Vista won't let me partition properly

[arredondo]

I hate Vista, complaint #322

My hard drive died so I am forced to use my recovery discs for a fresh Vista install. Problem is, this time it won't let me partition the 320GB C drive any lower than 200! Before I had it at 50GB (NFTS on both). What is wrong here? It is the exact same drive model.

 

[arredondo]

Hmmm, no one knows how o fix this issue? I just want to partition the C: drive down to 50GB like I had before my other hard drive died.

 

[C1]

I actually did this (ie, shrank my 200GB single partition to 46GB then created a D drive partition from the unused space - notebook computer).

It is actually done using the VISTA utility but requires multiple shrink passes. I cant locate the forum in which I saw the proceedures delineated, but if you search the internet you should be able to find it. The only stuff I could find in my files is provided below (ie, try these) but as I recall none of these ended up actually working, but they are still good things to know about VISTA.


http://vistarewired.com/2007/0...anagement-doesnt-work/

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto...e-inadequacy-problems/


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[arredondo]

I will try these... thank you sir!

 

[arredondo]

Well I tried the how-to-geek article's way of fixing it (disabling programs, defragging) and not only did it not work, when I finally just tried to partition the GB that I was allowed to adjust, that failed as weel. The error message said I need more GB to complete that operation. I'll try the other version tonight.

I can not describe how much I hate Vista.

 

[arredondo]

No dice... anyone else out there that is able to help me?

 

[RebateMonger]

OK, how about starting over? I never did understand your original post.

It sounds like you are using a BRAND NEW hard drive, right? Never had anything installed on it before?

What kind of "recovery disks" are you using? Something that you made with some backup software? Factory recovery disks (and, if so, what brand of PC)?

Thanks.

 

[Starrx05]

Your HD died, how? Try using the manufacturer's tool to low level fomat it. That will wipe out everything and possibly fix any bad sectors too. Then use a partitioning tool like Norton Partition Magic to partition the C: first, leave the rest blank. Once you get Vista installed on C: you can use, Disk Administrator in it to divide whatever way you like.

 

[arredondo]

Here's the deal (I mistakenly said 320GB above... it is 400GB).

I bought the HP Pavillion rig last fall, stock 400GB hard drive. I made a recovery DVD as instructed by the HP startup guide on day one. The hard drive started dying on me a few weeks ago (lots of slow loud clicks and chugging sounds), so I used the Vista backup tool to save data on a 40GB external hard drive while in safe mode (normal mode wa completely bugged out at that point).

From safe mode, running the hard drive diagnostic program confirmed it was indeed the drive that was failing. I call HP and they agree to send me a new replacement 400 GB hard drive, same manufacturer.

The drive comes in, so I format the old drive, take it out and sent it to HP. I put in the new hard drive and then re-install Vista using the two recovery DVDs. Before adding my data from the external drive, I try to partition the new drive to be setup exactly like my old drive. I wanted 50 GB for C (mostly system files and key utility programs), then a D: and F: drive for general programs and media. The recovery drive is automatically setup by the system.

The problem has been that Vista's partition program won't let me reduce the C: drive to less than 200GB so I can allocate more space to other partitions like it allowed in my old hard drive. If there are free solutions out there (the ones above failed), I'd appreciate the help.

 

[C1]

The way Recovery works with my Fujitsu A6110 is that the Recovery utility has an option that allows the user to create a C & a D partition. A slider allows selection of the size for the C (or OS) partition. So if I wanted C to be 40GB then I would select the option #2 & set the slider to 40GB & do the install. The D (or second) partition may be skipped (ie, set to 0) if desired. After the install, the C partition now can be further reduced (or expanded ) using the VISTA repartition utility and/or the unallocated space may be formated for use.

Presumably the HP recovery utility provides a similar option.