Looking to Merge two partition into one using freeware

Hi:

I have installed a 40 GB drive into a Windows XP System which currently has two partitions, about 17 GB and 19 GB. I am looking for a way to create one larger partition without dropping $60 on Partition Magic or some other software. a) Is there a free or shareware program I could do this with?
b) Maybe merging would not be possible but can I delete one of the exisitng partitions and then resize the remaining partition to use the full 35 GB?

Thank you,
Brooks Parker

For plan B, ntfsresize is a program from the NTFS for Linux project. Get a CD Linux like Knoppix and cross your fingers :p

Nodsu,

Which is the program I am trying to get, ntfsresize or Knoppix? Not sure I exactly understand. Also, is this something that runs from a Bootable CD, hence I don't hav eto be in Windows to work with the actually partitions?

Thanks,
Brooks

I quite often see free partition progs on magazine CDs,from people like Paragon and Acronis.

Knoppix is a Linux distribution that comes with the NTFS utilities and boots off a CD.