary, just ask and I'm sure someone will help with that if need be.


The really wise thing to do would be to create an image of the entire Hard Disk Drive, with all the factory partitions intact, especially if he ever intends to need to use the factory recovery option.

Imaging with free Macrium

 

[Mark Phelps]

As to making the "C" partition logical -- you can only do that if the BOOT partition is elsewhere. IF you move the bootloader files into "C", to free up a partition, you have to leave "C" as Primary. Why? Because (AFAIK), Win7 requires its boot partition to be Active, which in turn, requires it to be Primary.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

As to making the "C" partition logical -- you can only do that if the BOOT partition is elsewhere. IF you move the bootloader files into "C", to free up a partition, you have to leave "C" as Primary. Why? Because (AFAIK), Win7 requires its boot partition to be Active, which in turn, requires it to be Primary.

Hello Vincenzo.
It's perfectly safe and very easy to convert the Windows partition to an Extended partition and shrink that to create as many Logical drives as there are available drive letters; if you convert one of the OEM 'tools' partitions you may lose functionality.


Have a look at Method Two of this tutorial at the link below.

Partition / Extended : Logical Drives

That's all outlined here.

 

[whs]

There is nothing magical about a logical C partition. As long as you have the 100MB active partition, that will work. Deleting the HP tools partition may have downsides. If I were you, I would investigate that first. Turning the tools partition into a logical would be my next choice (after C as logical).

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Not really OT but here's another tutorial some may find interesting, at the link below.


System Reserved : Multi Boot from Logical Partitions