Having a separate Data Partition?

[RJ12]

Well last week on Saturday I reinstalled Windows 7. I completley didn't even think about having a different data partition, but thinking about it today, it seems like a better idea, so that way I can keep both the System and my data separate. Is there a easy but safe way to do this?

Edit: I have included an image of Disk Management

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello again.



To me the ideal way would be to first shrink the right of C: using Windows disk management then create an Extended partition from the unallocated space you create.

Then as many Logical drives as there are available drive letters can be created within the Extended partition to be used for storage; have a look at this tutorial at the link below.

Partition / Extended : Logical Drives

 

[RJ12]

How much should I shrink the drive? Or a better question would be how much should I give the System Partition?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

How much should I shrink the drive?

Half should do but only you know how much data storage you need.

Or a better question would be how much should I give the System Partition?

As small as you can get it using Windows 7 disk management.

 

[Phone Man]

I see you are using 50Gb at present. So it depends on if you have finished loading all your programs. If so I would go between 60 and 80 Gb to leave room for future installs. It can always be expanded in the future.

Jim

 

[Dave76]

Depending on how much personal data you have in there now, I would make the OS partition 80GB.

 

[RJ12]

So once I shrink the partition, then what would I precede to do? Should I check out the tutorial about moving User Folders?

 

[RJ12]

Well, it seems like Windows does not want me to shrink it at all, it gives me 0 mb of shrink space I am running the Disk Defragmenter right now to see if that gives me any space to shrink... my computer shouldn't be that defragmented as I keep up with defragmenting it.

Edit: Disk Defragmenter says 0% Fragmented... Running it anyway... It kept freezing on Pass 3, defragmented with Auslogics Disk Defrag... Still 0 mb of Shrink Space

 

[gregrocker]

Try using free Partition Wizard bootable CD to do the shrink so System Files are not running at the time. Rightclick on C to Resize, slide the right grey border to the left as much as it will allow or as you want.

If this fails, I use Perfect Disk 10 trial version to defrag for compactness, followed by rightclicking on C to Offline defrag System files.

The benefit of having a separate data partition is that it keeps your OS/Programs partition backup image lean so that if it becomes irreparable you can quickly reimage it and your data is waiting and current in it's own separate partition "vault." http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629-user-folders-change-default-location.html

 

[RJ12]

I thought you was only suppose to use Windows 7 utilities to mess with the Windows 7 partition? I only feel safe using it's native tools, is there another way that it will let me shrink the partition?

I have attached the Disk Defrag Report file... I believe it lists the files that are defragmented, unmovable (which causes Windows to not want to shrink I believe), and other useful stuff (I think)

Edit: Is their a way to disable (temporarily) these files that won't let me shrink Windows?

 

[gregrocker]

We help hundreds of users with partitioning problems that Disk Mgmt cannot handle using PW CD without a single failure. It is the one of the most vital Win7 tools.

We help with more of these type of issues here than all of the other tech sites on the web put together, MS included.

In frequent discussions of third party defraggers comparable or better than Win7's own, PerfectDisk is always rated tops along with Auslogics, Defraggler and Puran. PerfectDisk specializes is moving System files with it's Offline Defrag feature.

 

[RJ12]

How do I know how much I can shrink with out hurting these files?

 

[gregrocker]

Disk Mgmt or PW won't let you shrink any more than it can handle.

Perfect Disk will not move System Files if it will affect Win7.

PW uses virtual disk to do the moves and test them first, then completes the process once assured it will succeed. Only a Power failure during the final phase can cause it or Disk Mgmt to fail - unlike most other 3rd party partioning softwares which can and do fail with data loss.

Back up your files and a Win7 backup image to be sure.

 

[RJ12]

Neither Disk Mgmt nor PW won't let you shrink any more than it can handle.

But Disk Mgmt will not let me shrink it at all, doesn't that mean I can't shrink with PW

 

[gregrocker]

No, Disk Mgmt has System Files running as it queries for shrink.

PW CD has no System Files running so has more leeway.

Back up your files and a Win7 Backup image so you have nothing to lose if you're fearful. Or keep your data on C.

BTW a separate data partition works even better on a second HD.

 

[RJ12]

Looking at the hard drive, I dont think I can shrink it. Disk Defrag says I have unmovable files right at the end of the parition. I wish I could put a second drive in this laptop though, that would make this a whole lot easier.

 

[Phone Man]

When you are running in Windows the system files are in use and can not be moved. That is what Defrag is showing. When you boot from PW CD those files are NOT in use and then can be moved.

Jim

 

[RJ12]

What about the Master File Table, Disk Defrag shows that being at the end too? That sounds important.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I thought you was only suppose to use Windows 7 utilities to mess with the Windows 7 partition? I only feel safe using it's native tools

You have been given good advice.

The only thing I can add is that you should give up on your above notion.

Windows tools are in most cases perfectly fine and all you need. Other tools sometime have more flexibility or can do certain things not doable with Windows own tools.

The most glaring example is the imaging tool. Personally, I don't even attempt to use it. Not because it doesn't "work", but because it is non-intuitive, dumbed-down, and finicky.

Disk Management does a good job on those jobs it can handle and it's all I use, but I recognize that it is incapable of doing some forms of resizing.

You are rightly suspicious of certain non-Windows partition tools, Partition Magic being a classic example. Partition Wizard on the other hand is highly reliable.

Don't worry about the master file table. Run Partition Wizard and do your resizing.

 

[RJ12]

Ok so then I should be fine running the bootable CD of PW to resize my partition? I figure I will resize it so that Windows has about 80 GB and the rest of the space for the Data?