Disk Management

Partition Merge Question…

Hi Gents:

Today I’m working on a Disk Management issue that I have with this P-4 Studio Machine…


I fear I may have to re-build the Hard Drive that I’m using that I boot into the XP-Operating System/Desk…
I partitioned the Hard Drive accidentally when I prepared the drive to install the XP Operating System…
One partition …
the ( 7 gig. partition) has the operating system formatted as a FAT 32 partition…
and…
the NTFS Partition…
I would like to Merge as One Partition…
[EDIT] with the FAT-32 XP Boot Partition as one FAT-32 partition…


I don’t know how to do it…
If I attempt the MERGE without the basic know-how, I’m frightened I may have to rebuild the Hard Drive/Boot Partition from “Square-One”.


Here’s a print screen of the Merge I’d like to attempt…




I’d like to save the XP Build
I have going If that’s possible…



Is there a way to do that…
????
without causing me grief-and-heartache…
??






Bill…

This is an easy fix with Partition Magic but I don’t think you can do it with straight XP tools.

Quote:

I don't think you can do it with straight XP tools.


Well... you could but you'd hose your data! :p

Partition Magic is a worthwhile investment IMO!

D

give Partition magic a shot. this is from the manual

The Format operation formats a partition, destroying all its data in the process. Formatting
enables you to put a different file system on a partition.
PartitionMagic has several conversion options that let you convert from one file system to
another without destroying existing files in a partition. See “Converting Partitions” on
page 69.
Converting Partitions
This chapter includes the following information:
• Procedure for Converting Partitions
• Converting FAT Partitions to FAT32
• Converting FAT Partitions to NTFS
• Converting FAT32 Partitions to FAT
• Converting FAT32 Partitions to NTFS
• Converting FAT/FAT32 Partitions to 4K Aligned
• Converting NTFS Partitions to FAT or FAT32
• Converting Partitions to Logical or Primary

Thanks bax3:

I have Partition Magic…
and…
I proceeded to merge the partitions… using Partition Magic…




I merged the two partitions with Partition Magic…
However, Partition Magic becomes proprietary after using the utility… Unless Partition Magic is used.
No other commands to the Hard drive (in the future) can be preformed after the use of Partition Magic…
The drive is formatted as a FAT-32 Drive…
with XP Home as the Operating System…
Quite uncommon…
The reason being…
This allows the '98SE Operating System to recognize the drive and share folders-and-files, and all…



As soon as the Merge and Re-boot took place the drive wouldn’t boot up…
A DOS Screen appeared looking for two corrupt-or-missing files and folders…



Windows Root\system32\hal.dll

and
system32\Drivers\pci.sys…

I tried to replace the files but that didn’t work… The files need to be installed as part of a cab installation…
I believe…
I just don’t know…
It didn’t work…



It is a very depressing resolve to the issue…
It’s like trying to fix a .wav file with a brick…





The LONG-and-Short of it…



I had to create another MBR
containing another Windows/windows boot system…
and to re-install XP Home on the drive…
It’s exactly what I didn’t want to happen…
It meant going to Microsoft update and loading all Microsoft’s security/update files to bring It up to “Current”…
all over again…
Those files aren’t made to be Cross-referenced…
The drive is bloated with MS Files…


The drive should be re-formatted again…
for the forth-or-fifth time…
and rebuilt again…


The boot structure is still looking for these files…
BUT…
I discovered a workaround to get the drive to boot…



This is a tough comment…
However I’m gonna say it…
Partition Magic has become a Trojan/Virus/Malware on this drive…
If it’s not…
It’s just one cup of coffee away from it…



It’s just a Mess… Getting Messier


The Bluenose Analogy…
It’s the Microsoft Way…








Bill…

WOX -
you broke the ‘golden rule’ :cool:
'Thou shalt not do anything major without ghosting first’
Learn ghost - use it.
you should (have) ghost(ed) those partitions.
Then try the PM stuff.
Never try radical ‘disk management’ without ghosting first.
Never add any major program - without ghosting first.
I don’t care if your disk has googles of giga bytes on it,
you need to get a large capacity USB 2 disk and keep copies
of partitions that work.
For example - if you have to start over with XP, then
make a ghost after you have all your system hardware is working
correctly. Always keep that one. Saves hours of trying to find
all your different drivers.
Then start adding programs - make sure they function as intended.
Then ghost again.
Eventially you will have a system partition with most everything you
want that can be restored in 30 min. (that’s for a 40 gig partition)
Do it for the children. :love:

Egads! I LOVE Acronis TrueImage. It’s a proggie similar to Norton’s Ghost. I have a bootable CD I can pop in and boot from and backup or restore complete hard disk images to/from an external USB2.0 hard disk. I swear it’s the best thing since indoor plumbing! Let’s say you accidentally download a program to try and it has a nasty virus attached that hoses your system. It won’t boot. You just see the infamous “I’m as dumb as a frickin’ STUMP screen” because the MBR is FUBAR. “Big freakin’ deal!” sez Mr. Acronis and I! Pop in the ol’ boot CD, pick a recent image off the USB drive… have a nice cold Pepsi and BINGO! Right back to where you started from.

Seriously Bill… Acronis TrueImage and/or Norton Ghost has saved my A$$ on more than one occasion… both DAW’ing and at the salt mine… listen to 7o’11 up there… ^^^

D

I Hear You Guys:

I’ve read these stories for several years up here on this Board…
I have to get into a Program… follow this advise and get with the Program…
I always thought it happened to someone else…
Every time I got hit with a Trojan/Virus I’d learn and not get Hit Again…
On-and-Off I’ve spent most of the summer rebuilding operating systems…



How can I work on Projects and Tracks if I’m building Boot Drives
????



I have to get myself outside and get away for this Rock Pile…

More on this later…
I think I’m abusing my mental progress…
Big Time…









Bill…