resize existing HDD partitions

Spinal2k2

Spinal2k2

Spinal2k2

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What is the best software to use to resize existing partitions without loosing data.

My drive is currently split into 3 partitions Win 7 250gb, Win XP 250gb, and 500gb which is my files etc.

I want to change the win XP partition from 250gb to 50gb and put the leftover 200gb onto one of the other partitions.

Is it possible to do this with out loosing any data.
 
It's a dodgy procedure, I'd always take a full backup before attempting it.


What I'd use after taking a backup is Gparted, if you download Parted Magic and burn that ISO to a cd and boot from that, it will have Gparted on there. Along with a ton of other handy tools. (including the ghosting software)
 
I agree with bledd. You will need to leave Gparted alone for several hours while it works its magic.
 
MiniTool Partition Wizard is also free and has a Windows GUI, used it myself a good few times for home use. I'd echo above, backup everything important before resizing/moving partitions. Also, on first boot after resizing, if Windows want's to do a check disk scan, let it finish
 
Always used easeus partition master myself, it's free, works well and I've yet to have it cause any data loss.
 
No real help I know. But I am always surprised how easy Macs are to adjust partitions on the fly at work. All out of the box!
 
It will take ages to do that due to the data having to be moved around on the drive

It is easy and fast to resize a partition when you aint got much data on it
when its full of stuff it takes an eternity
 
obviously no sane person would risk resizing partitions without a backup. but then if you have a backup, why resize? just delete, re-create and copy back the files. it's so much quicker.

edit: i suppose it's worth nothing that it's not necessarily that easy when dealing with bootable OS partitions. that can be a bit more tricky. :p
 
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Download Acronis Disk Director. That uttility resizes partitions on the fly. I have a 4TB GPT drive divided into 4 partitions and although I had them sizes as they were originally on a 1TB drive the uttility resized and repartitioned the drives to 0.5TB partitions and one 0.75TB partition. I did this without losing a single file. I wasn't really worried if I did because I still had the 1TB drive with all the data on it.
But to not backup data on a drive in the first place is a bit silly. Backup your important data to DVD before doing this as I do not know your system, the uttility will inform you to do this anyway. My GPT partitions are obviously Virtual drives because windows prefers MBR. 4TB is outside the 2.2TB MBR range.
 
I repartition and resize via the disk partition tool on windows :') How many times have i risked it i wonder. I didn't know about all these tools anyhow
 
GrimsbyLAD said:
I repartition and resize via the disk partition tool on windows :') How many times have i risked it i wonder. I didn't know about all these tools anyhow
Click to expand...

There's certain actions Windows won't let you do in terms of partition sizes and relocating partitions.
 
Years ago I used PartitionMagic which even merged partitions, but that was when we were using Fat32 and Fat32X as well. Disc access and the type of disk handlers have changed over the years. Even under this we are still restricted by the Operating system.
The Bios has even been extended recently to take over operating system integration. EFI Allows installation of Operating systems like Windows to be installed on GPT partitions. You will find that Windows 7 or higher will do this. Windows Vista can handle GPT but it has a problem when handling things like TRIM for SSD's. Quite why there is this exclusivity with TRIM with Windows 7 and above eludes me, I would have thought that a simple service pack would solve the issue. Both Vista and 7 use the same Kernel exceptions and Addressing method.
Anyway, getting back to the issue either way you do it make sure you back up your data and work from there.
 
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