Shrink volume & create new partition using disk management console

Vista Home Premium, x86, SP2, 160GB HDD, HP6375US laptop

I downloaded Windows 7 RC1 with the intent of adding a partition to my HDD
and dual booting. My understanding is that I would need a 16GB partition.
My Disk Management Console tells me I have two existing primary partitions
(expected). D (the recovery partition) is 6.62GB. The other (C) makes up
the difference (~142GB) and has 47.1GB free space.

When I begin the "shrink volume" process, it says that only 3MB is available
to shrink C. I checked the page file and it has less than 3GB allocated to
it. So, I have two questions. First, why isn't more shrinkage ;>) space
available? Two, assuming that with your help I can find more space, if I
try to create a 16GB partition from C will I significantly affect computer
performance?

On Tue, 2 Jun 2009 14:12:17 -0400, "rak" <> wrote:

>Vista Home Premium, x86, SP2, 160GB HDD, HP6375US laptop
>
>I downloaded Windows 7 RC1 with the intent of adding a partition to my HDD
>and dual booting. My understanding is that I would need a 16GB partition.
>My Disk Management Console tells me I have two existing primary partitions
>(expected). D (the recovery partition) is 6.62GB. The other (C) makes up
>the difference (~142GB) and has 47.1GB free space.
>
>When I begin the "shrink volume" process, it says that only 3MB is available
>to shrink C. I checked the page file and it has less than 3GB allocated to
>it. So, I have two questions. First, why isn't more shrinkage ;>) space
>available? Two, assuming that with your help I can find more space, if I
>try to create a 16GB partition from C will I significantly affect computer
>performance?


You will no doubt need a third-party partition manager. Vista's disk
manager will only let you shrink until it runs into a file on your
drive that it can't move.

Try EASEUS partition manger. It's free.

Google it.

"rak" <> wrote in message
news:smeVl.109604$...
> Vista Home Premium, x86, SP2, 160GB HDD, HP6375US laptop
>
> I downloaded Windows 7 RC1 with the intent of adding a partition to my HDD
> and dual booting. My understanding is that I would need a 16GB partition.
> My Disk Management Console tells me I have two existing primary partitions
> (expected). D (the recovery partition) is 6.62GB. The other (C) makes up
> the difference (~142GB) and has 47.1GB free space.
>
> When I begin the "shrink volume" process, it says that only 3MB is
> available to shrink C. I checked the page file and it has less than 3GB
> allocated to it. So, I have two questions. First, why isn't more
> shrinkage ;>) space available? Two, assuming that with your help I can
> find more space, if I try to create a 16GB partition from C will I
> significantly affect computer performance?

This might not be a good idea...

System recovery is where many brand name manufactures (including HP) store
data to restore Windows Vista to factory condition.

Thanks for the ideas. I already have Paragon. I'll defrag and give it a
try.



"rak" <> wrote in message
news:smeVl.109604$...
> Vista Home Premium, x86, SP2, 160GB HDD, HP6375US laptop
>
> I downloaded Windows 7 RC1 with the intent of adding a partition to my HDD
> and dual booting. My understanding is that I would need a 16GB partition.
> My Disk Management Console tells me I have two existing primary partitions
> (expected). D (the recovery partition) is 6.62GB. The other (C) makes up
> the difference (~142GB) and has 47.1GB free space.
>
> When I begin the "shrink volume" process, it says that only 3MB is
> available to shrink C. I checked the page file and it has less than 3GB
> allocated to it. So, I have two questions. First, why isn't more
> shrinkage ;>) space available? Two, assuming that with your help I can
> find more space, if I try to create a 16GB partition from C will I
> significantly affect computer performance?

Not sure I understand your concern. I'm working with C, not D. Do you mean
there is system recovery info on C I should protect? If so, can you tell me
where?

"Tae Song" <> wrote in message
news:5EA7905A-BF5C-4EC5-8A72-...
>
> "rak" <> wrote in message
> news:smeVl.109604$...
>> Vista Home Premium, x86, SP2, 160GB HDD, HP6375US laptop
>>
>> I downloaded Windows 7 RC1 with the intent of adding a partition to my
>> HDD and dual booting. My understanding is that I would need a 16GB
>> partition. My Disk Management Console tells me I have two existing
>> primary partitions (expected). D (the recovery partition) is 6.62GB.
>> The other (C) makes up the difference (~142GB) and has 47.1GB free space.
>>
>> When I begin the "shrink volume" process, it says that only 3MB is
>> available to shrink C. I checked the page file and it has less than 3GB
>> allocated to it. So, I have two questions. First, why isn't more
>> shrinkage ;>) space available? Two, assuming that with your help I can
>> find more space, if I try to create a 16GB partition from C will I
>> significantly affect computer performance?
>
> This might not be a good idea...
>
> System recovery is where many brand name manufactures (including HP) store
> data to restore Windows Vista to factory condition.

Hi,

Installing Win7 will overwrite the proprietary boot sector and you will
likely lose access to the recovery partition should you ever need it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"rak" <> wrote in message
news:fwgVl.126$...
> Not sure I understand your concern. I'm working with C, not D. Do you
> mean there is system recovery info on C I should protect? If so, can you
> tell me where?
>
> "Tae Song" <> wrote in message
> news:5EA7905A-BF5C-4EC5-8A72-...
>>
>> "rak" <> wrote in message
>> news:smeVl.109604$...
>>> Vista Home Premium, x86, SP2, 160GB HDD, HP6375US laptop
>>>
>>> I downloaded Windows 7 RC1 with the intent of adding a partition to my
>>> HDD and dual booting. My understanding is that I would need a 16GB
>>> partition. My Disk Management Console tells me I have two existing
>>> primary partitions (expected). D (the recovery partition) is 6.62GB.
>>> The other (C) makes up the difference (~142GB) and has 47.1GB free
>>> space.
>>>
>>> When I begin the "shrink volume" process, it says that only 3MB is
>>> available to shrink C. I checked the page file and it has less than 3GB
>>> allocated to it. So, I have two questions. First, why isn't more
>>> shrinkage ;>) space available? Two, assuming that with your help I can
>>> find more space, if I try to create a 16GB partition from C will I
>>> significantly affect computer performance?
>>
>> This might not be a good idea...
>>
>> System recovery is where many brand name manufactures (including HP)
>> store data to restore Windows Vista to factory condition.
>

Defrag won't help unless it's a third party tool capable of moving the
locked files near the end of the volume. Most times these turn out to be
parts of the MFT, so you'll need a product that can deal with it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"rak" <> wrote in message
news:zugVl.124$...
> Thanks for the ideas. I already have Paragon. I'll defrag and give it a
> try.
>
>
>
> "rak" <> wrote in message
> news:smeVl.109604$...
>> Vista Home Premium, x86, SP2, 160GB HDD, HP6375US laptop
>>
>> I downloaded Windows 7 RC1 with the intent of adding a partition to my
>> HDD and dual booting. My understanding is that I would need a 16GB
>> partition. My Disk Management Console tells me I have two existing
>> primary partitions (expected). D (the recovery partition) is 6.62GB.
>> The other (C) makes up the difference (~142GB) and has 47.1GB free space.
>>
>> When I begin the "shrink volume" process, it says that only 3MB is
>> available to shrink C. I checked the page file and it has less than 3GB
>> allocated to it. So, I have two questions. First, why isn't more
>> shrinkage ;>) space available? Two, assuming that with your help I can
>> find more space, if I try to create a 16GB partition from C will I
>> significantly affect computer performance?
>

Got it. Thanks. I'll consider the best course - perhaps put it on my older
MCE machine.

"Rick Rogers" <> wrote in message
news:OJHihG$...
> Hi,
>
> Installing Win7 will overwrite the proprietary boot sector and you will
> likely lose access to the recovery partition should you ever need it.
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>
> "rak" <> wrote in message
> news:fwgVl.126$...
>> Not sure I understand your concern. I'm working with C, not D. Do you
>> mean there is system recovery info on C I should protect? If so, can you
>> tell me where?
>>
>> "Tae Song" <> wrote in message
>> news:5EA7905A-BF5C-4EC5-8A72-...
>>>
>>> "rak" <> wrote in message
>>> news:smeVl.109604$...
>>>> Vista Home Premium, x86, SP2, 160GB HDD, HP6375US laptop
>>>>
>>>> I downloaded Windows 7 RC1 with the intent of adding a partition to my
>>>> HDD and dual booting. My understanding is that I would need a 16GB
>>>> partition. My Disk Management Console tells me I have two existing
>>>> primary partitions (expected). D (the recovery partition) is 6.62GB.
>>>> The other (C) makes up the difference (~142GB) and has 47.1GB free
>>>> space.
>>>>
>>>> When I begin the "shrink volume" process, it says that only 3MB is
>>>> available to shrink C. I checked the page file and it has less than
>>>> 3GB allocated to it. So, I have two questions. First, why isn't more
>>>> shrinkage ;>) space available? Two, assuming that with your help I can
>>>> find more space, if I try to create a 16GB partition from C will I
>>>> significantly affect computer performance?
>>>
>>> This might not be a good idea...
>>>
>>> System recovery is where many brand name manufactures (including HP)
>>> store data to restore Windows Vista to factory condition.
>>
>

Thx. I may not have to do any heavy duty defrag. While exploring C with
paragon, I found an error requiring use of chkdsk to fix. I plan to recheck
shrink space again asap.

"Rick Rogers" <> wrote in message
news:em2jkH$...
> Defrag won't help unless it's a third party tool capable of moving the
> locked files near the end of the volume. Most times these turn out to be
> parts of the MFT, so you'll need a product that can deal with it.
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>
> "rak" <> wrote in message
> news:zugVl.124$...
>> Thanks for the ideas. I already have Paragon. I'll defrag and give it a
>> try.
>>
>>
>>
>> "rak" <> wrote in message
>> news:smeVl.109604$...
>>> Vista Home Premium, x86, SP2, 160GB HDD, HP6375US laptop
>>>
>>> I downloaded Windows 7 RC1 with the intent of adding a partition to my
>>> HDD and dual booting. My understanding is that I would need a 16GB
>>> partition. My Disk Management Console tells me I have two existing
>>> primary partitions (expected). D (the recovery partition) is 6.62GB.
>>> The other (C) makes up the difference (~142GB) and has 47.1GB free
>>> space.
>>>
>>> When I begin the "shrink volume" process, it says that only 3MB is
>>> available to shrink C. I checked the page file and it has less than 3GB
>>> allocated to it. So, I have two questions. First, why isn't more
>>> shrinkage ;>) space available? Two, assuming that with your help I can
>>> find more space, if I try to create a 16GB partition from C will I
>>> significantly affect computer performance?
>>
>