Partitioning hard drive

[annieinspain]

My computer is partitioned - my C drive has only 2% free space left and is thus causing problems. I want to merge the C drive with the D drive which has 86% free space. Can anyone tell me how to do this please?

[Ethel]

Before you even started you would need to back up your hard drive, just in case. It's not an easy thing.

http://tinyurl.com/ysnxtr


It would be easier to move your music, photos and documents to D, freeing up space on your C drive?

[annieinspain]

The C drive comprises 3.51 GB Documents and Settings and 2.21 GB Program Files. So shall I move Documents and Settings to D Drive?

[Paulst30]

Theres a program called Partition magic that will merge existing partitions to create one partition.

It will cost you i think but not much, its worth doing it.

Alternatively do what Ethel said and back up your data on CD.

[Paulst30]

Yeah moving the files from the C drive helps a lot. All Mp3, AVi, JPG and other types of files can be safely moved to the D drive.

Always think that Windows runs from the C drive and other data stays on the D drive. That way you wont confuse things later. Also, programs dont need to be installed on the C drive to run, they can be run from the D drive in a Program files folder too. When you instal a program when it comes up saying target location i.e

C:\Program files\NortonInternetsecurity

Just change the C to a D and the instal will create the directory for you.

[annieinspain]

Ethel and Paul
Thank you both for your very helpful replies.

[Llamatron]

You might want to try a program like CCleaner as well.
It'll clean up your internet cache and get rid of a lot temporary files.

You'll not be able to move Documents and Settings quite that easily. It's a system folder and XP wont let you.
You can move My Documents however which also lives in there. Just right click on the My Documents icon on the desktop and pick properties. You'll be able to pick a new location from here.

[Bigeye74]

I use 3 partitions C - operating system, D - Programs and E - data.
Don't move documents and settings, just the individual files within it. Delete all that you don't want. Anything really important (photos etc) back up to dvd.

[annieinspain]

Thanks! Well, I've moved all my documents but it's made little difference to the free space on the C drive. Am tempted to go down your route, bigeye. Makes sense. My progs take up a huge amount of space, evidently.....

[Bigeye74]

annie, have a look at 'partition magic' as suggested by paulst30. I think it can create partitions in already partitioned space. I'm pretty sure windows can't do it for you though.

[abranei]

Partition Magic will allow you to re-partition your drive with existing data.

Out of Interest Windows Vista will allow you do this out of the box. 1 plus point for Vista

[Bigeye74]

and 1 minus point in Bigeye74's windows knowledge

[annieinspain]

Thanks both! I'm looking at Partition Magic!

[abranei]

Bigeye your right Windows XP Cant but Vista Can