I need you to be a little more precise. First, what is a "system save"?
Second, I assume by additional "drive", you really mean "partition", which
has been assigned the next drive letter assignment (e.g., D
.
Adding a partition is not the kind of thing that just "happens", or can be
done surreptitiously, not easily anyway. It typically requires someone
using partitioning software to resize your current partition(s), to make
room for it, assuming the current partition(s) consume all your HD. Then
defining, formatting, and finally initializing the new partition. Again,
not something that just happens.
So before making any rash decisions about how to proceed, I want to be sure
that you REALLY DO have the installation of a new partition on the laptop,
and more importantly, WHY! Is this *your* laptop, or shared by others? How
could (and why would) someone have done this? I just want to be sure this
isn't some "virtual" drive, e.g., a USB pen drive or other removeable
device, which would make any suggestions about repartitoning (to regain the
lost space) pointless.
If someone, somehow really repartitioned your HD, and you know for certain
it's OK to remove it, you can use a variety of tools. I use Bootit NG
myself (
http://www.bootitng.com). You simply download it, create the
floppy, boot the floppy, and when prompted to install, hit Cancel. You'll
be taken to the manin menu interface, where you can select the Partition
Manager. Once there, it's a simple matter to select and delete the
offending partition, then resize the remaining partition(s) you wish to save
to regain the HD space. Not really all that complicated once you've done
it, and it's free (for these purposes). There are commercial options (e.g.,
Partition Magic), but why pay $50 or more to correct this simple problem,
but that's your decision.
BUT, BUT, BUT, be sure this is really what you want. Once a partition is
deleted, it's gone forever! All data is lost on that partition, so back it
up (use the imaging feature if unsure) to play it safe. And naturally, be
sure which partition is expendable, you don't want to accidentally delete
the OS partition. And if this is a Dell, Gateway, etc., laptop, make sure
the offending partition is NOT your OEM copy of the OS (e.g., XP). Many OEM
versions of the OS are stored as an image copy on a hidden partition. When
you use the supplied recovery CD, it simply deletes the old OS partition,
then restores the image copy (stored in the other partition) to rebuild it,
so basically your back to your original configuration, as shipped. It's a
somewhat crude solution, but it works, and is quite common. So you don't
want to make the mistake of deleting this partition, it's your only option
to recovering the OS should the need arise!
HTH
Jim
