Partitioning progarm that allows resizing existing partitioins w/ a UEFI BIOS

[videobruce]

Existing HDD with three partitions (one active) from a conventional BIOS to a UEFI based BIOS
The 1st partition is only 10GB. I want to double it for Win7 (no games, non O/S files are stored outside the active partition. I don't need any more room). The 2nd & 3rd are storage that I want to keep. The extra 10GB would come from the 2nd partition.

Switching from a conventional BIOS to UHCI, is that any problem for non active partitions as far as loosing data and having accessibility?

I have been using EaseUS & Partition Manager, but neither will allow me to resize an existing HDD's partition without wiping the entire drive. I haven't tried GParted yet.

I'm looking for a program that I can boot from. Input?

(I hope that made sense, ask if it didn't)

 

[Bubbaleone]

It sounds like you're switching to a new mobo with a UEFI. If so, after you get your partitions resized you're going to need to sysprep the old drive if you expect to get it to boot with the new hardware. And, whether BIOS or UEFI, there's no difference in how disk partitioning is performed. Partitioning utilities that operate within the Windows environment are generally considered to be a poor practice. Disk partitioning is best performed at the disk level, which means using a bootable disk management utility like this excellent freeware: Partition Wizard Bootable CD.

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[videobruce]

Yes on the switch. The 1st partition has XP which will get replaced with Win7 64bit.

(BTW, I have loaded that on a 10GB partition and it only took up 7GB or so (no hibernation file or extra drivers which are outdated and I have no need for anyway)

 

[Chiefcrowe]

The Partition wizard tool seems pretty good.. how have your experiences with it been?

It sounds like you're switching to a new mobo with a UEFI. If so, after you get your partitions resized you're going to need to sysprep the old drive if you expect to get it to boot with the new hardware. And, whether BIOS or UEFI, there's no difference in how disk partitioning is performed. Partitioning utilities that operate within the Windows environment are generally considered to be a poor practice. Disk partitioning is best performed at the disk level, which means using a bootable disk management utility like this excellent freeware: Partition Wizard Bootable CD.

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[Bubbaleone]

The Partition wizard tool seems pretty good.. how have your experiences with it been?

It's a good basic partitioning utility for users new to partitioning. It provides new users with an intuitive interface and good graphic representation of actual partition structure that's easy to grasp. I personally use Paragon's advanced server version of their Hard Disk Manager 11.

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[Underclocked]

http://www.disk-partition.com/product.html might be worth a look

 

[winoutreach5]

Since you are going to be wiping Windows XP and replacing it with Windows 7 on the first partition anyway, you should be able to shrink the 2nd partition first by simply using the Disk Management utility that is built into Windows. Next, you can boot to your Windows 7 installation media and delete the 1st partition with Windows XP and proceed with installing Windows 7. All of your data should still be available on your 2nd and 3rd partitions since data partitions are typically independent of operating system and as such will not be affected by the UEFI BIOS switch or operating system migration.

Jessica
Windows Outreach Team – IT Pro
The Springboard Series on TechNet

 

[flexy]

""
I have been using EaseUS & Partition Manager, but neither will allow me to resize an existing HDD's partition without wiping the entire drive.
""

Are you 100% sure about that? This would be very surprising to me. I don't expect data to be destroyed when resizing, I did that ages ago with PartitionMagic and it didn't destroy data either. What would be the point of resizing then? Then I can as well remake entire partitions from scratch.

 

[videobruce]

EaseUS doesn't and the editions of PM do not. I looked at a couple of others, only the step up versions allow merging. (unless there is some 'hidden' method).

It's apparently by design, to lure you from the freeware to a pay version.

 

[xgsound]

I have used this Aomie free software on XP twice to resize partitions. http://www.extend-partition.com/download.html Notice that the first two are totally free and from cnet so elect a custom install. It worked well for me and was quick. I have not used on any other OS.YMMV

Jim

 

[videobruce]

Resizing all partitioning programs do. Does that do merging, the important step??

 

[Bubbaleone]

Resizing all partitioning programs do. Does that do merging, the important step??

In your orginal post you said you want to increase your first partition from 10GB to 20GB, which is a simple resizing operation. Merging is the operation wherein two seperate volumes become a single volume and, unless I'm missing something in this thread, it isn't necessary if you're simply resizing partitions. Merging and resizing are entirely different operations.

As has already been noted; the free versions of any commercial disk managent utility are very limited in functionality and don't include most of the features found in the paid versions. On the other hand; GNU licensed PartitionMagic is free and does include all the advanced disk management tools. However, it's tailored for the more advanced user who's already had some experience with disk operations.

As winoutreach5 correctly noted; first shrink the second partion by 10GB then delete the first partion. This will give you a total of 20Gb of unallocated disk space at the beginning of the disk. Since you're installing Windows 7 there's no need to create a new partition using the partition tool. The Windows installer will automatically partition and format when you select the unallocated 20GB space as the Windows install location.

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[videobruce]

In your orginal post you said you want to increase your first partition from 10GB to 20GB, which is a simple resizing operation. Merging is the operation wherein two seperate volumes become a single volume and, unless I'm missing something in this thread, it isn't necessary if you're simply resizing partitions. Merging and resizing are entirely different operations.

I was referring to the operation by not deleting the 1st partition, merging free space from the 2nd partition to the first, but I kinda missed his complete post and now see the logic. Ok, I'll give that a shot.

All of your data should still be available on your 2nd and 3rd partitions since data partitions are typically independent of operating system and as such will not be affected by the UEFI BIOS switch or operating system migration.

But, installing Win7 on that first partition in AHCI mode (not IDE), doesn't that make the drive a GPT drive wiping out everything?

 

[capeconsultant]

A good backup is your friend.

 

[Bubbaleone]

I was referring to the operation by not deleting the 1st partition, merging free space from the 2nd partition to the first, but I kinda missed his complete post and now see the logic. Ok, I'll give that a shot.

But, installing Win7 on that first partition in AHCI mode (not IDE), doesn't that make the drive a GPT drive wiping out everything?

Installing Windows 7 on the new 20Gb partition, in AHCI or IDE mode, means a MBR volume will be created. A GPT disk is created only when the Windows installation is performed while booted in UEFI mode. Simply because a mobo features a UEFI, rather than a BIOS, doesn't mean that operating systems are automatically installed as UEFI/GPT. Specific steps must first be taken to ensure booting the installation media in UEFI mode. The default boot setting, for UEFI equipped mobos, is to boot in AHCI/MBR mode.

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