Partitioned hard-drive help

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Scarlet_Buckeye's avatar

Scarlet_Buckeye

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5,264 posts
Apr 28, 2013 9:58 PM
So I busted out my personal laptop for the first time in awhile... I did the normal - apply updates, etc. Here's my issue... I have a partitioned hard-drive, where about 100 GB are on D: drive and 20 GB are on C: drive. D: drive has about 80 GB free and C: drive has about 360 MB. I've already changed the automatic destination download (forget how I did this, but I definitely remember doing it awhile ago), but yet it still seems like anytime I go and download, install, apply, etc. Microsoft Windows Updates, they apply to my C: drive; hence, there's no room / space left on my C: drive to install/apply new updates. So... my question is... either (1) how do I move, say, 20 GB from D: to C: or (2) is there a way to change where Microsoft Windows Updates, etc. are applied to? I think the best solution is (1) since I have so much free space on D: available.


Help???
Apr 28, 2013 9:58pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Apr 28, 2013 10:02 PM
Windows Updates will apply to your C: drive because that is likely where Windows is installed. It will cache the installer files to random drives, usually whichever is larger. You can reclaim the space by just running Disk Cleanup (Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Cleanup


I'd just do away with the partitions unless you explicitly need them.

What version of Windows are you running? Vista/7/8 can "expand" partitions if you want to shift partition sizes around.
Apr 28, 2013 10:02pm
SportsAndLady's avatar

SportsAndLady

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35,632 posts
Apr 28, 2013 10:02 PM
Wut
Apr 28, 2013 10:02pm
karen lotz's avatar

karen lotz

TuTu Train

22,284 posts
Apr 28, 2013 10:03 PM
Buy a mac
Apr 28, 2013 10:03pm
Scarlet_Buckeye's avatar

Scarlet_Buckeye

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5,264 posts
Apr 28, 2013 10:05 PM
dlazz;1435434 wrote:Windows Updates will apply to your C: drive because that is likely where Windows is installed. It will cache the installer files to random drives, usually whichever is larger. You can reclaim the space by just running Disk Cleanup (Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Cleanup


I'd just do away with the partitions unless you explicitly need them.

What version of Windows are you running? Vista/7/8 can "expand" partitions if you want to shift partition sizes around.
Windows XP, unfortunately. Sounds like Windows 7 would be easier :-/

I would be fine with doing away with the partition, completely; but if I can keep it, I wouldn't mind keeping it.
Apr 28, 2013 10:05pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Apr 28, 2013 10:17 PM
XP limits your options. There's programs out there to resize partitions, but it can't be done in XP.

gparted comes to mind. They have a CD you can burn and boot from and it does all of the resizing. It can take awhile to do though.
Apr 28, 2013 10:17pm
Scarlet_Buckeye's avatar

Scarlet_Buckeye

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5,264 posts
Apr 28, 2013 10:27 PM
dlazz;1435439 wrote:XP limits your options. There's programs out there to resize partitions, but it can't be done in XP.

gparted comes to mind. They have a CD you can burn and boot from and it does all of the resizing. It can take awhile to do though.
Gparted. Hmmm... I'll have to look into that. Is it something you can pick up from like a Microcenter, or order online?! Anything that's free and reliable?
Apr 28, 2013 10:27pm
W

WebFire

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14,779 posts
Apr 28, 2013 10:35 PM
You'll definitely want/need partition software to do this, and you'll have to backup all your shit on the D drive.
Apr 28, 2013 10:35pm
G

gut

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15,058 posts
Apr 28, 2013 10:59 PM
This is not fun since mfrs stopped providing Windows disks.

If you have your license key (should be on the back of laptop, or underneath battery), maybe find yourself a good ISO of windows. I struggled to no end with this recently. Otherwise, I would just back-up your stuff and reformat the drive with no partition.

120 gig harddrive and Windows XP? You got a seriously old laptop.
Apr 28, 2013 10:59pm
G

gut

Senior Member

15,058 posts
Apr 28, 2013 11:00 PM
That said, download CCleaner and use it to delete all restore backups. Might give you the space you need.
Apr 28, 2013 11:00pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Apr 29, 2013 7:42 AM
Scarlet_Buckeye;1435440 wrote:Gparted. Hmmm... I'll have to look into that. Is it something you can pick up from like a Microcenter, or order online?! Anything that's free and reliable?
gparted is free, you can get it on their website. There are risks to it, but I've never had it mess anything up.
Apr 29, 2013 7:42am
Scarlet_Buckeye's avatar

Scarlet_Buckeye

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5,264 posts
Apr 29, 2013 11:20 AM
gut;1435443 wrote:120 gig harddrive and Windows XP? You got a seriously old laptop.
Yes I do. But it's pretty much in pristine condition.
Apr 29, 2013 11:20am
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

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8,651 posts
Apr 29, 2013 1:37 PM
WebFire;1435441 wrote:You'll definitely want/need partition software to do this, and you'll have to backup all your shit on the D drive.
I agree, but I would probably back it up externally just to be safe. (amazon cloud drive or somewhere just in case the drive gets hosed)
Apr 29, 2013 1:37pm
W

WebFire

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Apr 29, 2013 2:21 PM
FatHobbit;1435623 wrote:I agree, but I would probably back it up externally just to be safe. (amazon cloud drive or somewhere just in case the drive gets hosed)
Where else would you back it up? Backup = external.
Apr 29, 2013 2:21pm
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

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8,651 posts
Apr 29, 2013 2:26 PM
WebFire;1435644 wrote:Where else would you back it up? Backup = external.
Whoops, I misread what you typed. I thought you meant backup everything from the c drive onto the d drive.
Apr 29, 2013 2:26pm
W

WebFire

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Apr 29, 2013 2:38 PM
FatHobbit;1435649 wrote:Whoops, I misread what you typed. I thought you meant backup everything from the c drive onto the d drive.
Oh, I see now. Yeah, he'd have to blow that D up so he could extend the C drive, so he'd have to back it all up.

If the restore disks are available, that might be the easiest. Backup all your data, format and reinstall Windows.
Apr 29, 2013 2:38pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Apr 29, 2013 2:39 PM
WebFire;1435656 wrote:Oh, I see now. Yeah, he'd have to blow that D up so he could extend the C drive, so he'd have to back it all up.
Using gparted OR Vista/7/8 he wouldn't have to blow up the D drive. They're smart enough to move data out of the way if you decide to shift the partition sizes around.
Apr 29, 2013 2:39pm
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WebFire

Go Bucks!

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Apr 29, 2013 2:41 PM
dlazz;1435658 wrote:Using gparted OR Vista/7/8 he wouldn't have to blow up the D drive. They're smart enough to move data out of the way if you decide to shift the partition sizes around.
True, partitioning software would take care of it. I've not used gparted, but others that cost money. Still need to do a backup though, just in case.
Apr 29, 2013 2:41pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Apr 29, 2013 2:43 PM
Fuck backups. Shit's for weak people.
Apr 29, 2013 2:43pm