Can I merge partitions?

BrokenHalo83 · May 24th, 2008

I'm formatting a laptop and there is 3 partitions on it. I'm putting xp on it, and I was wondering can I merge two back together so there is only two partitions? It's a Sony Vaio VGN-FE630. T2300 processor @ 1.66Ghz, 512Mb of ram. TIA.

theburan · May 24th, 2008

Should be able to, especially if you merge the two partitions that don't have xp on it.

I'd back up whatever you have on those 2 partitions, then either download the gparted live cd, or just the ubuntu cd, which has a live boot option (and includes gparted), and use that to merge the two partitions together.

Just make sure to back up everything first.

**PrOLifIC_onE** · May 25th, 2008

If you can get your hands on a copy of Partition Magic, that might work well for you as well. But as previously mentioned, back up all important files before any attempt.

screwballl · May 25th, 2008

If there is any info you need, back it up first
second make sure you get GParted, this works fantastic and it is FREE. I have used it on multiple computers here to split partitions and to merge partitions just as you mentioned.
I recently used it on my laptop to create 2 partitions so I could dual boot XP and Ubuntu 8.04.

BrokenHalo83 · May 25th, 2008

Awesome! I'll try one of those programs and see how it goes.

Boy'nBlack · May 25th, 2008

If you're wanting a clean install anyway, shouldn't need to worry about too much and just fdisk. Partition magic is if you want to actively move partitions without much worry about losing data. No need if you're moving up to XP from something else and don't mind junking the old install.

BrokenHalo83 · May 25th, 2008

When I formatted, they stayed as three drives. I couldnt get them down to two.

Also, it seems someone put 2 copies of xp pro along with xp home on this laptop. when I formatted with xp home, one of the copies of xp pro come still come up as a boot selection. Any reason why?

theburan · May 25th, 2008

What did you use to format, btw? Did you actually use gparted or something like that to delete and merger partitions?

On a related note, I totally killed my ubuntu partition and my vista partition on my laptop with gparted today.

Still don't know why the ext3 partition suddenly decided to become unallocated.

Thankfully, I keep important stuff on external drives

.

polobunny · May 25th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrokenHalo83

When I formatted, they stayed as three drives. I couldnt get them down to two.

Also, it seems someone put 2 copies of xp pro along with xp home on this laptop. when I formatted with xp home, one of the copies of xp pro come still come up as a boot selection. Any reason why?

XP install copied the content of a boot.ini either on this partition or another one.

When installing if you want to "merge" partitions you need to delete the partitions and create a new one.

Lead Head · May 25th, 2008

XP and Vista both have a built in partition merger

How can I use DiskPart to extend a volume?

I actually just used it today, quick , easy and worked perfect

May 24th, 2008	#1
BrokenHalo83 Got Boost? Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 226	Can I merge partitions? I'm formatting a laptop and there is 3 partitions on it. I'm putting xp on it, and I was wondering can I merge two back together so there is only two partitions? It's a Sony Vaio VGN-FE630. T2300 processor @ 1.66Ghz, 512Mb of ram. TIA. E8400 @ 3.2Ghz Asus Maximus Formula 4GB OCZ Platinum PC-6400 EVGA Akimbo 8800GT - 1024MB WD Caviar SE 320GB 16MB Seagate Barracuda 320GB 16MB Antec 900 Case OCZ GameXstream 600w XP Pro Logitech z-5300e 5.1

May 24th, 2008	#2
theburan Packers Fanboi Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rapid City, SD (ish) Posts: 822 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Can I merge partitions? Should be able to, especially if you merge the two partitions that don't have xp on it. I'd back up whatever you have on those 2 partitions, then either download the gparted live cd, or just the ubuntu cd, which has a live boot option (and includes gparted), and use that to merge the two partitions together. Just make sure to back up everything first. e6300@3.33ghz\|Asus P5k-e WiFi\| 4gb OCZ ReaperX\|2x 3870's\|1.3tb storage space\|MSI tv tuner.

May 25th, 2008	#3
PrOLifIC_onE 5 Minute Mod Man Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 676 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Can I merge partitions? If you can get your hands on a copy of Partition Magic, that might work well for you as well. But as previously mentioned, back up all important files before any attempt.

May 25th, 2008	#4
screwballl Colonel Calamity Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sandy South Posts: 6,279 Blog Entries: 6	Re: Can I merge partitions? If there is any info you need, back it up first second make sure you get GParted, this works fantastic and it is FREE. I have used it on multiple computers here to split partitions and to merge partitions just as you mentioned. I recently used it on my laptop to create 2 partitions so I could dual boot XP and Ubuntu 8.04. Thanks HL and Corsair! My opinions are my own and not representative of this site or its members.

May 25th, 2008	#5
BrokenHalo83 Got Boost? Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 226	Re: Can I merge partitions? Awesome! I'll try one of those programs and see how it goes. E8400 @ 3.2Ghz Asus Maximus Formula 4GB OCZ Platinum PC-6400 EVGA Akimbo 8800GT - 1024MB WD Caviar SE 320GB 16MB Seagate Barracuda 320GB 16MB Antec 900 Case OCZ GameXstream 600w XP Pro Logitech z-5300e 5.1

May 25th, 2008	#6
Boy'nBlack F Ucn rd dis U mst uzUNIX Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: South of Heaven Posts: 493 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Can I merge partitions? If you're wanting a clean install anyway, shouldn't need to worry about too much and just fdisk. Partition magic is if you want to actively move partitions without much worry about losing data. No need if you're moving up to XP from something else and don't mind junking the old install.

May 25th, 2008	#7
BrokenHalo83 Got Boost? Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 226	Re: Can I merge partitions? When I formatted, they stayed as three drives. I couldnt get them down to two. Also, it seems someone put 2 copies of xp pro along with xp home on this laptop. when I formatted with xp home, one of the copies of xp pro come still come up as a boot selection. Any reason why? E8400 @ 3.2Ghz Asus Maximus Formula 4GB OCZ Platinum PC-6400 EVGA Akimbo 8800GT - 1024MB WD Caviar SE 320GB 16MB Seagate Barracuda 320GB 16MB Antec 900 Case OCZ GameXstream 600w XP Pro Logitech z-5300e 5.1 Last edited by BrokenHalo83; May 25th, 2008 at 14:14.

May 25th, 2008	#8
theburan Packers Fanboi Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rapid City, SD (ish) Posts: 822 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Can I merge partitions? What did you use to format, btw? Did you actually use gparted or something like that to delete and merger partitions? On a related note, I totally killed my ubuntu partition and my vista partition on my laptop with gparted today. Still don't know why the ext3 partition suddenly decided to become unallocated. Thankfully, I keep important stuff on external drives . e6300@3.33ghz\|Asus P5k-e WiFi\| 4gb OCZ ReaperX\|2x 3870's\|1.3tb storage space\|MSI tv tuner.

May 25th, 2008	#10
Lead Head Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rhode Island USA Posts: 1,716	Re: Can I merge partitions? XP and Vista both have a built in partition merger How can I use DiskPart to extend a volume? I actually just used it today, quick , easy and worked perfect Opteron 64 165--1.5GB DDR--ECS KA1 MVP(thanks HL!)--x1800GTO 256MB--Seagate 320GB SATA--Antec 550 Watt--Antec P180

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