Extending partition in Windows XP Pro

  • Thread starter Thread starter Christy
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Christy

I have a Windows XP Pro system. One of my hard drives has two partitions (C:
(bootable sector) & F:). The C: is almost full but I have plenty of space on
the F:. I would like to just extend the C: but from what I've read I can't
do this within XP because it's the bootable sector. It sounds like from some
other posts that I can purchase a program to do this. If I'm not worried
about losing programs and data is there any way to extend/change this
partition if I reinstall Windows or is my only option to purchase a program
to do this? I hope this made sense.

Thanks,
Christy
 
Christy said:
I have a Windows XP Pro system. One of my hard drives has two
partitions (C: (bootable sector) & F:). The C: is almost full but
I have plenty of space on the F:. I would like to just extend the
C: but from what I've read I can't do this within XP because it's
the bootable sector. It sounds like from some other posts that I
can purchase a program to do this. If I'm not worried about losing
programs and data is there any way to extend/change this partition
if I reinstall Windows or is my only option to purchase a program
to do this? I hope this made sense.
Click to expand...

If you are not worried about losing data (as you state) - then sure- you
could wipe everything and create the partitions again in a better way. You
could image everything (by partition) and then dlete and create new
partitions and apply the images (they will adjust to whatever you put them
on.) etc...
 
I have a Windows XP Pro system. One of my hard drives has two partitions (C:
(bootable sector) & F:). The C: is almost full but I have plenty of space on
the F:. I would like to just extend the C: but from what I've read I can't
do this within XP because it's the bootable sector. It sounds like from some
other posts that I can purchase a program to do this. If I'm not worried
about losing programs and data is there any way to extend/change this
partition if I reinstall Windows or is my only option to purchase a program
to do this? I hope this made sense.
Click to expand...


The fact that the partition is bootable (not "bootable sector") is
irrelevant. You can't do it with native tools in any partition.

Unfortunately, no version of Windows before Vista provides any way of
changing the existing partition structure of the drive
nondestructively. If you're willing to reformat and reinstall cleanly,
you can certainly accomplish it that way.

But the only way to do it nondestructively is with third-party
software. Partition Magic is the best-known such program, but there
are freeware/shareware alternatives. One such program is BootIt Next
Generation. It's shareware, but comes with a free 30-day trial, so you
should be able to do what you want within that 30 days. I haven't used
it myself (because I've never needed to use *any* such program), but
it comes highly recommended by several other MVPs here.
 
Christy

Changes with no cost implications.

Without resizing partitions you can create more free space in C by any
carrying any of the measures suggested below.

The default allocation to System Restore is 12% on your C partition
which is over generous. I would reduce it to 700 mb. Right click your My
Computer icon on the Desktop and select System Restore. Place the cursor
on your C drive select Settings but this time find the slider and drag
it to the left until it reads 700 mb and
exit. When you get to the Settings screen click on Apply and OK and
exit.

Another default setting which could be wasteful is that for temporary
internet files, especially if you do not store offline copies on disk.
The default allocation is 3% of drive. Depending on your attitude to
offline copies you could reduce this to 1% or 2%. In Internet Explorer
select Tools, Internet Options, General, Temporary Internet Files,
Settings to make the change. At the same time look at the number of days
history is held.

The default allocation for the Recycle Bin is 10 % of drive. Change to
5%, which should be sufficient. In Windows Explorer place the cursor
on your Recycle Bin, right click and select Properties, Global and
move the slider from 10% to 5%. However, try to avoid letting it get
too full as if it is full and you delete a file by mistake it will
bypass the Recycle Bin and be gone for ever.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to
Empty your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also
select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point. Run Disk Defragmenter.

You can generate more space in the system partition by relocation of
folders.

For Temporary Internet Files select Start, Control Panel, Internet
Options, Temporary Internet Files. Settings, Move Folder.

To move the Outlook Express Store Folder select in Outlook Express
Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store Folder, Change.
http://www.tomsterdam.com/insideoe/files/store.htm

How to Change the Default Location of the My Documents Folder:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310147

You may also need to change Default File locations in the Microsoft
Office programmes you choose to move the My Documents folder. For Word
go to Tools, Options, File Locations, highlight Documents, click on
Modify and change file path. For Excel go to Tools, Options, General
and change default file path.

My Documents is one of a number of system created Special Folders
including My Pictures and My Music. These can more easily be relocated
using Tweak Ui. Download TweakUI, one of the MS powertoys, from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

In TweakUi select My Computer, Special Folders. You can scroll down to
see the full list of Special Folders to the left of the Change
Location button.

You can move programmes but to do this you have to uninstall and
reinstall.

If your drive is formatted as NTFS another potential gain arises with
your operating system on your C drive. In the Windows Directory of
your C partition you will have some Uninstall folders in your Windows
folder typically: $NtServicePackUninstall$ and $NtUninstallKB282010$
etc. These files may be compressed or not compressed. If compressed
the text of the folder name appears in blue characters. If not
compressed you can compress them. Right click on each folder and
select Properties, General, Advanced and check the box before Compress
contents to save Disk Space. On the General Tab you can see the amount
gained by deducting the size on disk from the size. Folder
compression is only an option on a NTFS formatted drive / partition.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System
Information, Tools, Dr Watson and verify that the box before "Append to
existing log" is NOT checked. This means the next time the log is
written it will overwrite rather than add to the existing file.

The default maximum size setting for Event Viewer logs is too large.
Reset the maximum for each log from 512 kb to 128 kb and set it to
overwrite.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Thanks everyone for your help. I really appreciate it. I'll have to try
your suggestions. Have a great day.

Christy
 
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