Thanks for the response - and for the reference to the other thread.
For better or worse my new laptop is coming with the 64 bit version of W 7 Home Premium. Sounds like Partition Magic is a no-no in W7 so I need to find an alternative.
My new laptop will come with W 7 pre-installed on a 500 MB HD. I like to keep my data on a separate partition from the system (easier backups and restore for one) which is why I was inquiring about PM. I need a non destructive way to create a new data partition from what I expect will be a single partition install in 64 bit W 7. Can W7's built-in HD utility create or resize another partition from the partition on which it is already installed?
Easus's free software only works for 32 bit W 7. I'll check to see if its paid versions can handle 64 bit safely.
(On the same theme, does W 7's built-in backup utility create an "image" backup capable of restoring a destroyed *system* partition or will I need a separate utility because W 7's utility just does a file backup?)
Anderson2;
I have used Partition Magic for 20 years, but the time came to move on. GParted is a complete utility, I use it with both my 32 bit and 64 bit 7 computers.
I downloaded the free Partition Wizard and found it to be similar to GParted except for its limitation to Fat32 and NTFS files systems. If one was only interested in Windows that is not an issue. Also 32 bit and 64 bit compatible.
The Windows 7 Disk Management utility includes some convenient features and is missing other import ones. You are able to shrink the C: drive and create new partitions, format, and assign a drive letters.
It may serve your purpose at the start, but later you will need a more complete utility.
The Windows 7 Backup and Image utility is likewise convenient, but many here have expressed their preferences for the features of other software. I have used the opensource Clonezilla successfully, and as I also use Linux it serves all my needs. I have placed a link underneath my signature.
You are able to restore the "Image" from the 7 DVD, the Repair CD, or through the 100 MB System Partition if 7 is allowed to create that during installation.
