Solved Simple straightforward hard drive cloning software?

[Kaktussoft]

G shrank succesfully?
C shrank as well? What is size of C now?

screenshot please

 

[Tomha]

Still working on it, its taking a while. I got an error with the shrink on G, that was using the windows one. Im going to try with the program you linked and meanwhile start defragging C

 

[Tomha]

Well that did it instantly, as opposed to the windows one which took ages. For some reason there is unallocated space either side though, Ill post a screenshot soon.

Wait..no nvm, I need to apply it ;P

 

[Kaktussoft]

shrinking in windows doesn't take long! if you have unallocated space in front of C which wasn't there before.... your system most likely doesn't boot!!! C must have same start sector as before!!

 

[Tomha]

Ok, I shrunk G to 800gb just fine, theres a little extra space but I wont need it and I like round numbers. As for that unallocated space in on G, I know how that got there. When you install Windows it needs the 100mb space as a system..boot file..thing. I did something strange setting that all up and ended up with 2, one of which was redundant and was cleared or something...

 

[Kaktussoft]

C already shrunk using partition wizard? Have to go in 40 minutes

 

[Tomha]

Yes, Its saying it cant shrink C though, I'm about to try again

 

[Tomha]

Partition Wizard says its unable to format the drive because its in use, it gives the option to try and perform it immediately after a restart, but then it says your drive layout has changed or something and has to cancel.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Partition Wizard says its unable to format the drive because its in use, it gives the option to try and perform it immediately after a restart, but then it says your drive layout has changed or something and has to cancel.

Format?????? I asked you to resize!

If you really tried a resize as I told you... a reboot is probably necessary. What's the exact error?

 

[Tomha]

Sorry...communication here is horrible on my part Yes, I am resizing, windows only allows to make about 500gm of room so im going to try again with the partition wizard, but it hasn't worked twice now. We will see.

 

[Kaktussoft]

The MFT (master file table) is halfway the partition! And can't be moved when using C. So C can't be shrunk smaller!!

Solution:
Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online
Download the last one (bootable CD). You know how to burn ISO? You know how to enable boot from DVD in BIOS?

 

[Tomha]

I know how to do that, but I got it sorted. Windows only managed to shrink it so small, but that program you liked, the Partition Wizard, that shrunk it down properly.

I now have
-A 774.99gb partition of what I am wanting to keep, smallest size possible
-791.79gb of unallocated space on the same physical drive as windows

 

[Kaktussoft]

I told you to use partition wizard because of that!
post disk management screenshot please

 

[Kaktussoft]

You didn't have to shrink G anyway. The partition copy operation i gonna explain later has an resize destination checkbox.

 

[Tomha]

I tried the program twice but it didnt work, it only worked after I did part of it in windows. Anyway, heres what it looks like now:

 

[Kaktussoft]

Give E label System Reserved (old)



Then in partition wizard:

• Copy Partition help of magic partition manager - Partition Wizard. just copy old system reserved to the new disk. The old windows as well. Eventually you can resize that partition (so make it larger). Make them both PRIMARY!
• Extend G in partition wizard to the old size, so it's not full anymore!
• Label both new partitions in partition wizard. Names like Windows BCK. How to Label Partition with partition manager? Partition Wizard Help

Don't apply now!!! Post screenshot of partition wizard

 

[Tomha]

 

[Tomha]

I forgot to rename them, doing that now though to windows (backup) and system reserved (backup)

 

[Kaktussoft]

extend G!! So it's not 99% full! Do that with resize option in partition wizard. Post screenshot when done. don't apply yet

 

[Tomha]

Like this?