How to make a Partition

[stomper]

Hey guys, don't know if I'm in the right part of the forum for this question but here goes.

I currently have a 1TB HDD which has been partitioned 50/50.

I would like to make a third partition to create a 50gig HDD to put my system files on and keep the rest for movies and music ect.

IS THIS POSIBLE WITHOUT THE FORMATING MY DRIVE?

Current setup
1TB : -+450gig = System files + installed games/Apps + Series
-+450gig = Movies + Music

My Goal
1TB : 50gig = Win7 System Files
400gig = Installed Apps/Games + Series (would like to have a 4th partition for my installed apps if possible.
450gig = Movies + Music

So my question is can I do this in a save way without the need to format and reinstall win7 om my drive. I'm not gona change my current 50/50 partition which has been done before win7 installation, I simply want to add another 2 partitions to the one 450gig partition.

If I'm not to clear on what I want please let me know.

Thanks in advance

 

[Phone Man]

Use this free program.

BEST FREE Partition Manager Software for Windows supports all 32-bit & 64 bit Windows No-server OS.

Resizing the System partition is the one you have to be careful with as it will disrupt the MBR but this program has a Repair MBR feature that should help. They have Tutorials on the web site, so read up on it before you get started and backup up you system before you start.

Also if you want to move your installed programs to a new partition you may have to delete them and then reinstall on new partition but there may be a way to move them but I am not familiar with that process.

Jim

 

[stomper]

Thanks, will give this a go.

Last question, if a make a backup of my systems files partition and do the partition resizing and lets say the worst happens and my pc can't boot. Ho do I recover my pc from that regarding the backup I made on a external HDD?

 

[stomper]

Another thing, I currently have XP installed as a virtual maschine.
Can I try this partition resizing on it? and will I get the same results as what I will when doing it to my main OS?

 

[gregrocker]

Always use the built-in Disk Management Shrink utility to do the shrinkage, if possible. It never fails, whereas any 3rd party Resizing app can and does sometimes fail.

That said, free Partition Wizard bootable CD rarely fails so you can use it to shrink whatever Disk Mgmt is unable to accomplish. DM will not move System Files if they are in the way, but PW can.

 

[Phone Man]

Thanks, will give this a go.

Last question, if a make a backup of my systems files partition and do the partition resizing and lets say the worst happens and my pc can't boot. Ho do I recover my pc from that regarding the backup I made on a external HDD?

With the Windows 7 image program, if you make an image of just the system partition it will cause a problem when you do a restore. It will see the other partitions on the drive and will wipe them out when it restores and all you will have is the system partition. If you do a "disk" image (images the entire disk) then it will restore the disk to its original state. This is the safest way to protect all your data.

Jim

 

[gregrocker]

You may not need to reimage if the OS fail to boot after resizing operations.

Often times resizing requires repair of the MBR, done by booting the Win7 DVD repair console or Repair CD, clicking through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots, as utility will attempt to repair then sometimes rewrite the MBR.

The system partiton must remain marked active to achieve this.

 

[stomper]

Thanks, will give this a go.

Last question, if a make a backup of my systems files partition and do the partition resizing and lets say the worst happens and my pc can't boot. Ho do I recover my pc from that regarding the backup I made on a external HDD?

With the Windows 7 image program, if you make an image of just the system partition it will cause a problem when you do a restore. It will see the other partitions on the drive and will wipe them out when it restores and all you will have is the system partition. If you do a "disk" image (images the entire disk) then it will restore the disk to its original state. This is the safest way to protect all your data.

Jim

I'm so glad I ask this, because I was planning on doing this. I don't have a big enough extra HDD to backup my TB.

So for the time being I'll just hang on with resizing of my HDD. I want to do this for reasons I don't even no I just want everything to be organized and in it's place.

So until I get another TB I'll just keep my setup as it is.

Thanks for all your input,REP POINTS GOING OUT TO ALL THAT HELP,really made everything clear to me because I'm very new to all of this, haven't even touched the potential of my Win7 OS, but I'm planning to

Thanks

 

[Zomby88]

If your not sure why or how you are going to do this By All Means Don`t Do It !!
Just organize your data into folders, there is no reason to do it. JMHO.