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Resolved Question

How to remove partition safely

Aug 6, 2011 2:09AM PDT

I have a Sony PCV-RS 430G running Windows XP Home Edition with SP1 and SP2.

C drive is nearly full and warning me to free up space. I have lots of space on the D drive. I don't really want to reformat this pc.

I have an external hard drive that I could set up to move files on the D drive over to, if that's an option. I'd like to keep using this pc. I've removed all the programs I can afford to move and defragged.

C drive: Capacity 13.9 GB - Used:13.8GB Free:128MB
D drive: Capacity 92.8 GB - Used: 47.3GB Free:45.4GB

I have recovery disks I made when the pc was new.
I also used SpeedUpMyPC to try to clean it up. I've disabled it now.

Would you help me to know what the best approach would be? I don't know if removing the partition is the best option or not. Obviously I can not put anything else on the pc at this time.

Thank you all very much.

Discussion is locked

DonnaJones has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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There are none.
Aug 6, 2011 2:14AM PDT

This is why we duplicate or backup the entire driver BEFORE we use any partition managers.

YES I read you have the recovery media but some find out the CD/DVD drive has aged and won't boot from that.

With the major warnings out of the way I've used GPARTED (see google) to delete and resize volumes. However what's on D: now would need to be restored to C: after the change.
Bob

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External HD
Aug 6, 2011 4:43AM PDT

Thanks for your response Bob. I have an external hard drive that is large enough to contain all the files on the D drive and the C drive. I have never used an external HD. I bought it to backup the HD on the PC, just never hooked it up. (USB)

I would like to ask a new question now. How do I move the files on the HD to the external HD? Do I use the backup feature in windows accessories? Or do I drag and drop them in My Computer?

part B: Do I back up the D drive only? Or the whole shabang? How would that work, combining both drives C&D on the external HD?

Before anyone gives me a tongue-lashing about backing up... I know... Happy I knowHappy My only excuse is that I back up all my picture files and other documents onto a CD or DVD and I don't worry about the rest. I usually end up buying a new pc before I run out of room. But now that HD's, even on laptops can store so much more, I have the ext HD for my laptop and new desktop. (Just need to hook them up... )

Thanks

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Windows backup failed me too many times.
Aug 6, 2011 10:48AM PDT

While some want to use that, I can't suggest it.

Let me write the easiest way to copy everything from the old drive to the external, just select all, control C (copy) and then on the external, control V (paste) This will take time so either give it hours or do a few folders at a time.

I use CLONEZILLA (free, widely documented) to save an image of the entire drive on my externals (I believe in more than one copy.) This again can take time so I do that over night.

Last we have DROPBOX. Not a lot of space but for stuff you can't lose, another backup.
Bob

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Thanks
Aug 6, 2011 12:00PM PDT

Thanks again Bob, I will use that copy/paste approach, in small batches. I will look at the software you mentioned also.
Donna