Partitioned hard-drive help

• Scarlet_Buckeye

  

  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???
• dlazz

  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.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Wut
• karen lotz

  

  Buy a mac
• Scarlet_Buckeye

  

  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.
• dlazz

  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.
• Scarlet_Buckeye

  

  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?
• WebFire

  You'll definitely want/need partition software to do this, and you'll have to backup all your shit on the D drive.
• gut

  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.
• gut

  That said, download CCleaner and use it to delete all restore backups. Might give you the space you need.
• dlazz

  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.
• Scarlet_Buckeye

  

  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.
• FatHobbit

  

  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)
• WebFire

  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.
• FatHobbit

  

  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.
• WebFire

  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.
• dlazz

  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.
• WebFire

  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.
• dlazz

  Fuck backups. Shit's for weak people.