Disk partitions

[cedwards]

I have a new laptop just for editing video. It comes with two physical 500GB hard drives but they are both partitioned into two drives (making 4 drives) I only installed what is needed for editing and installed that on the D drive C and D are on the same physical drive. Now, I have run out of space on C and can't see anything to delete to clear the space.
I am running 64 bit Windows 7 and see the utility to expand and shrink partitions, but can't expand C drive.

Does anybody know how to do this without completely starting over with the OS?

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

Put all viddy stuff from your present C/D hard drive on E and F drive (that is; your second hard drive in the laptop). But before you do that, re-format that drive (2nd hard drive) and dissolve the E/F partition. Use that as storage for vids and then run the editing from C drive.

Or -
a) Run another external hard drive.
b) Both options.

 

[Kevin Franz]

or scrap the whole thing and run RAID if available. it's the best backup available.

 

[cedwards]

I already use the second hard drive (E and F) for all the video. D had editing software and C is for OS. The problem is that C is full and I can't run anything. I would like to shift some of the space from D onto C.

 

[DMMoore]

You need to look at a free/open source package called "gparted". Download the disc image. Burn it to CD. Boot from the CD you just made. Expand and contract your partitions as you need. It works great. I use it regularly (I do computer support as a profession) and have never lost a drive or had a problem (but still make sure you have backups just in case).

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

Then I would get an external hard drive and move all of your file stuff off of C and D - and on to it.

Keep your OS drive uncluttered. Remember; that your OS drive requires adequate freespace for virtual memory and swap files. The more - the better. I don't run a large drive of my OS; I use the fastest, smaller drive for the OS and use a second large drive for storage. Keeps it running quick as a bunny for running programs at max efficiency. Just keep file storage off of C and it should be fine.

IF - for whatever reason you lose you OS; you don't lose your files.
Hope that helps.

 

[James Langford]

Windows 7? If so, you should be able to:

Type "Computer Management" in the Windows 7 search box
Select "Disk Management" under "Storage"
Select the "D" drive under Disk 0 and choose to "Shrink Volume". Choose how much space you want to take away from d: and click "Shrink"
Once it's done, select the "C" drive under Disk 0 and choose "Extend Volume". Enter the amount of space you took away from D: and click "Extend"

Hope that helps!

James

 

[cedwards]

James, I have tried that, but I still can't expand C. the expand section is greyed out.

 

[cedwards]

Thanks, DMMoore. gparted worked for me!

 

[James Langford]

Glad you got it working!

 

[Mark Blue]

Nothing beats a free program that works good and gets the job done. In fact, Maximum PC (a magazine I subscribe to) recommends gparted as a must have program for partition operations. I haven't resized any partitions lately, but at one time I used an Acronis program to do the dirty deed. Just in case someone needs an alternative program recommendation for disk operations in the future, here is a link to Acronis Disk Director. I bought the program a couple of versions ago and it worked like a charm for me. Glad to hear it resolved your issue Charles.

 

[DMMoore]

Gparted isn't as pollished as some of the commercial applications, but it gets the job done and it does it right. I also have and use Disk Director, and if someone wants a paid application with professional support, its a great product. I use them both. Just like a mechanic who has more than one screwdriver, it never hurts for a computer geek to have more than one tool to do the same job

 

[Ben Holcomb]

or scrap the whole thing and run RAID if available. it's the best backup available.

I really hope this was sarcastic. RAID is not backup.