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Help with partitioning hard drive.

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HTF
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hi.

i just built a computer, and noticed that for some reason i have 127gb partition(have a 500gb hdd) and found that the rest is unpartitioned. and i read that it was good to have 2 partitions, one for os, and the other for everything else.

now, i was just gonna go ahead and partition the other space and use that. but i already have, games, data, ect. on 127gb partition. is there a way to transfer data from one partition to another?

also how exactly does having 2 partitions work? not too familar with it. so any info, help, advice. would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

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Profile: addict
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1. Make sure you have the latest bios for your board, and latest service pack for your OS (SP2 for both XP Pro and XP Home)
2. Right click on My Computer, Manage. Click on Disk Management
3. You should see your hard disk's partition there. Set it according to your needs (right click on the empty partition, then Create, Format etc...)

If it's not possible, try here: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/ind [...] ag=hdd_lim


Message edited by aBg_rOnGak on 12-04-2007 at 12:23:18 AM

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If you have 2 partitions, all you have to do is copy the data from one partition to the other. You can't copy and paste programs that are installed. Don't know the how it's accomplished but basically a partition is like another drive, it's really dividing the drive up. If your keep your OS/programs on the C drive and your data is on the 2nd partition and have to do a clean install of Windows, i.e., format before the installation, it will only wipe out the data on the C drive, won't affect the data on the 2nd partition. This is why I always partition. Partition Magic is a great program for partitioning because you can do it while in Windows and the only times I ran into problem was one time when there was a power outage while it was partitioning and couple times I got stupid. It's easy to resize partitions as well as create new one. There are free programs out but I'm not familiar with them. Partition Magic is one of my must have programs. Can't remember if you just format the unused area it will create a new partition and not affect the area the OS/programs are installed on. You could back up your data and see what happens. I know Partition Magic can create a 2nd partition when it formats the space and not affect your C drive

HTF
Profile: newbie
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so, i should copy like my saved games and documents, ect to the other partition then just uninstall all the programs, games, ect. on the smaller partition, then format the other one, then reinstall all that stuff on the larger one.

Profile: Eternal Poster
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HTF wrote :

so, i should copy like my saved games and documents, ect to the other partition then just uninstall all the programs, games, ect. on the smaller partition, then format the other one, then reinstall all that stuff on the larger one.



Not sure I understand the question. If you currently have 2 partitions you can copy your data, docs and games if they're data files not associated with a program, to the second partition and then format the OS/programs partition and reinstall Windows and the programs and run them off the first partition keeping your data on the second. If all you wan to do is back up your data, i.e., there is no reason to reinstall Windows, then just copy the data to the 2nd partition. I don't game so I don't know how saved games work. Some data is linked to a program and if you move the data, e.g., saved games, the program can't find them. In some cases one of the options is to tell the program where to look for the data. Most data isn't linked to a program, e.g., .doc, mp3, but again I don't know about saved games. Someone else will have to answer the game question. You could check the game and see if there's an option to find the game file you want. If there is, then moving the saved games shouldn't be a problem, just have the game search the folder they're in on the 2nd partition

Call me Ishmael.
Profile: nimble knuckle
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HTF wrote :

so, i should copy like my saved games and documents, ect to the other partition then just uninstall all the programs, games, ect. on the smaller partition, then format the other one, then reinstall all that stuff on the larger one.



You probably don't have two partitions. You have one. When I have two partitions on my drive they showed up as C and D when I went to my computer. If you do not see two separate drive letters you probably only have one partition. What operating system are you running. If it is XP do you have the latest service pack down loaded.

Check out these links.


http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] l-capacity

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=201


Message edited by caamsa on 12-04-2007 at 02:06:58 AM

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HTF
Profile: newbie
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i have 1 partitioned space. and on unpartitioned space.

HTF
Profile: newbie
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i have 1 partitioned space. and on unpartitioned space. i have windows xp sp2. and i have the latest bios on my board aswell.

Profile: Eternal Poster
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HTF wrote :

i have 1 partitioned space. and on unpartitioned space. i have windows xp sp2. and i have the latest bios on my board aswell.



If that is a separate unformatted partition, you should be able to format it and not affect the C drive, although I'd back the data up just in case


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