Anyone here experienced in SATA HDDS, replacing one of two?

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 7:42 am

The program I'm using is capable of doing everything but it's not happening now because (by also using Partition Magic), the two partitions can't merge (not highlighted, not an option now). Both partitions listed as NTFS Primary.

So I need to start over and try again.

BEFORE copying my old C drive, what needs to be done with the new HDD? Format, Format and Partition?

I know that copying the C drive will put that in one partition but the rest of it needs to be useable for merging w/o using another program.

ZYFER · Post by **ZYFER** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:30 am

All you should need to do to the new hard drive is delete the partition. The program should format the partition and set the partition to the size you specified.

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:38 am

What Zyfer said.. If you delete the 2nd unused partition it should then be able to expand to it. It doesn't need to be formatted or anything of that nature.

If you start over, you don't need to do anything to the drive. When using your cloning software (Which one by the way? Makes directions a little easier.) it will ask you if you want to keep the partition setup that's already there or do something else. You just need to tell it to use the maximum space on the drive and it should set it up for you no problem..

Hope this helps.

eGo

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:05 pm

If you delete the 2nd unused partition

Won't that put me right back to where I was after I originally copied my C drive to the new HDD, with the rest no longer visable in Windows because it was "unallocated"?

The program I'm using is called Spotmau PowerSuite Pro 2008 and the reason I bought it was because it was suppose to be able to do all that with ease.
It IS capable of doing that but apparently I didn't do something quite right.
It can do many things in Windows but does more if booted from the CD.

Nowhere have I read any specific instructions on how exactly to copy a complete C drive HDD from one to a larger HDD. I've read their index, searched, googled (besides here too).

I'd think that instructions (like with most things) should be like 1......., 2......, 3..... (piece of cake), done but apparently not.

All I did originally was to do a "copy" from one disc to another w/o formatting or partitioning the new HDD yet obviously that left the remainder (over 800gbs) in an unusable state until I later converted that partition using Partition magic (and that wasn't seeing my new HDD right either).

Presently, everything on my new HDD works perfectly too, including files I've moved from my old D drive to the new D drives partition. Windows sees both partitions normally too. The only problem now is that I don't want, need the partitions and want them combined.

Doing the copying proceedure is easy, fairly quick and painless so I don't mind but I need to know how exactly to do it again avoiding my current problem.

I emailed their tech support people and they said to do it again and "partition" the new HDD first. In doing that, will it have the correct format too so that I can easily merge the partitions?

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:53 pm

Yes, you want the extra 800GB to be Unallocated.. Then try to expand the partition, that should fix it..

GL!

eGo

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:36 pm

Each time I've looked at the option to expand, it won't allow me to go larger than its current size. Don't know why not, just not an option.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:08 pm

OK, after playing around with things I've got TWO partitions that Powersuite still can't Merge (and their tech support people are clueless about their own SW) BUT.........the FREE Demo version of Partition Magic see's the two partitions BUT being the FREE demo, won't actually merge them. They want me to pay $69!!!

So.....seriously now, what can I use for FREE that'll just merge the two partitions? Google finds a few things but I don't want to just try anything new w/o asking.

I think I had/have an old version somewhere around here (maybe even on floppies?) but I'd prefer something newer.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:15 pm

Well Partition Magic will resize any partition, but why are you trying to merge anything on the new drive? Any clone software you use will expand the partition to fill the drive when it copies it.

I would strongly recommend Acronis True Image. No need to prep the new drive - it will delete any partitions that are on it. When asked whether you want to copy the partitions from the old drive As-Is or Proportionally, select the latter. It will resize them to fill the new drive.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:23 pm

Well Partition Magic will resize any partition, but why are you trying to merge anything on the new drive? Any clone software you use will expand the partition to fill the drive when it copies it.

All that I need to do is merge two good partitions and the clone sw that I used will not expand those two or merge them. Believe me, I've tried. The so-called tech support people at Powersuite don't seem to know english well or know any other way to clone a HDD even though it does that. The SW I used created two partitions and can't re-size one to make it one large C drive.....sucks!

Will Acronis True Image (free version) just merge the two existing partitions w/o destroying any existing data? Partition Magic will but I don't want to spend the $$.

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:02 pm

Acronis is only a Disk Cloning tool.. Won't do what you're asking. Give me about 30 minutes then check your email.. I'm sending you something that should help.

eGo

Key Keeper · Post by **Key Keeper** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:08 pm

C partition....delete other partition to create unallocated space...then use Acronis all in one or PM to do the rest. Doest XP have the ability to run "extended partition" of the C drive? And if Vista, this is a native feature.

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:28 pm

Ok.. Give me a little more time.. I'm on dial-up taking me a few to get everything lined up..

eGo

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:52 pm

Blah, just check yer PMs lol

eGo

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 10:53 am

Ahhhh, the saga is over!

By FPs advice, I now have two 500gb partitions and all is well. You guys can stop biting your fingernails now

Now, where was I? Oh yeah, I can now install a new game or two.

ZYFER · Post by **ZYFER** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 8:01 pm

Good idea, you really don't want one big 1TB partition anyways