Merging two partitions (same drive)

[Gorion]

Righty, I need to merge drive C: - windows,  and D: - Program files.  Both of these make up one drive.

If possible, I'd like to do this without re-formatting.

Does anyone know of a way/program that helps me do so?


Thanks

[Tutonic]

Nope, I don't think that's possible. Here's how I'd do it:

Backup your data from D: to another drive/memory stick.
Destroy the D: partition.
Expand C: into the exmpty space, you might need a tool like Partition Magic to achieve this (I don't think Windows can re-size its own system partition).

Then you can copy the Program Files onto the newly re-sized C: partition. However, Windows is likely to have a whole load of registry entries for your programs all pointing to D: (which you've now destroyed) so you'll probably end up doing alot of re-installing.

[TeaLeaf]

What about the recently posted redirect tool that splits things to a new drive (and back) and edits registry?

[TeaLeaf]

Try this thread, might help:

http://www.deadmen.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?32041-Steam-hard-drive-run-out-of-space&highlight=steam+redirect

Useful tool.

[Gorion]

It's a good idea, but I don't think it will work in my case.

Made an error when I installed W7; C: has around 4MB left from 17.5GB.  The thing is, it's filled with just windows and the usual application files.

I've removed pagefile and transferred documents to D:, yet windows still installs crap onto my C:.  The situation is so ridiculous that I can't even open a jpeg image, install anything on any drive, browse properly or stream anything.  Formatting is out of the question as assignments are coming in, yet I can't do anything anyway as it is right now.

[T-Bag]

Format and start again, all the partition programs I've used in the past either mess things up (leading to a format) or don't do what I want them to leading to frustration. But basically with a primary drive it's likely that whatever you do will lose some or all of the data. Which means it's not worth the risk in my opinion.

Partition magic might be able to resize it if your D: drive is empty...but being a primary logical drive it might have issues...haven't used it for years for the reasons above.

Take an image of the drive (norton ghost or similar) format the drive into on and do the unghosting process from the boot disk. Far less headaches, and no reinstallations needed.

[Gorion]

Thanks guys.

Will copy everything and format, as I need something stable.

[T-Bag]

Thanks guys.

Will copy everything and format, as I need something stable.

Don't copy everything. Ghost it. It takes an image of your drive you can copy back afterwards using a boot disk loader and then you won't have to reinstall windows. It should be just as stable as before.