To shrink existing C drive on a new (unused) laptop

[bawldiggle]

I want to shrink C partition on my new Lenovo laptop, to make space for two extra partitions.
- one for temporary downloads and the other for a possible virtual drive for testing
- the Lenovo is to replace an (ailing/unstable) 7 year old Toshiba

I have a bootable MiniTools (on DVD) to shrink the Lenovo C partition (with Windows OS inactive)
- I believe this is the only way normally unmovable files can be "relocated/moved" during the resize/shrink process

So far (out of the box) the Lenovo has not been used other than to register the OS with MS.
- no apps nor AV etc have been installed, it is a very clean machine.
- the default AV (Norton) has been uninstalled, but no defragging yet

Greg Rocker suggested Piriform's Defraggler. I would prefer a portable defragger at this point​

Current usage on my old Toshiba is 111GB approx 20% of the usable C:\ drive space (images at end of this post)

My plan is to use unallocated space on the Lenovo for one or two other partitions
1. Downloads
2. Virtual drive for testing ( not sure whether SandBoxie in C: or a separate virtual drive/partition)

I think 100GB for C on the Lenovo would be more than ample because I now use an external USB HDD for data.
- I do use hibernation occasionally so adequate space would be required for that
- is my target of 100GB enough (on the Lenovo) for OS, apps, AV, hibernation etc ?

This is my first foray into partitioning the OS drive
- I have partitioned data drives in the past using installed MiniTools

Any comments about my planned sizing (or anything else) would be appreciated, thank you

LENOVO DETAILS:
- the PC to be resized

Win7 PRO x64




OLD TOSHIBA CURRENT USAGE:
- for reference only

Win7 Home Premium x86

 

[whs]

You seem to be on top of things. No comments required.

 

[ComputerGeek]

100GB for C as you describe it is more then enough. I also partition my drive for OS vs Data vs Virtual Machine (see below). I'm running Win 7 x32 without hibernation. Many, many programs installed (including Virtual Box). And still lots of free space (over 25 GB after you adjust for my 119GB allocation vs 100GB)

I also keep a "Media" partition - basically it's a partition I don't bother to backup (saves backup time and space) - It contains files I've copied or downloaded from elsewhere or are otherwise just unimportant to backup.

I'm curious why you keep your data on a USB drive? Is it an encrypted drive??

Also curious why you want a partition just for downloads??

Also, just personal preference, but since I image my disk periodically I've chosen to remove the Recovery Partition and reclaim its space. On the couple occasions when OS was corrupted, i restored the C partition from backup. Pretty quick recovery from a image of C vs. the recovery partition (Though i still keep a backup image of original disk with the recovery partition - just in case )

 

[bawldiggle]

ComputerGeek

As you have probaly guessed IT is not my strong point.
- a semi-retired consulting engineer

Your structure is very similar to my plans.
- downloads partition as a transition area, the same as your "Media" partition.

I'm curious why you keep your data on a USB drive? Is it an encrypted drive??

I know nothing about encrypted drives
... also ...
The external data drive is moved between multiple PCs, it holds AutoCad snippets, PC maintenance tips (and my VBA coding library). My memory is not as good as it used to be (a stroke last September wiped out a few brain cells), as an extreme user of TXT files FileSearchEX does a good job of finding file contents.
Vastly superior to trying to use a data-base and FSex has been the best contents finder (RegX searches) I have found.
4,700 TXT files at last rough count.

Imaging is my next project, hopefully this week.
- since Windows-3, PC maintenance was not a priority at all until about 3 years ago, when I had to start from a zero knowledge base. Win-7 was not an easy experience to start with.

I see you are using VirtualBox in a partition (Windows OS virtual drive ?)
- your layout is very similar to my plans

I would like to use Linux for browsing and email, but not dual boot, a pain to be rebooting between Windows and Linux. (I think ?) VirtualBox (? no experience yet)

The Lenovo is my first new laptop in 6 years
- 3 new off line machines in that time, always entrusted to paid gurus

~~ just personal preference, but since I image my disk periodically I've chosen to remove the Recovery Partition and reclaim its space. On the couple occasions when OS was corrupted, i restored the C partition from backup. Pretty quick recovery from a image of C vs. the recovery partition (Though i still keep a backup image of original disk with the recovery partition - just in case )

My plans also, learning how-to is the challenge.

Today I hope to shrink C: to 100GB using bootable MiniTool (already have ISO downloaded), if unmoveable OS files are not hogging space and limit the "shrink" process.
Defragging C: from a bootable drive is part of the plan but so far I cannot find one. GregRocker in 2009 was recommending Puran to defrag OS before boot, but lately he was touting the virtues of Defraggler. Now Greg is "Account Closed" so is not available for confirmation.

I am way out my league with defragging the OS, but I do use Mint on a stick to recover files from dead OS on other machines.

As a nervous-nellie I don't want to screw up the Lenovo. SevenForums is my lifeline :grouphug:

Thank you for your encouraging post

 

[ComputerGeek]

A couple more commnets:

What is your backup plan? How are you going to backup all your important data you keep on that USB stick? (USB stick not always reliable and can be misplaced)
> Rely on making manual copies from time-to-time?
> Are the different PCs yours you move between yours? If so consider, keeping a folder on the PCs synced with each other an up in the cloud
> Does it make sense to keep USB stick backup in the cloud so its content is always within reach as you move place to place?