I messed up my Partitions 1

[melburstein]

I tried using diskpart.exe to split a Primary partition into two so I can create a dual boot. My operating system is Vista Ultimate 64-Bit. I want to install Windows 7 RC 64-bit as my second OS. I have not used diskpart.exe for a while and ended up shrinking the wrong partition. Can someone give me step by step help to undo what I messed up and to possibly do what I was trying to do from the beginning? (BTW I know that I should have been able to do this all from within Vista, but it did not work and that is why I resorted to using diskpart.exe].

OK. Here is what I now have:

Partition# Type Size Contains
1 OEM 125MB Dell Diagnostics
2 Primary 1074MB RECOVERY
0 Extended 973MB Unallocated
3 Primary 236GB C: Drive (Vista)

My intent was to reduce Partition 3 to 150GB and create a Windows 7 Primary partition of about 86 GB.

Partition 0 was created in error. It should be part of Partition 2. How do I add it back?

Do not assume that I know what I am doing. Obviously I do not. So the more detailed the step by step instructions are, the more helpful it will be.

THANK YOU

Mel

 

[xit]

Windows Vista Ultimate has a built in partition program that works very well.

xit

 

[melburstein]

xit. I know. That is what I initially tried to use. It let me click on the Vista partition and it let me key in a number for how much I wanted to shrink that partition, but the other numbers did not adjust and no changes took place. That is why I tried the other approach.

I'm still looking for someone who may provide detailed step-by-step instructions to fix the mess that I created.

 

[xit]

This is an excellent partition program that is free, I use it & it is very simple to use with a good interface.

http://download.cnet.com/Easeus-Partition-Manager-Home-Edition/3000-2248_4-10863346.html

Give it a try

xit

 

[melburstein]

xit, Thanks but I am running Vista Ultimate 64-bit and when I try to install Ezxeus Partition Manager it advise me that it can not be installed.

 

[linney]

Is Vista still working for you?

If so can you post a screenshot of the Disk Management tool, showing listed drives and the images of the drives. This I think will be very helpful in the long run in determining what is what with your drive setup.

Any of these links should allow you to upload your image and supply a url for you to post here.

http://www.uploadit.org/

http://www.photobucket.com/

http://reg.imageshack.us/register.php

This will explain partitions and types for you.

What Is A Partition?

http://www.theeldergeek.com/hard_drives_01.htm

 

[BadBigBen]

Alternative to trying to what was mentioned already, you could always try PartedMagic Live CD, which is based on Linux and has GPARTED installed, with it you can shrink Windows Partitions to how you want them to be, and also UNSHRINK the one you already did...

Using GParted

http://wiki.partedmagic.com/index.php/Using_GParted

PartedMagic

http://partedmagic.com/

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[melburstein]

Thank you, all--especially linney and BadBigBen. As it turned out, I had forgotten that I have a licensed copy of Acronis Disk Director and ultimately I was able to use it to get my partitions back to nearly the same size as they were originally.

Mel