Need Help: Merging several smaller drives to one big drive keeping drive-letters and partitions

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Hello,

Is this possible with this software? Anyone got some tips or suggestions?

I want to merge several smaller drives to one big drive but keeping the drive letters

Thanks in advance

//Mikael

Do, 01/05/2012 - 15:26
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mvp

Yes, this is possible. If this disk become a boot disk, you will probably have to repair your computer startup with the Windows installation DVD, and you will have to make sure to mark the right partition active before doing so.

If the number of partitions is bigger than 4, you will have to prepartition your target disk using Windows Diskpart to create the necessary primary partitions for the active and boot partitions, and then additional one extended with logical partitions for the others. If you use a GPT disk, you are not limited by the number of partitions (up to 128), but I would recommend you still prepartition your disk.

The procedure consist in a disk and partition backup first, then a restore. Do everything from the recovery CD.
Preparation:
- Make sure that each partition you are moving as a distinct label (include the drive letter in the label). This will help you keep track of what is what when you use the recovery CD
- Print a screen shot of the disk management window of the disks you are moving from (right click the computer icon on your desktop, choose manage, storage, disk management)
- If you have more than 4 partitions, use Diskpart to prepartition your disk, mark the right partition active, create the logical partitions where needed, and create partition labels including the desired drive letter for easy mapping when you use the recovery CD.
The backup
- Boot the computer on the Acronis recovery CD. Remember the drive letters that ATI will show you on the boot CD are typically different from the ones in Windows. This is when you understand that putting the original drive letters in the partition label helps...
- Create a disk and partition backup of each partition you want to move. Include in the backup any hidden partition that you have seen in the disk management screenshot. You can do distinct backups or combined, doesn't matter.
- Store these backups on a USB disk.
- Validate your backup(s) upon completion
- Shut down the computer and remove the original disks from it.
- Place the new disk inside. If it becomes a boot disk, place it at the same spot/connection the previous system disk with active partition was.
The restore
- Boot the computer on the Acronis recovery CD. Restore each partition, one at a time, starting with the partitions of the previous system disk, and put them in the same order they were before (use your screenshot)
- The new destination of each partition is the new disk, or a specific partition if you prepartioned the disk.
- Mark the right partition primary active
- Resize the partition as you want (this option is not available if you have prepartioned your disk and restore to an existing partition)
- Don't change the drive letter
- No need to reboot in between restores
Finishing up
- Once all partitions are restored, shutdowm the computer and try to boot,
- If the system doesn't boot, reboot on the windows installation DVD and, using the command prompt and diskpart (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc766465(WS.10).aspx), inspect your disk to verify that the partition letters and labels are matching. Using diskpart, make sure the intended partition is active.
- If the system still doesn't boot, reboot on the windows installatioin DVD and repair the startup. If might take a few passes, with a reboot each time you click on fix.

Do, 01/05/2012 - 19:43
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truwrikodrorowrelupicugojestutroclulachosaswunuhospikigawakijosaswenomaruclojeueclikaspedrubewidebrisubrohutrurifruuagothunugekedrumucisiuobrobrecrupeslapuswosluprothethibakaslechurathikucli
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The system drive will not be moved (c:) I want to move D - G to a single larger drive.

Thanks for the info. I will do mybest :)

Do, 01/05/2012 - 20:16
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mvp

Non system disks are easier.
Still do everything from the recovery CD. You don't need to prepartition either.

Fr, 01/06/2012 - 04:54
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