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Question

unpartitioning a hard drive

Nov 29, 2012 11:47PM PST

I found directions for unpartitioning my hard drive, but before I proceed, I was hoping I could get further information.

Will I lose the files on either of the partitions? When I purchased the computer, I stupidly had them partition it. I did not make the primary part large enough so I am constantly having problems with low disk space and have decided that I cannot find any real benefit to having it partitioned in the first place. I want to remove the partition, but don't want to have to format the drive and lose everything because honestly I don't know where the original software for the computer is and want to avoid having to reload it all. Is this possible?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
You only lose what you didn't backup.
Nov 30, 2012 1:02AM PST

No method I know of that doesn't use a backup copy safe away from the system during the partition work is "safe".

While I've used GPARTED to shuffle free space around, I will not do this without backup.

I also will not try the flying trapeze without safety nets or climb rocks without safety ropes. Folk seem willing to risk it all at times with the PC.
Bob

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Answer
Re: unpartitioning
Nov 30, 2012 5:02PM PST

Assuming you have a c: and a d: partition on your hard drive, the safe way is:
1. Make an image of the full disk to an external hard disk.
2. Make a copy of all files on the d:-drive to an external hard disk (can be the same).
3. Since external hard disks tend to be unreliable, copy both the image and those files to another PC, so you have two copies.
4. Boot from any partition managing disk (GARTED and EASEUS are free) and (a) delete the d:-partition, (b) extend the c-partition to fill the empty space.
5. Copy all files from your copy made in step 2 back to this new big c:-drive

Step 2, 4 and 5 are required. Step 1 and 3 are optional.

Kees