Disk Partition.... grrrr

[old.[GA] Shovel]

OKie, about a year ago I got myself a new, second hard drive. 4 gig - expanding me to 6 gig on the entire system. Now, this is all very well and nice, and still is, except that ever since the day it had been fitted it was always seen by the computer as being two seperate 2 gig HDs. I get the feeling that this is probably the fault of Windows 95. I am probably right, but having run a nice little program form DOS that gives me all kinds if system stats (like telling me my computer is running at 131.33 Mhz, rather than 133!, and that I only have 500k of free memory...) but it also confirms that the disk is partitioned, and is not just two smaller drives.

Now, a few questions.
1) Is it possible to get the disk back together on Win 95?
2) Would I lose the data on the second HD as a result of this?
3) If answers to following questions = "yes", and then "no", where can I get something that will do it?
4) Will I have to reinstall everything on E: (partition 2) to get it to work again?

So many questions.... so much time.... so much to screw up

ah joy

.

Shovel

 

[old.bee]

There is software called "partition magic" which can change your harddrive partitions while in windows. (www.powerquest.com) its around 30 quid I think.

If that doesnt work then its format and fdisk which is your LAST option.

hope that helps

Mr.Bee

 

[old.[GA] Shovel]

grrr, looks good - sdaly the trial version is totally non functioning (why both with one is anyones guess).

Is there like any RECOMMENDED freeware/functioning ones that people have experience of? I dont want to go using some cowboy partition program that loses all me data, but I dont wanna shell out 30 quid just to put a hard drive back together.

 

[kryt]

Shovel mate, gimme a shout - i have a Floppy Disk version of Partition Magic 4 - Bootable floppy - does wonders for adding partitions etc . ill send it over

Kryten

 

[old.Necro]

My guess is that your using FAT16, which has a partition limit of around 2.1gb. This is unavoidable if you want to remain on FAT16.

If you're running Win95 OSR2 (unlikley if you bought a boxed copy of 95) or Win98, you have the option of using FAT32, which on my system happily supports a 10gb partition.

However, since you don't want to shell out for Partiton Magic, the odds are your only option is destructive repartitioning (this will cause loss of data on both partitons you are glueing together).

 

[old.Inshala]

Your best bet is partition magic, GA. Fdisk completly destroys partitions, so therefore u would have to start again (if your Windows has not been reinstalled for a while, ie longer than 6 months this way is often the best). There is a small partitioning tool called FIPS that can add a partion to a drive without losing info on the drive, but it cannot remove a partition.

BTW
Your DOS diag. program is correct when it reports that you have 500k of base memory...

 

[Xavier]

Ok, before anyone else suggests any miracle-cures hit win-break on your keyboard and post the version of you copy of windows 95 onto the forum... if you have a copy pre-osr2 (i.e. build 'a') then you cannot repartition to anything over 2.1Gb as you are using FAT16 and 2.1Gb is it's maximum partition size.. if you have osr2/osr2.5 - only likely if it is a really new win95 machine or OEM copy then check out www.microsoft.com for the fat32 utility which will tell you whether you are using fat32 or not...

if you
a) are using osr2 or above
AND
b) are using FAT32

then grab a copy of partitionmagic - all of the freeware utilities are a little ropey if you use one of them then be prepared to have to repartition and reformat anyway as they will probably kill the file allocation table... if you don't want to pay for partitionmagic there are more than a few sites online that will be happy to supply for a vote or similar

Xavier>

[This message has been edited by Xavier (edited 20 March 2000).]

 

[old.[GA] Shovel]

OK, version is 4.00.950a (version A I presume)

and all drives are formatted FAT (so says partition magic trial).

Now, to bring up something that I may have more luck with (and will once again show up TIME computers as incompetant twats)

I have dsicovered when using PM 5 trial (non functional) that:
1) 22% of C: is wasted in FAt (grrr)
2) 15% of D:/E: is wasted in FAT (grrr grrr)
3) I have an UNASSIGNED PARTITION OF 400 MEG THAT IS JUST SITTING AROUND ON THE FIRST HD, NOT PARTITIONED AND NOT AVAILABLE!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

I would not like to get at this 400 meg and be able to use it (even if it is tiny-ish) - now, partition Magic would seem to do it with no data loss - but of course cant as it is a trial - is there any other way (without wiping my host drive (C

completely.
Oh yeah and Nick, will PM 4 do this? if so, I shall be in touch

))


Thankyou all

 

[Xavier]

Ok, a reccomendation:

UPGRADE!!!

I know you are probably dreading the repartition/reformat/reinstall scenario but it is going to be the best... you will probably iron out any other problems in the process, go and grab a copy of windows 98 from somwhere and install it!

Remember when you FDISK the drive that you will have to enable large disk support and start from scratch... just back up you email addresses and documents to floppy and GET ON WITH IT!

If you can source a smaller HDD to copy all of your files onto before you repartition, all the better... go on... risk it!

If you want to talk more lemmie know and I will email u with a phone number... k?