how to partition Toshiba Laptop with windows 7 preinstalled

[Memory]

Hello,
My friend bought a Toshiba laptop with 320GB harddrive and Intel i3 processor. It has windows 7 preinstalled.We used the recover mode and backed up the OS. The initial space (1.46 GB) contains the OS system files. We used the shrink option in Disk Management utility of the OS to shrink the C: drive to 140 GB which was the minimum amount of space, the C: drive could be shrunk to - could not go lower than that. We want to repartition the C: drive to 3 partitions (40, 50 , 50 GB). Is it a restriction of the OS - maybe bad design - that causes this glitch. If we install another OS (multiboot), can we repartition the C: drive.
If we format the whole drive, then it is possible to do whatever we like with the HDD - as in the case of a fresh harddrive. But the preinstalled OS will be gone for ever. Help us find a way out so that the preinstalled partition does not get erased and we can repartition the C: drive.
rgds,
your friend

 

[DocBrown]

Can you give us a screen snip of Disk Management of the HD ?

Start :ar: Computer Management :ar: Disk Management

:ar: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

 

[gregrocker]

While we wait for your Disk Mgmt screenshot, be sure to save a Win7 backup image externally so you have a path back to exactly where you are now if you need to start over.

The best tool for doing what Disk Mgmt cannot is free Partition Wizard bootable CD: Free Download Magic Partition Manager Software - Partition Wizard Online

If you'll tell us what is on each partition and what you'd like to end up with we can give you the steps.

 

[whs]

Memory, as DocBrowns said, we really need a screenshot of your Disk Management. There are a lot of traps you can fall into (e.g. dynamic partitions). We would hate to see you get into trouble.

 

[DocBrown]

Since it is a Factory installed Toshiba Laptop, it will probably have the 2 hidden partitions already on the HD.

 

[Memory]

My friend will come to my home within 2 hours ( he does not have internet connection at his hostel right now - has to take one very soon). Will upload the screen shots within 2 hours. And may thanks for your concern.

rgds,
your friend

 

[Memory]

Here is the screenshot

Initially, the C: drive had 280GB and don't know where the remaining 40 Gb is.. We shrank C: drive to 140Gb. The remaining 140 GB was further divided to 3 partitions(which can be deleted...)

 

[Memory]

the previous image was not clear. so i am enclosing a better one.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Memory, welcome to Seven Forums!



Now that you have the new Extended partition with the Logical drives created, what is it exactly you need to do, please be specific.

 

[Memory]

Can I repartition my C: drive to 40, 50 and 50 GB

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Can I repartition my C: drive to 40, 50 and 50 GB

No you have reached the partition limit imposed by Windows for a single Hard Disk Drive.

It is possible to have ...

Four (4) Primary partitions or

Three (3) Primary partitions and a single Extended partition, inside the Extended partition there can be as many Logical drives as there are available drive letters.

 

[gregrocker]

You have an empty Primary partition on the right side which can be deleted and open up space for another Primary.

So you can use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to rightclick>Resize C to see how much more it will shrink by dragging its right grey border to the left.

Next you can delete the 11.77 gb empty partition on the far right side to open up another Primary partition, create a New NTFS Primary partition in the shrink space you made from C.

Either add the deleted 11.77gb to G by rightclick>resizing it into the space, or rightclick resize the Extended Logical, hold it with a left click to slide the whole thing over to the right into the deleted space.

You can then create a new Logical in the Extended partition on the left side in addition to the Primary (since you said you wanted two) or just use a Logical or Primary there. To create a new logical in the extended's left side, rightclick to Resize it and drag the left grey border to the left to make space for a new partition.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93322-partition-wizard-use-bootable-cd.html