Help needed to boot with the bootable disk in Windows 8
I got a new Dell Windows 8 desktop a few days ago. By a mistake, I created C-partition which is smaller than what it needs. But I created True Image backup files (tib).
What I want to do is to delete all partitions in the hard drive (2 tb size). Then, I want to create a bigger partition for Windows (or C-) partition. My question is how to boot from CD drive with Acronis bootable disk. I have done similar tasks many times with Windows XP and 7 in the past. But the whole system in Windows 8 is quite different from other OS because F12 or F2 key does not work anymore for changing boot sequence. Your advise would be appreciated.
OK. Here is the detailed explanation and the screen shot:
Here is a screen capture of 2 TB main drive.
When I got the computer a few days ago, the area combining a + b + c (non allocated) are about 1.8TB . When I partitioned into a (150 gb) and c (1.65 GB), it suddenly created "b" partition by itself. The b partition seems to be a sort of system partition. I was not able delete this partition and it is a sort of un-touchable system partition. That is the core problem.. So because of the center "b" partition, I was not able to expand C-partition to bigger size. So I need your help.
I suggest you resize the partitions using the free tool below
Download the iso file. Once downloaded, burn the file onto a newblank CD as an image.
If using Win 7, you can right click on the downlaoded file and use the "open with Windows Disk Imag e Burner"
http://www.partitionwizard.com/partition-wizard-bootable-cd.html
This will creat e a bootable CD which is a partition utility.
I will explain how to use the tool in a later posting.
No time now.
To resize/make drive C partition larger.
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( The goal is to reduce the size of Drive J by whatever amount you wish to increase Drive C. So if you wish to increase drive C by 100 GB, you must reduce the size of Drive J by 100 GB.) To do so,
Boot from the Mini-Tools Partition Wizard Bootable CD.
All adjustment will be made on the single disk.
The term "drag" means to press and hold the mouse pointer and move the pointer laterally while the mouse button is depressed.
1. A single partitons will become highlighted when a specific partiton is selected with the mouse pointer.
2. Click on Partiton J which is the extreme right side partition. Partition will hghlight.
3. With mouse pointer inside Drive J, RIGHT CLICK and choose the MOVE/RESIZE option.
4a. From inside the Move/Resize window, hover the mouse pointer overtop the left boundary line until two vertical bars appear overtop the left boundary line, or left border line of Drive J.
4b. Drag the two vertical bars (left bounmdary of Drive J) to the right to make J smaller. Drag by whatever size you wish to increase drive C. Note that only the left boundary line is to move. Right boundary of Drive J is to remain unchanged touching whatever partition is located on right side of Drive J.
Click the OK button
5. Relocate mouse pointer inside the non-lettered 350 MB partition. This 350 mb partition is located between C and J.
With mouse pointer inside 350mb partition, RIGHT CLICK and choose the MOVE/RESIZE option.
Place mouse pointer in the middle of the partition and drag the entire partition so that the entire partitioon moves from left to right.
Upon completion of the "drag" , size of the 350mb partiton will be unchanged but the unallocated space has been shifted so all un-allocated space is now between right boundary of drive C and the left boundary of the 350MB partition.
Click the OK button
6. With mouse pointer inside Drive C, RIGHT CLICK and choose the MOVE/RESIZE option.
Relocate mouse pointer on right side boundary line of Drive C until the double vertical bars appear. . Drag the vertical bars (right boundary line to the right to consume all unallocated space.
Click the OK button.
Upon completion of the movements, there should be no unallocated space between Drive C and Drive J.
Drive C should be the desired enlarged size and the 350mb partition's size should not have changed.
7. Visually inspect. The only change you should see is that J is smaller by X and C is larger by X. There should be no unalloated space either on the right or left of Partition J, and no unallocated space either on left or right boundaries of drive C.
If changes appear correct, click the Apply button in upper left corner of program window. Or, , if changes need correction, click the UNDO and DISCARD BUTTONS and redo the corrections again.
Edited--Minor corrections.
GroverH. Thanks for your suggetions.
It now seems to be more complicated than what I thought.
I have Acronis Disk Director 11. Hoping that it is compatible with Win 8, I will try whether I could move the "c" partition in front of "b" partition. If that is possible, the "c" partition could be deleted. Then the " a" partition could be easily expanded. I have no experience in moving partitions, I got to study and experiment it. If that fails, your advise will be the next choice.
Thanks GroverH again.
It looks harder than it really is. The nice thing about it is that you can perform the first 8 steps and when you get to step 9,
you can either cancel or apply. If you choose the cancel option, then you have made no changes and you have the benefit of the practice. As I recall, Disk Director is NOT compatible with 8 so any changes you make with it are immediat ely applied and there is no return.
There is a good chance that the use of Disk Director will ultimately results you needing to reinstall Windows.
In my opinion, if the "C" partition could be move to the front of "b" partition, no need to re-install Windows 8.
When I got the computer, there were 4-5 factory-installed partition (one includes Recovery). So I wish not to mess it up. I might be wrong, though. I will try to work on this weekend. If it goes well, I will let you know.
GroverH,
I made it this morning. I tried to use Disk Director 11 but it does not work on my C-drive. It appears that DD11 is not compatible with GPT drive. I just posted a question to Disk Director forum how to handle GPT drive for Disk Director.
I installed EASEUS Partition Master. Voila!!! That solved the whole problem, resizing and merging without re-installing Windows 8. It appears that EASEUS Partition Manager performs better than Disk Director.
The suggested Partition Wizard would have been equally as easy essentially using the same procedures I suggested in my prior post.. Glad you resolved your issue. DD11 has not ben changed for quote some time.