How to return hard drive to one partiton without reinstalling XP?

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My main hard drive currently has two partitions C: (data) and D: (xp os &
programs). I have purchased a second hard drive to use for data storage, so I
will not need to have my first hard drive split. I want to delete the data
partition (C:) and reallocate the space to the D: (os & programs), so that my
main hard drive is just one partition.

What is the best way for me to do this? I don't know all that much about
partitioning, but from what I've reseached I can't use the Disk Management
tool in XP (because it can't merge space) or diskpart/extend (because D: is a
boot partition), correct? I don't own (and don't have the money to buy) a
parition software, so is there a free partition utility software that would
be good for such a job? Would I be better off just reinstalling XP?

Thanks for the help!
 
Partition Magic will do the job of merging partitions if
they are "mergible."



| My main hard drive currently has two partitions C: (data)
and D: (xp os &
| programs). I have purchased a second hard drive to use for
data storage, so I
| will not need to have my first hard drive split. I want to
delete the data
| partition (C:) and reallocate the space to the D: (os &
programs), so that my
| main hard drive is just one partition.
|
| What is the best way for me to do this? I don't know all
that much about
| partitioning, but from what I've reseached I can't use the
Disk Management
| tool in XP (because it can't merge space) or
diskpart/extend (because D: is a
| boot partition), correct? I don't own (and don't have the
money to buy) a
| parition software, so is there a free partition utility
software that would
| be good for such a job? Would I be better off just
reinstalling XP?
|
| Thanks for the help!
 
I'm going to try Gparted. It looks like it can handle resizing boot partitions.

Thanks.
 
canaws said:
My main hard drive currently has two partitions C: (data) and D: (xp os &
programs). I have purchased a second hard drive to use for data storage, so I
will not need to have my first hard drive split. I want to delete the data
partition (C:) and reallocate the space to the D: (os & programs), so that my
main hard drive is just one partition.

What is the best way for me to do this? I don't know all that much about
partitioning, but from what I've reseached I can't use the Disk Management
tool in XP (because it can't merge space) or diskpart/extend (because D: is a
boot partition), correct? I don't own (and don't have the money to buy) a
parition software, so is there a free partition utility software that would
be good for such a job? Would I be better off just reinstalling XP?

Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...


There is no way to repartition it using native Windows tools
without deleting the existing partitions, and creating and formating new
partitions, and then reinstalling the OS and applications.

There are, fortunately, quite a few 3rd party products that can
help you repartition the hard drive non-destructively. Two such
products are Symantec's Partition Magic and BootItNG. The latter even
has a free, fully functional 30-day evaluation version available for
downloading from www.bootitng.com. Simply use one of them to delete the
second partition, and then resize the system partition.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
This is helpful. Thanks.

Bruce Chambers said:
There is no way to repartition it using native Windows tools
without deleting the existing partitions, and creating and formating new
partitions, and then reinstalling the OS and applications.

There are, fortunately, quite a few 3rd party products that can
help you repartition the hard drive non-destructively. Two such
products are Symantec's Partition Magic and BootItNG. The latter even
has a free, fully functional 30-day evaluation version available for
downloading from www.bootitng.com. Simply use one of them to delete the
second partition, and then resize the system partition.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
Click to expand...
 
canaws said:
My main hard drive currently has two partitions C: (data) and D: (xp os &
programs). I have purchased a second hard drive to use for data storage, so I
will not need to have my first hard drive split. I want to delete the data
partition (C:) and reallocate the space to the D: (os & programs), so that my
main hard drive is just one partition.

What is the best way for me to do this? I don't know all that much about
partitioning, but from what I've reseached I can't use the Disk Management
tool in XP (because it can't merge space) or diskpart/extend (because D: is a
boot partition), correct? I don't own (and don't have the money to buy) a
parition software, so is there a free partition utility software that would
be good for such a job? Would I be better off just reinstalling XP?

Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...


Be careful! On which partition is the hidden file 'boot.ini' located? If
its C: what you are trying to do could become a major headache because
in that case C: is the active partition and where your comp's bios boots
from.

Disregard MS's recently innovated silly naming convention of calling the
bootstrap partition the system partition and the partition where XP
resides the boot partition as that is back-asswards of preexisting
naming conventions and common sense.

You may want to consider just shrinking C: to an insignificant 500 MG or
so and enlarging D: with the left over space when you obtain
partitioning tools unless you are absolutely sure all bootstrap files
are on D: and its the active partition.

John
 
canaws said:
My main hard drive currently has two partitions C: (data) and D: (xp os &
programs). I have purchased a second hard drive to use for data storage, so I
will not need to have my first hard drive split. I want to delete the data
partition (C:) and reallocate the space to the D: (os & programs), so that my
main hard drive is just one partition.

What is the best way for me to do this? I don't know all that much about
partitioning, but from what I've reseached I can't use the Disk Management
tool in XP (because it can't merge space) or diskpart/extend (because D: is a
boot partition), correct? I don't own (and don't have the money to buy) a
parition software, so is there a free partition utility software that would
be good for such a job? Would I be better off just reinstalling XP?

Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...


Load your 'boot.ini' file into an editor, copy & paste it in its
entirety into a news post here. People can then give you solid advice on
how to accomplish what you want to do.

John
 
canaws said:
My main hard drive currently has two partitions C: (data) and D: (xp os &
programs). I have purchased a second hard drive to use for data storage, so I
will not need to have my first hard drive split. I want to delete the data
partition (C:) and reallocate the space to the D: (os & programs), so that my
main hard drive is just one partition.

What is the best way for me to do this? I don't know all that much about
partitioning, but from what I've reseached I can't use the Disk Management
tool in XP (because it can't merge space) or diskpart/extend (because D: is a
boot partition), correct? I don't own (and don't have the money to buy) a
parition software, so is there a free partition utility software that would
be good for such a job? Would I be better off just reinstalling XP?

Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...


Oh one other thing, is D: a primary partition? Because if its a logical
partition no MS OS can boot from it no matter what you do.

John
 
canaws said:
This is helpful. Thanks.
Click to expand...

You're welcome.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
canaws said:
My main hard drive currently has two partitions C: (data) and D: (xp os &
programs). I have purchased a second hard drive to use for data storage,
so I
will not need to have my first hard drive split. I want to delete the data
partition (C:) and reallocate the space to the D: (os & programs), so that
my
main hard drive is just one partition.

What is the best way for me to do this? I don't know all that much about
partitioning, but from what I've reseached I can't use the Disk Management
tool in XP (because it can't merge space) or diskpart/extend (because D:
is a
boot partition), correct? I don't own (and don't have the money to buy) a
parition software, so is there a free partition utility software that
would
be good for such a job? Would I be better off just reinstalling XP?

Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...

The system files for booting are on C:
Deleting C: will cause problems so you can't boot the PC past the bios
handover to the OS.
You can use a 3rd party partitioning program to do the partition delete and
incorporate the freespace into your current D: partition. Which will become
C:
If the D: partition is a logical drive, the 3rd party partitioning program
will incorporate the space into the extended partition, not the logical
drive. The size of that partition will not change. Another step must
follow for that to occur. Will still not be bootable, must be an active
primary partition. When made so, a repair install is needed to correct the
mbr and place the boot files on that partition.
 
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