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Thread: Unallocated Disk Space

  1. #1
    rubyearth Guest
    Hi

    I recently installed a new Backup Software program on my HP PC - running
    Vista.

    The program created a new recovery partition using disk space from my C drive.

    Have since uninstalled the program as I was not happy with it at all.

    The new recovery partition is gone, but the disk space originally taken from
    C drive and allocated to the new program's partition (120Gb) is now showing
    as Unallocated in Computer Management.

    What I'd like to know is, how do I get my system back to how it was
    originally, i.e. put this unallocated disk space back into C drive as I would
    prefer not to have any other partitions?

    I tried doing Extend Volume in Disk Management for C drive, but it is greyed
    out so not an option.
    System Restore to a time before the program was installed.

  2. #2
    rubyearth Guest

    Re: Unallocated Disk Space

    Thanks for your reply Bob. Unfortunately, when the new program was
    installed, it automatically deleted all system restore points, something that
    I definately wasn't aware of before installing the darn thing.

    Any other suggestions?

  3. #3
    R. C. White Guest

    Re: Unallocated Disk Space

    Hi, rubyearth.

    Your solution may be simple - or not - depending on some facts that you've
    not yet told us.

    The name of the "new Backup Software program" may be important. Someone
    here might recognize it and know about any problems or quirks it might have.

    You have not told us how many hard drives and how they are organized.
    Specifically, WHERE is that 120 GB of "Unallocated" space? Does it actually
    say "Unallocated"? Mine says "Free space". (It means the same thing, but
    you know how picky computers can get sometimes.)

  4. #4
    Bob Guest
    System Recovery will restore your PC to factory condition. Backup your
    documents first and make sure you have what's necessary to reinstall
    programs you have installed.

    The problem is the Recovery partition. Because of this partition the built
    in program in Vista won't be able to extend the C: drive. You would have to
    use some 3rd party software. I'd recommend Acronis Disk Director but you
    seem to be unhappy with their software.

    Yes, I agree, I am very tempted to restore back to factory settings.
    Although willing to try to find an alternative, just thinking about all the
    programs and their updates that I will have to reinstall and download etc.....
    --

    As R.C. White said if you don't need the Recovery partition then deleting it
    will probably allow you to extend C:. I would use the HP Recovery Manager to
    do this. Some OEM computers with recovery partitions have a non-standard
    boot sector. Deleting the partition by any other method may leave you with a
    system that doesn't boot.

  5. #5
    frj111 Guest

    Re: Unallocated Disk Space

    This whole backup issue is fraught with peril. That phrase sounds like
    something Microsoft would say. Firstly let me say that Ghost 2003 will
    back up vista 32 and vista 64 flawlessly.

    On a speed optimized system a 15 Gb backup takes about 9 minutes.
    Ghost 2003 is a DOS program so you folks that are conceptually
    handicapped when it comes to DOS are urged to quit reading at this
    point.

    I hope this prevents other folks from getting into trouble with bogus
    hard drive partitions. Ghost does none of that nonsense.


    --
    frj111

  6. #6
    rubyearth Guest
    Hi

    The program is/was, Acronis True Image 11 Home.

    I have C Drive and a Recovery Drive D.

    Yes, space is showing as being unallocated.

    Have attempted to attach a screenshot, not sure if it will work.....

  7. #7
    frj111 Guest

    Re: Unallocated Disk Space


    Ruby,

    If you don’t have a lot of stuff I would suggest the following:

    1. Save all your documents pictures videos and music off to an external
    USB drive. If you don’t have one of these wonderful devices go to
    'Buy.com - Computers, Electronics, Digital Cameras, Books, DVDs, Music,
    Games, Software, Toys, Sports' (http://www.buy.com)
    2. Once you have safely saved by simply doing a directory by directory
    copy. Then …
    3. Reinstall Vista from the get go.

    Lastly remember do NOT install stuff like backup code unless you are
    pretty sure you know what you are doing. I continue to use Ghost 2003
    because I know exactly what it will and will not do.

    I hope this helps,


    --
    frj111

  8. #8
    rubyearth Guest

    Re: Unallocated Disk Space

    Thanks Kerry. Do you mean the Recovery partition as in my "Recovery (D:)
    drive", as per my screen shot?

    If so, would removal of the Recovery Partition D drive, solve the issue,
    i.e. allocate the current "Unallocated Disk Space" then plus the Recovery D
    space all back to C Drive? Or would I be left with a similar problem,
    allocation to C drive remains unchanged and them have an increased
    Unallocated space?

    My HP Total Care Recovery Manager gives the option of removing the Recovery
    Partition D to free up hard drive space.

  9. #9
    R. C. White Guest

    Re: Unallocated Disk Space

    Hi, rubyearth.

    As Kerry said, Drive D: is the roadblock. Not just because Drive D: exists,
    but because, as I suspected, it sits immediately following Drive C:. Disk
    Management's Extend Volume tool will not work on the System Volume unless
    there is CONTIGUOUS free space after that volume. If you don't need Drive
    D:'s contents, then just use Delete Volume to get rid of it. Then you
    should see just your 108 GB Drive C: followed by 125 GB of Unallocated or
    Free space. Then you can use Extend Volume to end up with a single 233 GB
    Drive C:.

    If you want to keep Drive D:'s contents, you can copy that to Drive C:
    before deleting Drive D:. If you want, you could create a new Drive D: at
    the end of your HD and move the contents there. This can be done in several
    ways; here's one way:

    1. Create a new 115 GB volume after Drive D:, but don't bother to format
    it or even give it a letter. This should leave 5 GB Free at the very end of
    your HD.

    2. Create a 5 GB volume at the end of the drive, format it and give it a
    temporary letter (X:?).

    3. Copy the contents of Drive D: to the new Drive X:.

    4. Delete Drive D: and the 115 GB volume.

    5. Rename Drive X: to Drive D:.

    6. Extend Drive C: to use all (or only some) of the space before the new
    Drive D:.

    Note that the Extend Volume wizard specifies space in MB, not GB. So if you
    want to extend Drive C: by 30 GB, tell it 30,000 (MB) not 30.

  10. #10
    R. C. White Guest

    Re: Unallocated Disk Space

    Hi, Kerry.

    Thanks for that info. I've never had an HP computer, so I didn't know about
    the Recovery Manager.

    In fact, I haven't had ANY brand-name computer since my KayPro 286 back in
    about 1986. Since then I've just bought the pieces and had them assembled -
    until I learned how to assemble them myself. Heck, that's half the fun of
    computing!

  11. #11
    rubyearth Guest

    Re: Unallocated Disk Space

    A huuuuge thankyou to everyone who responded - in particular R.C. White &
    Kerry Brown. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou

    Steps to resolve the issue from R.C. White were concise, extremely well
    explained, very easy to follow and best of all, worked like a dream. And as
    a plus, I was able to get rid of that D Recovery drive which for some reason
    has bugged me from the get go (a bit OC but all about choice/preference I
    suppose :-) )

  12. #12
    R. C. White Guest

    Re: Unallocated Disk Space

    Hi, rubyearth.

    You're welcome. And thanks for the feedback. That ought to help the next
    reader with a similar problem. ;<)

    Oh, one more tip: Your screenshot shows that you got to Disk Management the
    long way, via Computer Management. I prefer to simply enter "diskmgmt.msc"
    and go directly to DM - after furnishing Administrator credentials, of
    course. That way, I see DM full screen, rather than through CM's
    "peephole". I use DM so often that I've added a shortcut to my Quick
    Launch.

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