Best tool to partition the system drive without formatting?

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RickD

280 posts

Ultimate Geek

#103412 6-Jun-2012 20:01

Hi,

We have a laptop running an old install of Vista and I need to split the system drive into two partitions, so I can copy files to the second partition and then format and install W7 on the boot partition.

What is the best and easiest to use tool to do this with? Or what Live CD should I try that has a tool to do this?

Cheers

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79250 posts

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Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#636934 6-Jun-2012 20:19

Regardless of which tool you use, make sure you buy an external drive and make a copy of your data. It is very easy to click something you shouldn't and erase everything.

BACKUP. BACKUP. BACKUP. BACKUP. BACKUP.

dontpanic42

1574 posts

Uber Geek

#636936 6-Jun-2012 20:23

freitasm: Regardless of which tool you use, make sure you buy an external drive and make a copy of your data. It is very easy to click something you shouldn't and erase everything.

BACKUP. BACKUP. BACKUP. BACKUP. BACKUP.

+1

QFT!!

Never, ever trust a partitioning program to not screw with your data.

Jaxson

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#636947 6-Jun-2012 20:46

I've used this little tool many times.
The price is right (it's free) and it works. That's about all I needed at the time.

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

tomgeeknz

923 posts

Ultimate Geek

#636973 6-Jun-2012 21:25

Backup. And remove the backup drive as far away as possible and disconnect it from your system. Erase system drive, install os (including formatting drive) on to external with backup.... #fail

toyonut

1508 posts

Uber Geek

#637029 6-Jun-2012 22:45

Easus is good, used it many times with good results. Otherwise there is the built in partition manager which works perfectly.
Click start, right click computer, select manage, select disk management, right click the drive you want to partition and select shrink.

Will leave you with free space for you to install to and format with new installation. Have done this more times than I care to remember with linux dual boots.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

gzt

17104 posts

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#637033 6-Jun-2012 22:50

I use built in disk management for simple things like that (as above) - if that cannot do the job next stop is a GParted live cd.

ChevronX

280 posts

Ultimate Geek

#637125 7-Jun-2012 09:05

gzt: I use built in disk management for simple things like that (as above) - if that cannot do the job next stop is a GParted live cd.

+1 for Gparted!

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RickD

280 posts

Ultimate Geek

#638513 10-Jun-2012 16:44

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll give the built in partition manager a go first. The HDD is backed up but hopefully I won't need to restore it :]