disk management prob, unable to shrink C: any smaller than 305GB Vista Bugs and Problems Discuss disk management prob, unable to shrink C: any smaller than 305GB in the Windows Vista forums; new to this forum and pleased to have found it, many thanks in advance. I've searched the previous posts but am unable to find anything about this issue - apologies ...

[robwebb]

new to this forum and pleased to have found it, many thanks in advance. I've searched the previous posts but am unable to find anything about this issue - apologies if I've missed it

I have one hard disk (500GB) upon which is 4 partitions. The OS is on C: which is 305.26GB, way too large. I tried to shrink C: to make room for another partition but I get the messgae that the available shrink space = 0.

the size of the 4 partitions I have are:, 47MB, 10GB, 305.26GB and 150.45GB

I doubt that the vista OS requires so much disk space (305GB) but maybe it takes it, if it's available to it, Y/N?

[Snuffy]

to start with did you DEFRAG and compress all the files on C: so that it can ise less space. You will need a GOOD 3d party defrag that shows where the files are located... Vista Defrag suks (imho) on that part...
have you tried to expand any other partitions?

[felix8406]

See if this link can help you out: http://www.vistababble.com/forums/vi...hlight=dazzlin

[robwebb]

thanks, snuffy. I didn't defrag or compress any files on C:, the computer in question is new and my aim was to set up the partitions before I started using it. The OS on C:/ is taking up 61 GB of the 305 GB on the partition and that's what I want to shrink

RE expanding other partitions: Initialy, as deleivered from Dell, my C: drive was 455GB which I sucessfully shrunk to 305GB.

So Vista defrag suks huh - I'm reluctant to use 3rd party defrag - i guess I'll have to use the OS's partition for day-to-day use. I understood that was to be avoided, have i got that wrong?

cheers

[robwebb]

thanks felix, I checked out that link - Question. the graphic in the first post by Midway shows 3 disks, i.e., Disk 0, Disk 1 and Disk 2. does that mean there are 3 hard disks in that computer or, are there 3 partitions on the one disk, i.e. Vista (C, Backup (F and READTBOOST (G?

thanks for your time and cheers from New Zealand

[crabby]

I was under the impression that you can't alter the data table for the primary/boot partition?

I realise this isn't helpful, but it's for my own information.

crabby

[felix8406]

Originally Posted by robwebb

Question. the graphic in the first post by Midway shows 3 disks, i.e., Disk 0, Disk 1 and Disk 2. does that mean there are 3 hard disks in that computer or, are there 3 partitions on the one disk, i.e. Vista (C, Backup (F and READTBOOST (G?

There are three disks; two internal hard drives and one removable, which it's basically a USB drive. I have not seen the PC of course, but here's why I say there are three drives...Disk 2 is obvious as it's being use as Readyboost. Disk 0 and Disk 1 are shown one above the other, or Disk 0 on one row and Disk 1 on a second row. When a single drive on a PC has been divied into two or more partitions, all partitions are shown on a single row.

Concerning Crabby’s question: I was under the impression that you can't alter the data table for the primary/boot partition?

By altering, do you mean shrinking it or partitioning it? I have not used Vista’s Disk Management to partition a hard drive, but I would think that one should be able to partition the primary disk, as long as there’s a minimum size left after partitioned it.


As far as partitioning a 500GB HD, it should be done for many reasons, but the primary reason is to maintain the data apart from the OS. To answer Robwebb question: I doubt that the vista OS requires so much disk space (305GB) but maybe it takes it, if it's available to it, Y/N? The answer would be ‘no’. Vista only needs a fraction of that space. As for the size of the ‘C’ drive, it’ll depend on the amount and type of programs being installed, e.g. a program like CAD and even some PC games would require a lot of room, but many programs may not need much room at all.

If I had a 500GB in my PC, I would partition it like this: 75GB for C; 150GB for D; 150GB for E; and 125GB for F. C would be the OS and programs; D would be where all the data will be safe, including where Documents will be pointed to; E would be for my music files; and F would be for those files or programs that I rarely use, but I’d like to keep just in case, e.g. DOS files. Please note that I wouldn’t set a partition for backup purposes, this would not be a good advice because the whole drive could fail, rendering a backup useless.

[robwebb]

again, many thanks, felix, I really appreciate you taking the time. How you described what YOU would do with 500GB is pretty much what I'm trying to do, i.e., alter the size of one partition (shrink it), i.e. shrink C: from 305GB to 75GB , to make room for new partition(s) for my music files and photoshop documents. - which I cannot do because I get the mesage that the amount of available shrink space on C: is zero but i also get the message that my OS on C: is only taking up 60GB, I seem to have no way of accessing the unused 245GB other than to mix PSD's MP3's etc with the OS and I'm reluctant to do that

I've used Partition Magic before with WINXP but the vista help files tell me I need to shrink existing partitions order to create new partitions with this OS

I'm missing something here, any clues as to what? would YOU use partition magic with Vista?

[felix8406]

Yes I have used partition magic 8.0 with Vista, including beta, RTM and on more than one occasions with the final version, without any issues. Of course, I cannot guarantee that you won't run into any issues. Just take it one step at a time, e.g. shrink ‘C’ and create new partition on the empty space. When that’s done, then continue creating other partitions as needed.

It will also help if you run the installation of Partition Magic under Win XP SP2 compatibility. Simple right-click the Partition Magic file > Select Properties > Go to Compatibility tab > Make the selection.

[robwebb]

and again, many thanks. I would like to take your advice and do one step at a time as you suggest, but step 1, i.e., shrink 'C' , is at the core of my issue as 'C' appears to be unshrinkable as when I right mouse click on 'C', then click 'shrink volume' I'm told that the size of the available shrink space is zero!!! - go figure huh .....

I'l give Partitin magic a go and thanks very much for your time with this issue