Solved Shrinking Partitions

[PSCO2007]

Just got a new laptop (HP 4540s) and I use Acronis Trueimage to make my image backups.

I just want to backup the OS and want to shrink that to about 140gb.

Can I just shrink and get rid of recovery and tools partitions, so I can make an image of the OS only?

Not sure about that tools partition.

Just realized title has an extra "n".

Thanks,

Paul

 

[bigmck]

I am not sure what might be in Tools, but it is only 2 GB. I would leave it. Don't delete the Recovery partition. That is to put your computer back in the same shape as when you bought it should there be a problem in the future.

 

[PSCO2007]

I don't care about that. (recovery partition)

As I said, I use Acronis to make my recovery images - they have OS, programs and updates- that's all I care about.

If I had to use HP recovery, all that would be gone.

 

[Kaktussoft]

You can delete partitions HP_TOOLS and HP_RECOVERY without problems (if you have another backup/restore scenario). Just do it. Reboot will give you no problems.... both partitions aren't used at all in normal use.

You can even delete the "system reserved" partition if you wish. See http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71363-system-reserved-partition-delete.html

 

[PSCO2007]

You can delete partitions HP_TOOLS and HP_RECOVERY without problems (if you have another backup/restore scenario). Just do it. Reboot will give you no problems.... both partitions aren't used at all in normal use.

You can even delete the "system reserved" partition if you wish. See http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71363-system-reserved-partition-delete.html

Thanks,

Exactly what I hoped would be the solution.

Can I then just keep the OS on one partition and when doing a backup image, just backup that partition?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

The "system" partition should contain your boot files, in which case you need to back it up also.

But, you can also move the boot files to C, and then make an image of C alone.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html

 

[PSCO2007]

Acronis does that automatically - thanks.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Acronis does that automatically - thanks.

What does Acronis automatically?

 

[PSCO2007]

That was in reply to post #6

 

[bigmck]

I hope you don't just delete the System Reserved without doing the proper things first. Your PC won't boot.

 

[PSCO2007]

I hope you don't just delete the System Reserved without doing the proper things first. Your PC won't boot.

No, that's not what I meant.

I am just going to eliminate the Recovery and tools partitions and shrink the hdd to about 130 or so gbs, so I can do a backup of System and OS partitions.

Sorry for the confusion on my part.

 

[gonwk]

... and shrink the hdd to about 130 or so gbs, so I can do a backup of System and OS partitions. ...

Hi PSC02007,

Since I am new to this Backup and Image business, you are Shrinking your Active HDD part, C Partition to 130GB, so your Backup routine Go Faster and a Smaller Image or Clone sizes ... right!?!?

Thanks,

G!

 

[PSCO2007]

Yes, that's exactly why I am doing that.

I only want to backup the OS, and programs.

The rest of the info is duplicated on other hdds, so I don't want to backup that info, which will give me a shorter backup time and a much smaller one if I have to do a restore.

 

[mjf]

For anyone else planning to do this I would recommend imaging every partition first using (free) Macrium Reflect. This is a bit of extra security should you want to return to the original configuration in the future.