My TR3Ap2 has its drive partitoned as C; and D:. I have always found this wasteful (they do it on our corporate Dells) but my attempt to use a partitioning program on my Dell once wiped out all my stuff.
Is there a way on the Vaio to combine the drive back into one c: drive without reformatting/repartitioning from a dos level? If there is automated software to do this, can someone recommend a trustwortht package.
I think PM will do the trick for you, but why do you want to do this? It’s a great idea to separate your software from your data. If you need to re-install Windows & other programs, your data files will be unmolested - even if you have to reformat C:. Also, it makes it easier to back your data up (back up everthing on D:
I suggest you consider leaving both partitions. If you won’t be adding a lot of programs, you can reduce the size of the C: partition. Then just fagedaboutit.
[quote author=“deichenlaub”]I think PM will do the trick for you, but why do you want to do this? It’s a great idea to separate your software from your data. If you need to re-install Windows & other programs, your data files will be unmolested - even if you have to reformat C:. Also, it makes it easier to back your data up (back up everthing on D:
I suggest you consider leaving both partitions. If you won’t be adding a lot of programs, you can reduce the size of the C: partition. Then just fagedaboutit.
Yup. I agree completely. Anyway, I have done this type of merging before and it worked.
But you should stick with what you already have.
For example, change the path of your “My Documents” folder to D:. Then save all you pictures, documents, music, movies and everything else you create in this folder. This way you will proctect your personal files in case you need to restore you System partition (C) that, make no mistake, WILL need to be restored eventually.
That’s also how my hdisk is setup. 1 disk 2 partitions and all my files are located at the second partition so if the OS crashes and needs to be reformatted i don’t have to worry about my data files but just be careful if you do reformat/resetup the “C” drive since there will be an option if you would like to delete the partition and make sure you have “C” as the one that you want to delete not “D” since this is the partition where your files are located.
Put in another vote for the 2 partition system. I actually have more than 2, but I feel you need at least 2.
I don’t think you should keep your data on the same system as your operating system.
Keeping your data on a separate partition cushions your data from bad things that can happen. If you do need to restore your C: drive, you don’t have to worry about backing up your data first. If a virus zaps your OS drive, it’s less likely to mess with other drives.
Your OS drive is the one that has the most access and activity. If that drive gets corrupted somehow you are much less likely to lose your data.
In any case you should always have your data backed up OFF our computer because you could have a hardware failure or loss of the computer.
You should make your C: drive as small as you can get away with (mine is 10GB with 4GB free) and still have all your applications installed and leave room for swap space/additional programs. This will leave you more room on your other partititions, reducing the waste you are concerned about.
[quote author=“rjlilko”]As far as I can see, Partition Magic won’t work. You cannot merge a partition that has an operating system on it, at least thats what the manual says.
Has anyone done a partition merge of C: and D: ?
you’re right. it doesn’t work… (no, i didn’t read the manual). like you THINK… it merges the second partition into a ‘dir’ in the first partition… pretty damned useless as you can easily mount the second partition as a file directory by using xp’s disk management
You can use the restore disk to merge the two partitions but it will wipe out the first one and do a full restore.
I am in favor of a one partition system. I know the advantages and disadvantages, I just like one better. When I do a full restore I just backup the files I need.
Did it as soon as i bought the thing…
PM worked flawlessly
It’s a pain in the neck having two partitions… Until the day when you wanna re-install. Then there are many ways of dealing with that.
[quote author=“AndyMac”]Put in another vote for the 2 partition system. I actually have more than 2, but I feel you need at least 2.
I don’t think you should keep your data on the same system as your operating system.
Keeping your data on a separate partition cushions your data from bad things that can happen. If you do need to restore your C: drive, you don’t have to worry about backing up your data first. If a virus zaps your OS drive, it’s less likely to mess with other drives.
Your OS drive is the one that has the most access and activity. If that drive gets corrupted somehow you are much less likely to lose your data.
In any case you should always have your data backed up OFF our computer because you could have a hardware failure or loss of the computer.
You should make your C: drive as small as you can get away with (mine is 10GB with 4GB free) and still have all your applications installed and leave room for swap space/additional programs. This will leave you more room on your other partititions, reducing the waste you are concerned about.
How do you tell your documents and settings folder to live on the D drive? I want to have the OS and all my programs on the C drive like you said, and all my data and media on the other. Also, how to I shift the partition amounts so that I can maximize D drive space?
exactly the opposite I was doing for the past 2 days.. but I think the best bet is you backup your files first before you do some partitioning.. pain in the neck if you had just one mistake.. good luck..
[quote author=“Ty”]How do you tell your documents and settings folder to live on the D drive? I want to have the OS and all my programs on the C drive like you said, and all my data and media on the other. Also, how to I shift the partition amounts so that I can maximize D drive space?
Right click on ‘my documents’ in explorer and select properties. Then there’s a tab where you can re-point the my documents folder to wherever you like.
Once you’ve got stuff on your drives, the easiest program I’ve seen is partition magic.
Many of the reasons most people list for having two partiions are the following:
1) Easier to reinstall OS
2) Virus will affect OS but not files
3) Easier to backup
4) Good Housekeeping
The reality of it is that none of these things are true; it just makes people feel better (and you can’t put a price tag on that), so it really comes down to personal preferences.
If you go to re-install and/or upgrade your OS, who doesn’t back up their files anyways? Regardless of how many partiitons you have. Viruses have the capacity to deliver their payload on any file partition that Windows can see. As far as good Housekeeping, just keep all of your documents in “My Documents” and that’s essentially the same thing as having a second partiiton.
Remeber folks, there is a reason why they are called “logical” partitions. At the end of the day, you have one hard drive.
[quote author=“gotolam”]Many of the reasons most people list for having two partiions are the following:
1) Easier to reinstall OS
2) Virus will affect OS but not files
3) Easier to backup
4) Good Housekeeping
The reality of it is that none of these things are true; it just makes people feel better (and you can’t put a price tag on that), so it really comes down to personal preferences.
If you go to re-install and/or upgrade your OS, who doesn’t back up their files anyways? Regardless of how many partiitons you have. Viruses have the capacity to deliver their payload on any file partition that Windows can see. As far as good Housekeeping, just keep all of your documents in “My Documents” and that’s essentially the same thing as having a second partiiton.
Remeber folks, there is a reason why they are called “logical” partitions. At the end of the day, you have one hard drive.
Hi gotolam.. not to argue or anything but just correcting or rather commenting.. you can still have infected files on the 2nd partition if you have a real bad case virus infection.. it depends on what virus you choose.. or it chose you to be it’s host.. hehe.. and putting stuff on my documents for safe keeping is not a good idea if you are the type of guy who always formats or recover to factory every 6 months or lets say 1yr and it’s totally far more different from partitioning, cuz it resides on a single partition.. during those time you’ll accumulate huge chunk of files.. trust me, since you got a “Sony Vaio” you’ll keep on loading stuff on it..
you can still have infected files on the 2nd partition if you have a real bad case virus infection.. it depends on what virus you choose.
Isn’t that what i just said? I’m not for or against parititioning, i was just saying it’s a matter of personal preference.
And i am the kind of guy that reformats evey couple months….it makes me feel like i have a new computer all over again… When i do, i just plug in an external drive, copy the My Documents folder (and a few other things like PST files) and then reformat away. After i’m done, i just load back all the files to My Documents.
My point was that the second partiiton is no different than using a particular folder that you store everything in.
