Resize 32-bit XP partition from 64-bit Vista

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zack Barresse
  • Start date Start date
Z

Zack Barresse

I have a partition on my laptop with Vista 64-bit as my main OS. The second
partition is an XP build (32-bit). I want to resize the XP partition but
the built in Vista disk management controls keep bringing back an error.
I'm thinking about reformatting and putting on a 32-bit Vista. Any pointers
or know how I can resize w/o formatting? Any help would be appreciated.
 
GPart partition manager can do this for you. Recently I used Partition
Manager and Acronis Disk Suite managers because I had access to these discs.

The pucker factor can be high. Especially when you first boot-up after
resizing. All my Windows OS's came back with a "found new hardware"
message. But all was well ...

Link Blue


Zack Barresse said:
Anybody out there......
Click to expand...
 
Thank you for responding!

I couldn't get Acronis to work, tried that. Couldn't get the Gpart to get
working either (maybe it's just me).

Problem with this is the XP partition is my main boot partition. So I can't
delete it (well, I could, but I'd have to run the Vista startup recovery
tool) without giving my laptop nothing to recognize/boot to.

Would a complete format be better here I'm wondering?? I'm leaning that
way. It was a dumb idea to do the 64 bit anyway. I more or less just wanted
to try it. Re-tard-ed. :)

--
Zack Barresse



NetLink_Blue said:
GPart partition manager can do this for you. Recently I used Partition
Manager and Acronis Disk Suite managers because I had access to these
discs.

The pucker factor can be high. Especially when you first boot-up after
resizing. All my Windows OS's came back with a "found new hardware"
message. But all was well ...

Link Blue
Click to expand...
 
Hi, thanks for responding!

I did the boot to XP, but don't have partition magic. I did try acronis
disk manager though, with no success. What's your take on complete
formatting?
 
Zack Barresse said:
Thank you for responding!

I couldn't get Acronis to work, tried that. Couldn't get the Gpart to get
working either (maybe it's just me).
Click to expand...

My mind is boggled.
Problem with this is the XP partition is my main boot partition. So I
can't delete it (well, I could, but I'd have to run the Vista startup
recovery tool) without giving my laptop nothing to recognize/boot to.
Click to expand...

To resize partitions, nothing needs to get deleted. Very mysterious.
Would a complete format be better here I'm wondering?? I'm leaning that
way. It was a dumb idea to do the 64 bit anyway. I more or less just
wanted to try it. Re-tard-ed. :)
Click to expand...

Starting with a clean slate ( complete format) is always in style over here.
Why hasn't 64-bit worked out for you?

net


 
I had forgotten that when dual-booting Vista and WinXP, everything gets
processed by Vista first. No matter what partition the OS's are installed
into.

There are probably web pages that explain how to untangle this mess. Vista
really is a royale pain-in-the-ASS sometimes. Please don't get me started
on "Taking Control" of files and permissions. What a freakin' hairball.

( Today I finally disabled the moronic, insane UAC feature - "User Account
Control". Sometimes I like to create small text files with info about my
program installs. Idiotic Vista would not allow my to do this in <Program
Files> folders and even C:\<root>.)

NetLink (red) Blue ... sheesh
 
Well, the 64-bit has worked out actually. It was the very dumb idea of me
putting a 32-bit partition on the same hdd. Which I do not use now so I
wanted to get rid of... and my problem pops up. I'll probably just format
and put the 64-bit back on the entire hdd.
 
Thanks very much chinga. That is good information to know. I might try
that, as my option right now was to format the entire hdd. Learn something
new each day. Thanks!
 
Zack Barresse said:
Well, the 64-bit has worked out actually. It was the very dumb idea of me
putting a 32-bit partition on the same hdd. Which I do not use now so I
wanted to get rid of... and my problem pops up. I'll probably just format
and put the 64-bit back on the entire hdd.
Click to expand...


It may be that a 64-bit Windows OS sets up it's partition ( ID, info and
tables) differently from a 32-bit OS. This is new territory for me.

You could try to delete the WinXP partition and turn it into unallocated
space. Then maybe you could resize / expand the 64-bit side.

Or, like you mentioned, just start over with a clean slate.

I dual-boot Vista and WinXP ( both 32-bit OS's) at the moment. I had
thought of trying to add WinXP 64-bit to the mix, but am afraid of FUBAR'ing
the whole works.

Net-L
 
I tried that. Once I deleted the 32-bit XP and restarted I received the
boot error. Had to run the vista repair tool to boot up again. I was
*assuming* it was in lieu of the XP being the primary boot drive.
 
I deleted the XP partition, but had to run the vista cd and repair to get
the machine to boot normal. So found that out the hard way. <g>

Never done a dual boot before.. Thing is, I don't even want the XP partition
on the machine anymore. I've already transferred all of my data out of that
partition and was *hoping* for the space for my vista os.
 
Ah ha -- seems like I read somewhere that Vista always places some important
boot files on the first (primary?) partition. No matter what Hilary Clinton
says.

You've had quite the partition adventure. With all of Vista's problems and
compatibilities, I hope you can survive the even more narrow world of
64-bit. Again, I have read that 32-bit software emulation just slows any
64-bit advantage gained.

we live in exciting times,
net
 
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