Partition??

[jack1953]

I just bought a used Samsung netbook. It has Windows 7 Starter. It is 120G HD but is partitioned. Are these partitioned by design? Is there a way to 'unpartition it'???
Thanks,
Jack

 

[whs]

Suggest you post a snip of your Disk Management. Then we can advise you.

 

[Ageeb]

On that note,
How to Upload and Post a Screenshot and File in Seven Forums

 

[ryo]

usually if you buy a netbook or notebook.. that's should be write on specification about the OS..you buy it include the OS or non OS, if include the OS if you see at device manager and disk management you will see that's the partition for storing your original OS.

 

[jack1953]

Here is the shot of disk management. Let me know what my next move is!

 

[whs]

I would not change a thing.

1. the first partition is your recovery partition that contains the backup of the OS in case you have to reinstall
2. the second little partition is your boot partition
3. the 3d partition is the operating system
4. the 4th partition is available for data

Note that you cannot create any more partitions at this time (without getting into deep trouble called dynamics) because you already have 4 primaries - which is the maximum. If you plan to create another partition, come back and we will tell you the steps on how to create another partition safely.

 

[bigmck]

I would not change a thing.

1. the first partition is your recovery partition that contains the backup of the OS in case you have to reinstall
2. the second little partition is your boot partition
3. the 3d partition is the operating system
4. the 4th partition is available for data

Note that you cannot create any more partitions at this time (without getting into deep trouble called dynamics) because you already have 4 primaries - which is the maximum. If you plan to create another partition, come back and we will tell you the steps on how to create another partition safely.

WHS -- Isn't the Recovery Partition empty?

 

[whs]

I would not change a thing.

1. the first partition is your recovery partition that contains the backup of the OS in case you have to reinstall
2. the second little partition is your boot partition
3. the 3d partition is the operating system
4. the 4th partition is available for data

Note that you cannot create any more partitions at this time (without getting into deep trouble called dynamics) because you already have 4 primaries - which is the maximum. If you plan to create another partition, come back and we will tell you the steps on how to create another partition safely.

WHS -- Isn't the Recovery Partition empty?

No, it contains an image of your whole system as it came out of the box. Once you burnt the recovery DVDs from it, you could delete it. But I do not recommend that without further safety measures like e.g. images. You never know whether the DVDs you burnt will work.

 

[bigmck]

I just bought a used Samsung netbook. It has Windows 7 Starter. It is 120G HD but is partitioned. Are these partitioned by design? Is there a way to 'unpartition it'???
Thanks,
Jack

When you start installing things, put your programs on C: and your Data on D:. An example would be MS Office on your C: drive and put the letters that you type in Office on your D: drive. It makes things tidy and if you ever have to reinstall Windows, you will have all of your documents on D: drive and will not have to back them up.

 

[bigmck]

No, it contains an image of your whole system as it came out of the box. Once you burnt the recovery DVDs from it, you could delete it. But I do not recommend that without further safety measures like e.g. images. You never know whether the DVDs you burnt will work.

The reason I said that is that it shows the capacity as all free.

 

[whs]

No, it contains an image of your whole system as it came out of the box. Once you burnt the recovery DVDs from it, you could delete it. But I do not recommend that without further safety measures like e.g. images. You never know whether the DVDs you burnt will work.

The reason I said that is that it shows the capacity as all free.

Because it is a hidden partition - I think.

 

[gregrocker]

Here is how to move your User folders to the D: Data drive: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629-user-folders-change-default-location.html

This is a good arrangement because you can save an Win7 backup image of just your OS/Programs C partition so that if Win7 ever becomes irreparable, by booting the DVD/Repair CD the System partition can be reimaged in 20 minutes with the data ready and current in it's own separate partition "vault" - which should also be backed up externally. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

I believe BigMck was noticing that the Recov partition shows no content in the DM listings. Is it possible your Recov partition had its files deleted? You can Explore its contents using free Partition Wizard CD to see if anything is still there. If not, you can delete it using PW CD, then slide the 100mb boot partition intact all the way to the left side of HD, click on C to Resize>Move it's left border to the left to add the extra 15gb to C.

You can then resize the right border of C to give D more room if desired to use as a data partition. Finally rightclick on D to slide its left border to the left to claim the extra space. OK, Apply all steps.

If you follow this course, back up your files and have a Win7 DVD or Repair CD standing by in case you need to run Startup Repair after these changes.
Free Download Magic Partition Manager Software - Partition Wizard Online
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

If Recov partition is still intact, be sure to make your disks and store them securely.

 

[jack1953]

I would not change a thing.

1. the first partition is your recovery partition that contains the backup of the OS in case you have to reinstall
2. the second little partition is your boot partition
3. the 3d partition is the operating system
4. the 4th partition is available for data

Note that you cannot create any more partitions at this time (without getting into deep trouble called dynamics) because you already have 4 primaries - which is the maximum. If you plan to create another partition, come back and we will tell you the steps on how to create another partition safely.

When I go to my computer, it shows 2 drives with 60G on each, a C and a D drive. All the info is on the C and a tiny bit showing up on the D. What happens when the C drive reaches its max? Is there a way to switch to the D and utilize the other half of the hard drive?

Thanks again.
Jack

 

[gregrocker]

I gave you the answer in the post above.

If you don't like having your User folders on a separate data partition, you can delete D in Disk Management, then Extend C into its space. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2670-partition-volume-extend.html

You don't really have enough space for normally sized User folders to fit on the OS/programs partition, so I'd either move User folders to data drive for reasons stated, or delete D and extend C.

 

[jack1953]

I gave you the answer in the post above.

If you don't like having your User folders on a separate data partition, you can delete D in Disk Management, then Extend C into its space. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2670-partition-volume-extend.html

You don't really have enough space for normally sized User folders to fit on the OS/programs partition, so I'd either move User folders to data drive for reasons stated, or delete D and extend C.

Thanks Greg!! All set!! You DA MAN!!!
Jack

 

[ignatzatsonic]

The previous owner had two 67 gig partitions. We don’t know if he bought it that way. He may have saved his personal data on C or on D.

You can save you personal data on C or D also.

You currently have 19 GB occupied on C, with 48 GB free on C.

There is little reason for you to have a D partition unless you intend to put your personal files there.
If you want to keep your personal files on C, as Greg said you can delete D and make C cover the entire drive.

Most people worldwide use just a single C partition that contains both Windows and their personal data. On this forum, quite a few use 2 partitions: C for Windows and D for personal data. It’s purely personal choice

Your hard drive isn’t very big. If you want to keep data on D, you only have about 67 gigs of space. That can get eaten up quickly by video files. If you intend to get involved with video, you might want to do one of these 2 things:

1: Delete D, shrink C to maybe 40 GB, and then create a new D containing ALL of the remaining space of about 95 GB. Then keep personal data on D. A 40 GB C partition is big enough for most Windows 7 installations. Again, no point in a D unless you want to keep data there.

2: Delete D and expand C to take up the entire drive. You would have a C drive of about 134 GB for both Windows and data. No D drive at all.

Which you should do depends on your intended usage. If you are only going to have text files, it likely won’t matter. If you intend to get into video files on such a small drive, you might be better off with a single C. Otherwise, you might run out of space on your current 67 GB D drive.

 

[Bill2]

Whoever set up those partitions is a turd. What was the need to have a primary partition for data? Just backup your data, delete that D: partition, then create a new logical partition for data. And yes, it does make sense to have a separate data partition.

If you want maneouvre space for more primary partitions in the future, you can even get rid of the system reserved and boot directly off the windows partition. I'm on low bandwidth again, so look in the tuts section how you can do that. Though that'll take away the ability to boot to recovery options without using the win7 disk.

 

[mjf]

Whoever set up those partitions is a turd. What was the need to have a primary partition for data? Just backup your data, delete that D: partition, then create a new logical partition for data. And yes, it does make sense to have a separate data partition.

If you want maneouvre space for more primary partitions in the future, you can even get rid of the system reserved and boot directly off the windows partition. I'm on low bandwidth again, so look in the tuts section how you can do that. Though that'll take away the ability to boot to recovery options without using the win7 disk.

I have to be cautious about the inference from a response.
I thought the partitioning looked good. Good size for OS, apps + some data. Data partition for either folders as gregrocker described or more static data (images, videos, music.....).

Given the data partition is relatively small to begin with why have it extended logical. Would you really want more partitions out of 67GB. Is there something fundamentally better in having a logical data partition?

If D: remains primary what are the problems in simply converting to logical at a later date? (Using say Partition Wizard).

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello jack1953, welcome to Seven Forums!



From your last post it seems you may have accomplished what you want; though if you would like to see an outline of the process of recovering all the space to the left of C: into the C: partition as Greg suggested, have a look at Option Two in this tutorial at the link below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD


It is a good idea to keep your personal data stored separately from the OS partition; I too would suggest keeping the D: partition intact and using Option Three in the same tutorial to do a wipe (secure erase) to the partition to over-write all the old data left by the previous owner and then use it to store your personal data.

 

[whs]

As was already discussed above, I would keep D as data partition. A while ago I made a little video tutorial on how to go about that (just skip the part that talks about creating the partition because you already have D all ready and set up).

It is very important that you first create folders in D to which the Documents, Pictures, etc. folders will be moved. Those folders can have any name because the system is going to rename them anyhow when you "Move". If you move the folders directly to the partition address, you will get a mess because the folders will assume the address path of the partition rather than a folder.