Anilrgowda

Question: Someone installed XP Pro on my notebook and partitioned my HD in local disk C: (20GB) and storage disk D10GB). I found I don't need that storage disk D: and would like to have all the disk space of my HD on one single local disk C: . Could the storage disk D: be erased and the disk space resulted be put back to local disk C:. Please advise steps to accomplish that. Thanks.

Anilrgowda

First, just to be absolutely certain you don't "mess" with the wrong partition in Boot-It (which we'll use to extend your C: partition) do this:

(a) Copy any data you want to retain off of the D: drive.

(b) Right click on My Computer and select Manager; then click on Disk Management (on the left side).

(c) In the graphical display of your disk, right-click in the 2nd partition (the D: drive); and select DELETE. The D: drive will now be gone !!

Now download the free demo copy of Boot-It NG and create a bootable floppy (if you have a floppy drive) or CD (if you don't). Boot Manager, Partition Manager, and Drive Image Utility - BootIt Next Generation

Boot to the Boot-It CD/floppy. IMPORTANT: At the first prompt, select CANCEL (you don't want to install it); and then click OK.

Now click on Partition Work ==> it will then show you the partition structure of your drive (which will now only have one partition and some unallocated space.

Be sure the first partition is highlighted (it should already be -- if not just click on it); and then click on ReSize (on the right side). Boot-It will warn you of the potential consequences (as leew noted, any good partition restructuring program will ==> but the most significant cause of problems is a power failure during a restructure ... and with a laptop (or a desktop with a UPS) that's not at all likely to happen ... so it's a very safe operation here.

Select the maximum space for the ReSize operation ==> after you start it, Boot-It will first check the disk for errors (if it finds any, it won't do the ReSize) ... and then let you select the new size; you simply want to enter the maximum size it can be (that will be displayed). The operation will be pretty quick; and then Boot-It will check the newly restructured partition for errors. Then you simply close Boot-It and reboot.

Note: XP will tell you it "found new hardware" and will want to reboot one extra time when you first boot after the restructure ==> that's normal (it simply thinks you replaced the hard drive with a larger one).