Vista - partitioning software?

I need to resize my XP and Vista partitions and I was wondering if there was
a partitioning software available for free that could do the job please?

I know XP partitioner does not resize. I looked in the Vista partitioner and
it has "shrink volume" but I don't think that is right somehow so don't want
to fiddle with it.

Terabyte's BootIT NG has a 30-Day fully functional trial for Disk
Management. However, Resizing partitions is a pretty high risk
type operation. Bing has a more "Techy" style interface so it's a
little more difficult to use. Best to never try and do a direct type
of space reallocation. Better to shrink the one partition leaving
the unallocated, then resize the destination to include unallocated
space. Always do a cursory Chkdsk on both partitions before you
begin. Some inconsistencies aren't checked by Disk Management
and you can end up with a real mess if it (Resizing) fails. Also I'd
recommend taking an Image before starting. Symantec PQMagic
and Acronis Disk Director are other DiskMgmt tools but neither
are free/shareware (~$60+).

BootItNG info here:
http://www.bootitng.com/

Acronis Disk Directory info:
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing.../diskdirector/

"Beck" <beck@removephotoscene.co.uk> wrote in message
news:uX4823ilGHA.1552@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>I need to resize my XP and Vista partitions and I was wondering if there
>was a partitioning software available for free that could do the job
>please?
>
> I know XP partitioner does not resize. I looked in the Vista partitioner
> and it has "shrink volume" but I don't think that is right somehow so
> don't want to fiddle with it.

"R. McCarty" <PcEngWork-NoSpam_@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:e5tzg9ilGHA.836@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Terabyte's BootIT NG has a 30-Day fully functional trial for Disk
> Management. However, Resizing partitions is a pretty high risk
> type operation. Bing has a more "Techy" style interface so it's a
> little more difficult to use. Best to never try and do a direct type
> of space reallocation. Better to shrink the one partition leaving
> the unallocated, then resize the destination to include unallocated
> space. Always do a cursory Chkdsk on both partitions before you
> begin. Some inconsistencies aren't checked by Disk Management
> and you can end up with a real mess if it (Resizing) fails. Also I'd
> recommend taking an Image before starting. Symantec PQMagic
> and Acronis Disk Director are other DiskMgmt tools but neither
> are free/shareware (~$60+).

So are you saying that the "shrink" command in Vista will do what I need and
resize the partitions? I was unsure because of the use of the term "shrink".
Don't know why but it gave me an impression that it would compress it or
soemthing. I was looking for a resize command. :-)

"Beck" <beck@removephotoscene.co.uk> wrote in message
news:%23GvOEGjlGHA.3576@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>
> "R. McCarty" <PcEngWork-NoSpam_@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:e5tzg9ilGHA.836@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Terabyte's BootIT NG has a 30-Day fully functional trial for Disk
>> Management. However, Resizing partitions is a pretty high risk
>> type operation. Bing has a more "Techy" style interface so it's a
>> little more difficult to use. Best to never try and do a direct type
>> of space reallocation. Better to shrink the one partition leaving
>> the unallocated, then resize the destination to include unallocated
>> space. Always do a cursory Chkdsk on both partitions before you
>> begin. Some inconsistencies aren't checked by Disk Management
>> and you can end up with a real mess if it (Resizing) fails. Also I'd
>> recommend taking an Image before starting. Symantec PQMagic
>> and Acronis Disk Director are other DiskMgmt tools but neither
>> are free/shareware (~$60+).
>
> So are you saying that the "shrink" command in Vista will do what I need
> and resize the partitions? I was unsure because of the use of the term
> "shrink". Don't know why but it gave me an impression that it would
> compress it or soemthing. I was looking for a resize command. :-)

Ignore that, found this article.
http://www.pro-networks.org/forum/viewstory.php?t=78111

Yes, that is the function. However I've only tried it once or twice and
that was with "Empty" volumes just to experiment. I'm not sure I would
risk existing partitions, but if they are imaged/backed up then the risk
would be less. If you go for it, be sure to post back your results.

"Beck" <beck@removephotoscene.co.uk> wrote in message
news:%23GvOEGjlGHA.3576@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>
> "R. McCarty" <PcEngWork-NoSpam_@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:e5tzg9ilGHA.836@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Terabyte's BootIT NG has a 30-Day fully functional trial for Disk
>> Management. However, Resizing partitions is a pretty high risk
>> type operation. Bing has a more "Techy" style interface so it's a
>> little more difficult to use. Best to never try and do a direct type
>> of space reallocation. Better to shrink the one partition leaving
>> the unallocated, then resize the destination to include unallocated
>> space. Always do a cursory Chkdsk on both partitions before you
>> begin. Some inconsistencies aren't checked by Disk Management
>> and you can end up with a real mess if it (Resizing) fails. Also I'd
>> recommend taking an Image before starting. Symantec PQMagic
>> and Acronis Disk Director are other DiskMgmt tools but neither
>> are free/shareware (~$60+).
>
> So are you saying that the "shrink" command in Vista will do what I need
> and resize the partitions? I was unsure because of the use of the term
> "shrink". Don't know why but it gave me an impression that it would
> compress it or soemthing. I was looking for a resize command. :-)

"R. McCarty" <PcEngWork-NoSpam_@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:etwRZJjlGHA.5108@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Yes, that is the function. However I've only tried it once or twice and
> that was with "Empty" volumes just to experiment. I'm not sure I would
> risk existing partitions, but if they are imaged/backed up then the risk
> would be less. If you go for it, be sure to post back your results.

Well sadly it did not work. It looked like it was doing something then
after abotu 10-15 mins it returned an error about parameters. Have to
rethink the situation :-)

I use BootIt NG and it works like a champ. I have their original free
version and it's quite good. I used it when preparing my PC to dual boot
Vista. Their current version is payware but you may still be able to find
the free version somewhere. I've successfully changed the size of all
partions without problems. Yes, it can be risky but after many changes with
no problems I'd say the risks are quite low.

HTH!

Doug

"Beck" <beck@removephotoscene.co.uk> wrote in message
news:uX4823ilGHA.1552@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>I need to resize my XP and Vista partitions and I was wondering if there
>was a partitioning software available for free that could do the job
>please?
>
> I know XP partitioner does not resize. I looked in the Vista partitioner
> and it has "shrink volume" but I don't think that is right somehow so
> don't want to fiddle with it.