Problems with partitioning my hard drive?

Question

I want to install the Windows 8 preview alongside my current Windows 7 system, so that when I boot my computer, it asks me which OS I want to boot into.

Using Disk Management, I already shrank my internal HD by 50 GB and then created a new partition. The problem is it created a Logical Partition, not a Primary. Well I already had a 1.46 GB Active Recovery Partition, a 8 GB Primary Partition (Toshiba application recovery partition), and my Boot Primary Partition (C drive). This is how my computer was set up by default.

So I deleted the new 50 GB partition and it became free space. Then I deleted my 8 GB recovery partition (don't want or need it) and it became unallocated memory.

So now I need your help. First, I can delete the 1.46 GB partition, right? I want to end up with 2 partitions, the big one for Windows 7 and a 50 GB one for Windows 8. They both need to be Primary. I don't want any free space or unallocated memory left; that should be in the C drive for Windows 7.

Thank you so much!!

Answer 1

You deleted your 8 Gb recovery partition because you don't need it? Hmmmm is that because you think you won't need to ever reinstall/restore windows or because you have an alternative? Having a way to reinstall/restore your operating system to an un-used status is essential! Note that restorepoints are no real alternative to an image of the system-partition. The only alternative to an image of the (un-used) system-partition would normally be reinstalling windows from an installation dvd and reinstalling the hardware-drivers after that.



If you are willing to spend a small amount of money, and invest a bit of your time into studying the manual carefully, then get this utility:

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootit-bare-metal.htm

I actually didn't use this utility because i still use an earlier release (bootit ng) but it should be a great tool for all your systemmanagement needs like making system-images, multibooting and partition management.





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Answer 2

To get to two partitions only...one 50GB and one using the rest of the hard drive you're probably going to have start from scratch...delete all partitions, create the two you want and reinstall Windows 7.



If you have free or unallocated space on both sides of the partition Windows 7 is on there is no way to make one partition out of that. Space needs to be continuous.



I'm guessing the two tiny partitions are on the outer edge of the hard drive...to the left of the Windows partition and the 50GB of space is on the right (at the end of the hard drive).

Answer 3

"So I deleted the new 50 GB partition and it became free space." If you deleted the partition, it shouldn't have become free space-- it should have also become unallocated space.



What happened when you tried to install the Windows 8 preview on the partition you created? You have to create the partition from unallocated space, not free space.

Answer 4

Go a head and partition your hard drive for what good it will do you, Can you not under stand plane English, Windows 8 needs to be installed on it's own it will NOT set it up as a duel boot system It will reformat and wipe everything of the hard drive,



Plus there are a lot of problems (Bugs) with it

Answer 5

I do not suggest you delete the recovery partition. of course you could delete them as well however, if there is something wrong with your system you will face the big difficulty to recover. (: