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My harddrive has 3 partitions: C: F: H: M:. I would like to combine F: and M:. Is there some way to do that? I can only see a way to combine partitions that are side-by-side.
If not, another question.
H: has software programs on it. If H: and M: are combined then the drive label will change, too (if I understand the process correctly) and so that would mean the apps on there would no longer work, correct? And if that is the case, anyway to combine H: and M: without the apps losing their path (short of reinstalling everything that is?)
Thank you.
You will need a software program like Norton's Partition Magic 8. PM8 will allow you to merge any 2 partitions and will automaticly ask you if you want to remap the apps. on the merged partitions. Even though PM8 will do multiple operations at once I suggest that you complete one operation at a time.
Software gives me a headache.
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One word of caution. Make sure that you backup any data on the two partitions that you cannot afford to lose.
Merging is one of the most risky operations you can do with partitioning software, so much so that a lot of partitioning software does not include the ability to merge partitions because the the dangers it poses.
One little glitch in the process and both partitions can be rendered unusable. Be very careful.
Stuart
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I would also caution you. Change for the sake of change makes no sense. You haven't given a logical reason for wanting to perform the merge.
Once the merge is complete you will be able to change the drive letter assignment. If programs are installed to both of the existing partitions then some will need to be re-installed after merging. Know what you are doing before starting and take the advice about performing ONE operation at a time. Reboot between. Better yet, don't do it.
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Looking at the drive letter assignment it appears you may have multiple harddrives installed in the computer. Either that or you have reassigned drive letters.
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I used a partitioning program to divide the harddrive and used the default drive letter assignment or the next drive letter available.
Except for the C: I used the default drive letter assignment that the partitioning program provided for each partition. So there is only one harddrive.
The reason for merging is that 2 of the partitions (C: F:) are filling up, and I what I've discovered since partitioning that 2 partitions would've been best for the way I use my computer.
Ideally I want to combine C: (basic apps) with H: (other apps) and F: (My Documents) with M: (HP's recovery partition that I removed after backing it up.)
But that won't work so I was going to combine M: with H: and use the extra space with those 2 store documents and reinstall an app or 2 over there. Ergo the question as to how merging 2 partitions affects the apps installed on one of the partitions.
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Oh yea, something else that is related, I think, and is kind of weird that maybe you guys can shed some light on.
Sometimes when I hit My Computer a Z: drive is listed. Try to access, but can not do. Haven't seen a pattern yet so I can't duplicate it, it just happens. Any idea as to what the heck that is?
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Z: is usually a mapped network drive. Real drives start at C: and work forward. Network drives start at Z: and work backward till they meet in the middle.
I would guess that sometime in the past you have had a mapped network drive to a networked computer that no longer exists and it is set to reconnect at log-on.
You should be able to right click on it and select disconnect and its gone.
Stuart
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mmm... my feeling is to leave things as is... The risks of it all going pear-shaped are high any time one goes into merging. This not the least with PM and XP; many have rued the day they tried it that way; but also fair to say many have found it OK.
As regards what happens to apps in one partition merged into another...? Not having tried it can't say for sure... BUT I have a feeling that you may experience problems with them thereafter; their resepctive path statements/registry entries may not be correct after the merge?
If you are really wishing to tweak/re-arrange the drive(s) etc... perhaps save all data etc. off the system (to optical-media and verify those disks are truly accessible on the system as is, and maybe another) and then start afresh?
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If you are running out of space merging partitions will not gain space back. Just install stuff to the partitions that still have space. Or do as trvlr has suggested and start over.
I don't see how you used the default drive letter assignments and have all the holes there are. D & E are missing as is G and I, J, K, L. Some of those may be optical drives you haven't mentioned but that wouldn't account for 7 drive letters.
As was stated in my previous response. You could reassign the drive leeter used with the installed programs to the new merged partition. That would only work if only ONE of the old partitions has programs that rely on dlls.
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Thank you for explaining the Z: . . . that comes from when I'm connected here at work.
And you're quite right it isn't 3 partitions but 4 . . . I was counting the partitions that I made.
I wasn't merging to gain more space just better use of the space. It would be better to have a bigger space that could hold an image file than several smaller spaces that can not. In copying large files to use temporarily I was having to move other files out of the way until I was done then move them back.
And about the gap in drive letters . . . don't know . . . I do have a CD drive but that's it.
Overall it sounds like the best thing to do is to leave it all alone. Thank you for your cautions. In the future I'll be more circumspect about partitioning my harddrive.
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