Partitioning a disk

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csil said:
Can a disk be partitioned after there is data on it?
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A *disk*? Welll - part of the disk can be - in a way.
Think of a disk as just a bunch of unallocated space.

For example - you purchase a 300GB hard disk drive and when you first start
to use it, you take the 279.39GB of unallocated space and you create two
partitions on it (one 40GB C:\ and one 80GB D:\). That leaves you with
159.39GB of space still unallocated - so you can later come back and
'partition' that unallocated space - if you desire.

Now - if you have already partitioned all the space and you cannot delete
the partitions that you created, then things get trickier and into 'special
cases'. If - when you created the partitions - you made them 'dynamic
disks' - you *may* have a few options. I don't recommend this for most
normal users. If you just created them (or they were created for you) -
they are more than likely 'basic' disks and your choices all have to do with
third party tools. Partition Magic comes to mind.
 
Shenan said:
If you just created them (or they were created for you) -
they are more than likely 'basic' disks and your choices all have to do with
third party tools. Partition Magic comes to mind.
Click to expand...

Which would be a bad choice. Partition Magic is well-known for causing
trouble in many cases. Its also rather old and does not support most new
controller hardware.

Better choice would be Acronis Disk Director.
 
Shenan Stanley said:
A *disk*? Welll - part of the disk can be - in a way.
Think of a disk as just a bunch of unallocated space.

For example - you purchase a 300GB hard disk drive and when you first start
to use it, you take the 279.39GB of unallocated space and you create two
partitions on it (one 40GB C:\ and one 80GB D:\). That leaves you with
159.39GB of space still unallocated - so you can later come back and
'partition' that unallocated space - if you desire.

Now - if you have already partitioned all the space and you cannot delete
the partitions that you created, then things get trickier and into 'special
cases'. If - when you created the partitions - you made them 'dynamic
disks' - you *may* have a few options. I don't recommend this for most
normal users. If you just created them (or they were created for you) -
they are more than likely 'basic' disks and your choices all have to do with
third party tools. Partition Magic comes to mind.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way


Thank you your answer was very clear. May I ask another question or should I create a new post?
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