Solved New boot partition

[bogart]

I will start at the beginning as think always the best way.

My first disk has partitions C/D

My C drive is rapidly running out of space 30GB allocated to C on a 160GB drive rest is drive D

I want to resize it so I've got about 60GB on C

Windows will not let me shrink the D drive, and then expand the C drive, as it has page files on it.

So what I have done using Acronis is clone Disk C/D to another much bigger disk, creating partions E/F. What I would like to do is now make the first partition E, which is a clone of C, bootable so that I can then format partitions C/D then reclone E/F back to C/D after sizing them more prudently.

I cannot find how to make E bootable if in fact it is?

Thanks

 

[Katokato]

if e has an operating system installed on it, then you can install a bootloader. try easyBCD.

 

[MilesAhead]

Try Partition Wizard freebie. If the page files are in the way, you've got 4 GB. Disable paging until you configure your partitions the way you want. I used to make a bunch of custom partitions and keep C: small but seems like everything you install has to put just a little more crap on C: for some reason. The required space keeps creeping up. I gave up and just run a big C: and don't mess with it anymore.

 

[Katokato]

defragment hdd, try perfect disk. dont disable paging, bad idea as some programs use lots of ram and its essential to windows programs

 

[patio]

If you have a clone image already why not use a bootable CD to create the partitions as you like and then re-image ? ?

The Acronis bootable CD will do this...

In my experience re-sizing images with data on them is a bit risky anyways...

 

[bogart]

if e has an operating system installed on it, then you can install a bootloader. try easyBCD.

Done that and yes worked very well. So now booting off the cloned disk. So back to my original problem of C not being big enough. Couldn't extend C until D was empty.
I deleted volume D and extended C all okay so far.

Problem now is cannot clone back onto original disk as it now only has one partition.

How do I get the second partion back?

Thanks again

 

[bogart]

Okay now got that sorted.. Acronis still doesn't want to clone itself back, so am attempting to format the old C. How the hell do I do it as all I get is access denied etc etc

 

[SIW2]

Use a bootable partition manager like the free Partition Wizard Bootable CD allows user to boot computer directly ...

Or boot the vista dvd and use diskpart commands to format the partition.

 

[bogart]

Now got that sorted, managed to clone back to original disk.

Boots up past user password screen then screen shows revolving circle and message

Preparing desktop after around 3 m inutes it reverts to a blue scree with only the mouse arrow showing. This doesn't clear.

Any ideas?

 

[SIW2]

Hi,

Sounds like the drive letter in the system registry has changed.

D/l the free FREE Rescue Kit Express | PARAGON Software Group

Boot the Pargon cd . Select Normal Mode > Boot corrector >Correct drive letters in registry.

Make sure the o/s letter is the same as it was originally ( probably C).

 

[bogart]

Finally got there with a lot of huffing and puffing and Acronis.

Thanks guys for your inputs