Solved Questions re partitioning HD on a new laptop

[provlima]

I recently purchased a new laptop, and it came with several preloaded software programs.
I partitioned the HD on my desktop PC 2 years ago and want to do same to new laptop. (Create an 0S partition and a data partition)

My first question is must I reformat the HD and reinstall the OS or can I accomplish a the partition of the disc without the reformat. There is very little data on the HD as I haven't transferred any files on it yet from my old laptop's HD.

Thank you for your help!

Jim

 

[Arc]

Jim, you can do the both. If there is enough free space on your C drive, you can make a room for another one out of it. But, hao many primary partitions do you already have ?

Can you post a snip of your full screen disk management window, so that we can see the situation there ?

If , already 4 primary partitions are there, it involves some more task, and that's why we need to see the disk management window.

 

[dsperber]

My first question is must I reformat the HD and reinstall the OS or can I accomplish a the partition of the disc without the reformat.

Piece of cake. You don't need to reformat and reinstall the OS.

You can use a fine product like Partition Wizard to do the job. Since you're shrinking your Windows partition (C) you need to be running outside of Windows, using the standalone boot CD version.

You should download both installable version of Partition Wizard for use on other non-C partitions (e.g. to create the data partition from the newly unallocated free space after you shrink your C partition).

Also, download the burn the ISO for standalone boot CD. You need to be running standalone for work manipulating the C partition.

You should then boot to the CD, and you will be able to shrink your C partition. You can also create your D partition in the newly available free space while still running standalone, or you can do it after you re-boot to Win7.

Depending on your current hard drive allocation, your new D partition can either be (a) primary or (b) logical. If the total number of partitions (including the new D) is four or less then you can create D as primary. Otherwise, a little more work would be needed to create D as logical.

A screenshot from DISKMGMT.MSC before you start would help us, so that our detailed instructions can be precise for you. Full-screen please on the DISKMGMT display, with columns spread so we can see the text in each cell.

 

[provlima]

Screenshot of HDD

This is how it looks
Any way of creating a large data drive without reformatting??

 

[Arc]

As you have only three primary partitions, you can do it anytime. Follow the tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2672-partition-volume-shrink.html .
You can also follow the option three of the tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93322-partition-wizard-use-bootable-cd.html to shrink C drive from the right side.

For future needs, if you want to increase the number of the partitions in future, better you format the new partition as logical.

Sometimes, After shrinking C drive , it may refuse t boot properly, but that is not a trouble at all. In such a situation, if it occurs by any chance, you first make it sure that your Recovery partition is still active. If not, make it active again, using the tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html , and then run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html for three times.

 

[provlima]

Thanks for your help guys...In disk management I found that I could only shrink my OS partition from 934GB by appr half due to the location virtual page and hibernation files on the hdd. I ran into the same frustrating problem 2 years ago when I attempted to partition the hdd on my desktop. I was eventually able to overcome this by trial and error using diskpart and some other third party free programs. I cant remember how but do you have any suggestions on how I might accomplish this? Thanks for your help!

 

[Arc]

option three of the tutorial Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD to shrink C drive , but from the right side.

 

[provlima]

Thanks for your quick help!!
I read that an excellent free program would shrink the OS C disk. I downloaded used the free MiniTool partition wizard home edition software and was able to easily overcome the shrink limitations!

Now my OS disk is 200GB and my "unallocated" space to the right of the C partition is 711GB.
Now if you could help me to rename the unallocated partition to "D Data Disk" I will be in good shape!

 

[Arc]

Right click on the unallocated space, and choose format from the context menu. When asked for the drive letter, name it as D.

 

[provlima]

Arc...thank you
when I right click I dont get that option. Please see screenshot below.

Does the fact that the unallocated partition is framed in black and has diagonal stripes
indicate I have to do something more to that partition???

Jim

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You need "new simple volume".

Then format it and give it a drive letter.

Volume is a near-synonym for partition.

Unallocated space is just that. It is not a partition.

 

[Arc]

Doh ... sorry ... better you follow the option one of the tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2674-partition-volume-create-new.html , from step 5 onwards .

 

[provlima]

Okay great..thank you
Now how do I create the path for all libraries and data files to be transferred to the new data partition

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I don't use libraries or user folders, but this might be what you need:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629-user-folders-change-default-location.html?ltr=U