Deleting a partition
Using DD Suite 10 Build 2239 under Vista Home Premium, I have tried repeatedly to delete a partition without success. On disk 1, I have two logical partitions (other than C: and D:). When I select one of the partitions, choose the Delete option in the side menu, choose delete data with 3 wipes the display shows the selected partition as Unallocated. So I choose to Commit, which requires Reboot. After reboot, the previously-selected partition still exists without any change. What am I missing?
If a reboot is required, the partition must be in use by Windows. In that situation, it's usually best to boot to the TI CD and perform the procedure.
Do you know if Windows is using either of the partitions for something (page file, etc.)?
Will Disk Management allow you to reformat the partitions? If it will, they may be able to be deleted afterwards.
Bodgy, deleting without wiping made no difference.
MudCrab, Disk Management did indicate that the partition was "in use" by Windows. Why I don't know. Any way DM did allow "forced deleting" of the partition and then defined it as "free space." Then, Disk Director showed it that way, too, and I was able to expand the other logical partition to include all of that free space. Thanks immensely.
However, that still does not solve the "bug" in Disk Director -- that's a flaw for those in Rio Linda. How do I get this issue communciated most effectively to Acronis?
I don't think it's a bug so much as a safety measure. If DD detects anything different than expected, it aborts and leaves the partitions as they were. This helps to avoid data loss. In this case, Windows was using the partition and wouldn't release it enough to allow DD to change it.
As previously stated, for procedures that require a reboot, it's generally best to do them from the DD CD. This gets Windows out of the way.
MudCrab, please help me with the DD CD. I have the original DD Suite 10.0 CD, but I don't think it has an executable version on it -- only the install. Of course, I have downloaded the update to Build 2239, which I now use. I do have a Bootable Media with DD, but that seems like using a crowbar instead of a screwdriver. But, I don't mind using Disk Management, if that's what is required.
Of course, "bug" is open to question. I call it a "bug" when I think a program does not do what I think a typical user would expect it to do. That, of course, is likely different from what the program designer might believe. Anyway, DD indicates that it has a function to "Delete" a partition, which is selected. If DD goes through its process to completion, including giving me the impression that doing so will require a reboot, and upon reboot it tells me that DD has "completed," I logically expect that it has done so successfully. When that is not the case, I call that a "bug."
Now, if in the process DD detects that the partition selected is "busy" and that it will not be able to perform the function, I would expect it to give me an error or, at least, a warning that it will not or may not be able to complete successfully. That, of course, would eliminate the "bug."
I very much appreciate your help and guidance. I hope that I learn something from every mistake I make -- and there have been many more than a few.
The fact that DD needs to reboot is notification that one or more of the partitions involved in the changes is "in use" by Windows. It definately could be made more obvious, though.
I completely agree that DD should display a message if the requested procedure failed in any way. In most cases, the user finds out by noticing that nothing changed (and isn't very happy about it).
When DD reboots to make changes, it's running in automatic mode from a script of instructions of what you told it to do. There isn't any user input available nor is there any option on what to do upon failure.
When you boot to the DD CD and make the changes yourself, you have complete control over the process and can see any error messages or problems and handle them accordingly.
You may disagree, but I feel partitioning (especially partitioning that affects a running system) should be performed outside of the running system and should be done manually (by the user). In addition to that, I highly recommend creating an Entire Disk Image backup prior to any partitioning changes (assuming the data on the drive is important).
As for the DD CD media, you can create it using Media Builder (it's generally best to include both the Full Mode and Safe Mode versions) or download the ISO from your Acronis account and create a CD from that. The downloaded ISO uses ISOLinux and usually has more updated drivers than the one created using Media Builder (however, it does not include the Safe Mode version).
---
Were you able to complete the partitioning changes you needed or was somthing still left to do?
Thanks for your comments. Very helpful. Yes, I was able to complete all the partitioning changes I needed. Even though, I have created the ISO image using Media Builder on CD, I did not use it. I was able to accomplish all I needed using Disk Management. Thanks again.