Format Unallocated partition with error popup

[raj4seven]

Bought a new del inspiron netbook, preinstalled win7 x64.
Single hard Drive of 290 GB space, so i thought to give a partition as I prefer to work on D drive as most of the program files are loaded in C drive.
After a creating an unallocated space of 130 GB by shrinking of C drive, I am stuck. While doing the formating by new volume wizard, it gave a warning of drive becoming to dynamic, whether you want to go. then I stopped for a while and started some googling. In many cases i found that win7 allows max 4 dik partition which I already have after checking the disk management program. My Disk 0 consists of:
39 MB (OEM Partition)
5 GB (Primary Partition)
13.35 GB (Recovery)
148.65 GB (C drive afte I shrink it to crate a new drive)
131.06 (Unalocated)
In that as I have already 4 partition already in place, so is it that i may not be allowed for another drive like spiliting c drive in C and D???
If I coudn't crate a new drive as above, how then i do with the unallocate partition. Can it be included in C as before.
waiting for your reply.

Best Regards

 

[Gator]

Welcome, can you fill out your specs in the bottom left hand side of your post? Or you can edit them in your User CP.

You can only create 4 primary partitions on each HDD you have. This means if you want a to make a new partition you need to combine or delete another partition to make a new primary partition.

You also have the option to create 3 primary partition and 1 extended partition, then you can create as many logical drives as you want. Downside is logical drives aren't bootable without a specific program.

Here is a few links that may help you:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2670-partition-volume-extend.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/146694-partition-extended-logical-drives.html

Make sure you backup everything before you repartition anything.

 

[Corazon]

Just to clarify: the limit of 4 primary partitions has nothing to do with filesystems, but is due to the MBR scheme, which was designed eons ago in the "640KB RAM ought to be enough for anybody" age. Which is why nowadays you have the choice to use GPT on harddisks instead.

Could you post a screenshot of your Disk Management window please? It seems unusual that you have a 5GB primary partition without a volume label or any obvious clue as to its content. It wouldn't normally be there.

 

[raj4seven]

First thank you both for your reply and sorry for little bit late reply.

Now with out having any option I have back to square one after I extended my C drive which takes the unallocated location. This gives the 4 drive/partition that I have got from the manufacturer installed system.
I have mainly x64 windows home & basic and my program files consist of two types of program folder under c drive, i.e. program files and program files (x64). I believe my system has the capability of running both x64 & x86 compatible programmes.

Disk Management window snap is enclosed, now best i can is waiting for your reply.

Best regards

 

[gregrocker]

Please use the Snipping Tool in Start Menu for a rectangular snip of the maximized Disk Mgmt window, then attach file directly using paper clip without changing anything. It is unreadable here.

Most Dells have a Tools partition with Dell Diagnostics which can be run from boot, a Dell Recovery partition, a System reserved partition and the OS partition. We can help you convert the OS partition to Logical so that as many Logical partitions as you wish can subsequently be added. I would not delete any others and certainly NOT convert to Dynamic which is meant for partitions which span multiple HD's.

What disks did Dell provide you? If no Recovery Disks, make them now: Creating Your System Recovery Discs with Dell DataSafe Local Backup 2.0
Burn also a Win7 Repair CD: System Repair Disc - Create
If you are happy with your Win7 installation, back up externally an image of it now along with your files: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
Backup User and System Files

 

[SlasherIT]

Make recovery discs, then delete the Recovery partition. There, problem solved. Also, what is that 39MB OEM Partition for?

 

[seavixen32]

Make recovery discs, then delete the Recovery partition. There, problem solved. Also, what is that 39MB OEM Partition for?

It holds the data for Dell's diagnostic tools, which you can select on startup.

 

[SlasherIT]

I would personally remove that, as I use an Ubuntu Live CD for performing diagnostics, but it the OP doesn't want to then I understand. OP, do what I said in my previous post .

 

[raj4seven]

Thanks every one for your reply!!

One by one i will reply:

gregrocker:

First, I am running Windows7 Home & Basic, so I think the snipping tool is not installed. Therfore, I attach the word file, that i think very legible, (may be little bit drag is required to zoom it)

I am in favour of not deleting my drives as I am not very expert in computer background management. I only can strictly follow your instruction and guidance. if deleting some drive cause some problem in booting up the system, i will be in mess. Because calling for servicing from manufacturer takes time here in India, even today. i will look forward simple solution to split my C drive into say 1 or 2 drives will serve my purpose.

Yes, I have dell data safe local back up pre installed in my note book. just to describe little bit it has 3 back ups type
1. System recovery disk to back up factory software
2. System back up to restore entire system
3. back up of folders & files

I think you are mostly talking of 1 and 2. can it back my windows 7 also so that after system crash, i can reinstall windows 7 from the backed file. though i ahave a windows 7 cd with my with the net book.
Win 7 repair cd is ok
your third point to take back up of the image of win 7 installation is ok, i think dell safe back up then probably can not back up win7 installation. Is it right.

SlasherIT:

can you tell me what 13.35 GB recovery drive of dell system does? when and how it come in to play. Is deleting a factory installed drive is adviceble when some one using the system is not expert.

Thanks any way to all, i have never thought of so many responses.

 

[SlasherIT]

Hi,

That recovery partition contains the "dell data safe local back up". When you make the recovery discs, it puts that "dell data safe local back up" into CD/DVD's, so you can delete the Recovery partition and still be able to recover back to factory settings. Now, did you make the recovery discs or not? If you did, just delete the Recovery partition than you will be able to make a new partition... And if any problems occur, you can just restore your computer from the recovery disks.

Slasher

 

[gregrocker]

Raj, if you don't have the Snipping Tool (type it in Start search box) then capture the maximized Disk mgmt windows with Print Screen button, open Paint and paste it in, Save as .png, attach using Paper Clip in Reply Box. Screenshot with Paint

Follow Slasher's advice to make your Recovery disks now however I would not delete the Recovery Partition which is the most stable way to run Recovery with the disks serving mainly as back up. You have the partition so I would keep it unless you badly need the disk space.

This has been hashed out over years here and the best course found has been to convert the OS partition to Logical so that additional data partitions can be added beside it as needed.

Dell's have very good Recovery and Diagnostics which rely on their partitions so they are worth keeping for the consumer, even though many of us who are tech enthusiasts would personally blow them all away to clean reinstall just the OS. I've learned the hard way over years that this is often not at all what the average Dell consumer wants.

 

[seavixen32]

For anyone who isn't particularly bothered about a clean install, I'd be inclined to keep the Dell recovery partition in place, if only for the reason it's quicker to recover the computer with it than it is using recovery discs.

That's not to say a set of recovery discs shouldn't be produced, of course they should, they'll be especially useful when a recovery partition gets deleted or corrupted or a hard drive dies.

 

[raj4seven]

Yes, I am also in the opinion to keep my preinstalled recovery disk, though I will take a recovery cd. Now, how to split my cd if I don't want to delete the recovery partion as both of you suggested.

Thanks very much to all for reply.
And best regards!!!!!!!!!!

PS: gregrocker: attched word file is it still bot readable???

 

[raj4seven]

attached .png file.

 

[gregrocker]

If there's nothing in the 5gb partition then you can delete it, shrink C as much as you want, then create a Logical partition there.

To make absolutely sure nothing important is hidden in the 5gb partition, first rightclick on it in Disk Mgmt and choose Explore. Anything there?

Next go to Control Panel>Folder options>View tab to unhide Hidden and System files long enough to again Explore the partition in Disk Mgmt. Anything now?

If not you can delete the empty partition, Shrink C as you wish, then Create New partition which should offer Logical, give it a letter.

If Disk Mgmt will not Shrink C as much as you want, or offer a Logical partition as desired so you can later add as many sub-partitions as needed, use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to Resize C and Create New Logical NTFS, give it a letter.

 

[raj4seven]

only under 5.00 GB (Healthy Primary Partition) the delete volume, help is active, others are freezed. then how to check what 5 GB contains if any??

 

[seavixen32]

Go into Windows Explorer and double-click the 5GB partition to see if there's anything of importance in it.

If there isn't, go back to Disk Management and delete it then extend the OS partition.

 

[gregrocker]

You will need to assign a drive letter first to access the 5gb partition in Explorer by rightclicking it in Disk Mgmt to assign letter.

If this fails, install Partition Wizard to rightclick>Explore the partition, assign drive letter if necessary to explore it using PW or using Explorer at Start>Computer.

 

[raj4seven]

my windows explorer does not show any other drive except OS: C and external removable drive. Even when selected with show hidden file option in folder menu, it shows one sibgle c drive.

How to assign a letter to this 5 gb drive that only to be seen in disk management window??

thanks

 

[ignatzatsonic]

my windows explorer does not show any other drive except OS: C and external removable drive. Even when selected with show hidden file option in folder menu, it shows one sibgle c drive.

How to assign a letter to this 5 gb drive that only to be seen in disk management window??

thanks

Have you specifically tried to assign a drive letter to the 5 GB partition in Disk Management?