Merging partitions

[tifc8lraz]

Hello TechSpot!

I just purchased an ASUS N56V notebook from a local computer store. When I set it up and first logged into Windows, I noticed that the HDD was split into three: a 279gb "OS" partition, an empty 393gb "Data" partition, and a 25gb "Recovery" partition.

I have been researching ways to "merge" the OS and Data partitions together (namely by deleting the Data partition and extending the OS partition), but I have not been successful in finding ways to accomplish this without having to delete the recovery partition, which I'm trying to avoid doing. Is it possible to do this?

I have attached an image of the Disk Management tab of the Computer Management utility.

Thanks for any responses!

 

[Tmagic650]

Try this:
http://www.easeus.com/

 

[LookinAround]

I think Tmagic is referring to Easus Partition Manager Home Edition (is free) http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm

You can delete your D partition, then resize C to take up all that free disk space. Note you have to hit the Apply button before Easus starts to make any physical changes to the disk.

 

[SNGX1275]

If thats Windows 7 I'm pretty sure you can just delete D and then "expand" C into the free space. It shouldn't mess with the recovery partition.

 

[Tmagic650]

I think Tmagic is referring to Easus Partition Manager Home Edition (is free) http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm

You can delete your D partition, then resize C to take up all that free disk space. Note you have to hit the Apply button before Easus starts to make any physical changes to the disk.

Yes, that's it... And on laptops out of warranty I delete the recovery partition too

 

[tifc8lraz]

If thats Windows 7 I'm pretty sure you can just delete D and then "expand" C into the free space. It shouldn't mess with the recovery partition.

That worked! Now I feel a bit stupid . When I was doing research on how to do this, every single post said that the disk management utility won't extend a partition if there is another partition after the free space.

 

[SNGX1275]

Yeah, I don't think you could do it even in Vista and I know you couldn't in XP or prior. So if people hadn't actually done it themselves in 7 they probably just figured you had to use a 3rd party tool like 'always'. Its understandable.

 

[LookinAround]

That worked! Now I feel a bit stupid . When I was doing research on how to do this, every single post said that the disk management utility won't extend a partition if there is another partition after the free space.

Don't feel bad. And per SNGX's post, I never knew you could do it in Win 7 either without a 3rd party tool.

So thanks to you both for learning something new