disk partitioning
Commander Ryker
Hi guys! I've got a new 1TB hard disk and nothing to partition it with. Any suggestions? Free would be good.
Tarun
http://wiki.lunarsoft.net/wiki/Freeware/Disk_Management - Paragon Partition Manager 8.5
Quaker
Is there a problem with using Windows' disk management? (too big perhaps?) Or partitioning it during Windows installation?
Commander Ryker
Quaker, it's just an extra drive so I don't need to install windows on it. There was no option to partition on win disk mngmt. Thanks Tarun, I'll check it out.
Edit: I downloaded and installed. When I tried to partition the new disk it said it couldn't because it's dynamic. ???
Edit: I downloaded and installed. When I tried to partition the new disk it said it couldn't because it's dynamic. ???
Elder III
You can to partition on Windows Disk Management - it's what I use and it has always worked fine. Right Click on the new disk that says "Unallocated" and you will have the option "New Partition" just follow the screen prompts and you are good to go.
Commander Ryker
It doesn't say "unallocated" anywhere on that. When I right click and select properties it says the unalloacted is 0 mb.
Quaker
In Windows' Disk Manager, you should see a list of the installed disks. Most of these will say Disk 0, Disk 1, etc., in the left column.
On the 1TB disk, right click on the area where it says Disk x, and you should have the option to "Convert to Basic disc". After it's converted you should be able to partition and format it. (Dynamic disks are used in things like RAID arrays)
On the 1TB disk, right click on the area where it says Disk x, and you should have the option to "Convert to Basic disc". After it's converted you should be able to partition and format it. (Dynamic disks are used in things like RAID arrays)
Abedeus
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Tarun
http://wiki.lunarsoft.net/wiki/Freeware/Disk_Management - Paragon Partition Manager 8.5
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I suggest Partition Magic 8. Worked very well for me.
Tarun
Unfortunately that was the only freeware version at the time, I did find 9.0 was out as freeware and as such updated. Alternative links are always welcomed. :P
Commander Ryker
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Quaker
In Windows' Disk Manager, you should see a list of the installed disks. Most of these will say Disk 0, Disk 1, etc., in the left column.
On the 1TB disk, right click on the area where it says Disk x, and you should have the option to "Convert to Basic disc". After it's converted you should be able to partition and format it. (Dynamic disks are used in things like RAID arrays) |
Brett Kuntz
The disk might have the boot sector of that other weird format (GPT) instead of MBR. Delete everything on the disk in your list, then go to Create or whatever it has listed, and create an MBR disk, then create a new partition as maximum size. Disk Manager can do everything you'd ever need to do with a disk so if it can't do something, your disk is broken and needs to be replaced!
Commander Ryker
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Kuntz
The disk might have the boot sector of that other weird format (GPT) instead of MBR. Delete everything on the disk in your list, then go to Create or whatever it has listed, and create an MBR disk, then create a new partition as maximum size. Disk Manager can do everything you'd ever need to do with a disk so if it can't do something, your disk is broken and needs to be replaced!
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Brett Kuntz
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Originally Posted by Commander Ryker
Under properties it says MBR.
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Can you format it?
Can you see how much free space or total space there is?
Did you plug in BOTH the SATA and POWER cables? If you only plug in the SATA, the OS see's the disk but can't do anything with it. SATA Power cables get knocked out very easily due to their short connection length, so you better recheck them. Mine have fallen out twice(!) in my life, and the results are always spectacular.
Commander Ryker
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Kuntz
Can you assign it a drive letter?
Can you format it? Can you see how much free space or total space there is? Did you plug in BOTH the SATA and POWER cables? If you only plug in the SATA, the OS see's the disk but can't do anything with it. SATA Power cables get knocked out very easily due to their short connection length, so you better recheck them. Mine have fallen out twice(!) in my life, and the results are always spectacular. |
Brett Kuntz
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Originally Posted by Commander Ryker
Yes, yes (already did but can do it again), yes; 931 GB free and total and yes, everything is plugged in.
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Commander Ryker
Ok, I know it is ready to use, but it is one big partition and I want to have at least 3 partitions.
Apoc
I use Acronis.
I prefer it to Partition Magic.
I prefer it to Partition Magic.
Elder III
It sounds like you just need to format and then create a "New Partition" choose "Primary" and then when you have the option to select a partition size you can size it to whatever you want; out of 931,000 MB you could choose one at 300,000 MB and then be able to repeat those steps in your 631,000 MB of unallocated space and create 2 more partitions at over 300 GB each.
Commander Ryker
Ok, that isn't working. I did format and then chose an allocation unit size and nothing changed. I'm beginning to think I may just as well leave it as is.
Elder III
you could put a Windows Install Disc in if you have one and try that to format your partitions.... If you you followed the steps and as listed above it either has to work or you have a faulty disc... which would be interesting to say the least.
Commander Ryker
I think I'll just leave it as is. Thanks anyway guys. I appreciate your help.
Brett Kuntz
Oh well if you want to re-partition a drive, you need to delete the existing partitions first. Click on them, and hit the Delete key on your keyboard. It's pretty simple. If you still are having trouble, press F1 and read the help file, it should explain it. After all your partitions are deleted you can create new ones. It's not recommended to have more than 4 partitions on a single drive.
Quaker
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Commander Ryker
Ok, I know it is ready to use, but it is one big partition and I want to have at least 3 partitions.
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Commander Ryker
Quaker, it says it is unallocated. I think right now the problem is the type being dynamic.
KZaske
I know I am a bit late in sounding off here but Acronis does allow you to change the size and type of a paration without the loss of data. Most of the Linux packages have a really nice tool that can also change the size of a partation without the loss of data, but they can be tricky to use.
Alas Acronis is not free. I will look for a Linux partation manager and put a link up for you.
Edit: found some partition managers faster than I expected, all of them free. http://www.thefreecountry.com/utilit...neditors.shtml
I would like to ask Tarun to take a look at them and throw in any comments about any of them he may have. Some of them I have heard of and have used in the past (still prefer Acronis).
Edit II: I checked a few of the links, thought I would warn you that the first link (for Cute Partition Manager) attemps to install malware in the background according to my anit-virus (Avira) software.
As with any and all downloaded software, at the very least, scan the downloaded files before you run them please (as Quaker would say, use common sense).
Alas Acronis is not free. I will look for a Linux partation manager and put a link up for you.
Edit: found some partition managers faster than I expected, all of them free. http://www.thefreecountry.com/utilit...neditors.shtml
I would like to ask Tarun to take a look at them and throw in any comments about any of them he may have. Some of them I have heard of and have used in the past (still prefer Acronis).
Edit II: I checked a few of the links, thought I would warn you that the first link (for Cute Partition Manager) attemps to install malware in the background according to my anit-virus (Avira) software.
As with any and all downloaded software, at the very least, scan the downloaded files before you run them please (as Quaker would say, use common sense).
Commander Ryker
Thanks KZaske! I appreciate your help.
I'm not sure if I want to partition it anymore tho. It's getting to be too much of a chore.
I'm not sure if I want to partition it anymore tho. It's getting to be too much of a chore.