Resizing a partition

[LandyMan]

Is it possible to resize a partition without loosing the data on it?

I have a 100Gb in my notebook, two partitions: 70Gb for Windows, and 30Gb for Linux. I need more space, so I had to kill Linux Is it possible to 'merge' that 30Gb into the existing 70Gb (I don't want the additional 30Gb logical drive, rather just one 100Gb)

Thanks

 

[mccrack]

If i recall correctly Partition Magic did the trick for me. What it did is merge the partitions and placed the contents of the 2nd partition in a folder on the 1st partition.

Although both partitions were FAT32 or NTFS.

 

[lucifir]

the best way would be to move the data from the 30GB to someplace else(another drive or the 70GB) and reformat or free the 30GB partition. Partition magic should then be able to add it into the other partition or rather extent the 70GB partition to encompass the free space as well.

 

[Person]

Partition Magic sometimes works other times it does not. Just make sure you back up all your info before trying anything to do with Merging Partitions, as 8-10 times it goes wrong and you lose the info on both partitions.

 

[LandyMan]

Thanks guys, I will have a look at Partition Magic!

 

[mccrack]

Dont forget to cross your fingers

 

[graviti]

Firstly, is there data on the Linux partition. If so, is there space on the 70GB to just store it there for the time being. Because if not, you're going to have to find some way to get that data off the partition. No matter what, Partition magic won't retain the data, when moving from a Linux partition to a Windows partition. Once the data is off of the partition, you can try using Windows Disk Manager to delete the linux partition. This should now leave you with free unused space. If your Windows partition is NTFS and is physically set on the drive before the Linux partition, then you can use Windows DISKPART to extend the volume and it will merely add the free space to your existing NTFS partition. If it is FAT32 it will not work. Then a tool such as Partition Magic or QTParted will do the job.

However, if the Linux partition was created before the Windows PArtition, you may have a problem adding this to the Windows Partition. PM may handle this, but logically, it would be best to backup everything to someone else HD, format and repartition. Merely because you NTFS table will add the 30GB at the end of it's table, but it is physically in a different range, so it increases your read time.

 

[LandyMan]

gravity:
Partition 1 (NTFS 70Gb - Windows partition)
Partition 2 (Unallocated 30Gb - Grub boot loader already removed and parition deleted)
External USB 60Gb - Used to store info that was on Partition 2.

So basically I have primary partition 70Gb, with unallocated 30Gb sitting 'behind' it

You recon diskpart will do the trick?

 

[graviti]

According to Windows it will. As long as the space is allocated after the NTFS partition, and the space is unallocated partition wise, then DISKPART will work. I recall having done this from Windows Disk Manager before. Try it. Suggestion would be backup any data on the 70GB that you cannot afford to lose, just in case. This is MS we're talking about.

 

[web]

partition magic works. Have used it pleny of times with my pc's .

 

[guang]

I have no idea why many people have only one partition on a quite big hard drive, is that any better than having more partitions?

I have used Partition magic many times, it works.

 

[swordfish1]

I have no idea why many people have only one partition on a quite big hard drive, is that any better than having more partitions?

I have used Partition magic many times, it works.

I always have only one partition, this way you don't run out of space on your "data" or "programs" partition and you don't have to mess up the stuff ...

the only reason for having more than one partition is if you format them often ... I don't

 

[guang]

I don't format them often,I just use ghost to restore my windows when it is running very slow.
Because I have well organised partitions, I never mess up my stuff.

 

[freeek]

the linux partition is the problem ... if you don't need that data 30g del the parition and resizing should take a couple of minutes

 

[bdt]

This just in: GNU Parted is now available as a bootable live CD (dl link here)

From TFA:

Need a way to resize NTFS partitions, mirror disk images, or otherwise muck about with disk partitions -- and don't want to use a proprietary package like Partition Magic? If so, the GNOME Partition Editor (GParted) is an excellent open source tool for the task. The GParted team released the GParted live CD version 0.2.4-2 this month, so I decided it was a good time to take GParted for a spin.

GParted handles Ext2, Ext3, FAT16, FAT32, JFS, ReiserFS, Reiser4, NTFS, XFS, and other filesystem formats. At a bare minimum, GParted can detect, read, copy, and create partitions using those file systems -- and, in some cases, can shrink, expand, and move partitions. See the features page on the GParted site for the full rundown on GParted's capabilities.

GParted is actually a front end for GNU Parted, but it's much easier to use GParted's interface than the command line utility.

The GParted live CD bundles GParted, the Fluxbox window manager, and a minimal set of tools to provide a single-purpose Linux distro for working with disk partitions. This is the kind of thing that almost any admin or power user will want to have in his toolbox. You might only use the CD every few months, but it's a good thing to have handy when you need it.

..at this price , it may be worthwhile to try it out before shelling out bUxx0r$ (we DO buy our software, don't we? ) for Partition Magic?
-bdt

 

[kongwane]

yip prtition magic is the tool to use, but be very carful with it, VERY CAREFULL!!!

 

[bdt]

On a less-than-well-thought-out whim I inflicted GParted on my drive, to bring into use some 15gig worth of space I'd been keeping unpartitioned. One quick boot off CD later, I was in the GUI which was trivially easy to get to grips with and I'd zipped the partition up to maximum capacity of the drive.

Then, one worrisome boot into 'doze, and the second that it insisted on immediately afterwards and all's well that ends well! I seem to have come through this unscathed (and maybe more than a little bit lucky) and have no more wasted space sitting there doing nothing!