merge two hard drives using partition magic 8?

On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 18:59:09 -0700, shuaipig_1983.RemoveThis@sina.com
wrote:

>i suggest u do not use partition magic 8,cause this software is only
>used in the windows xp,u can use some other software in the dos
>model,

Untrue.

PM8 can be run entirely from a bootable (to DOS) floppy
disc, or thumbdrive, etc. XP is not needed, though after
you get the PM8 software CD you may need an OS to make that
bootable media the first time, after which point that media
can work on the system without any OS, just one blank drive.
 >> Stay informed about: merge two hard drives using partition magic 8? 

On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 18:13:54 -0700, "aaronep@pacbell.net"
<aaronep DeleteThis @pacbell.net> wrote:

>I am using Windows XP. Have computer with two hard drives
>installed. Primary drive is 250 gig and secondary drive is only 30
>gig. There is more than 30 gig of un used space on the primary
>drive. Is it possible using Partition Magic 8, or perhaps some
>other application to merge all of the contents of the secondary drive
>onto the primary drive so that there would be no need for more than
>one drive in the computer?


Is the second drive holding an OS, and you need to preserve
the ability to boot to that copy of the OS? If not, there
is no reason to "merge" contents.

Does the primary drive have a second partition on it at
least 30GB large? If not, and you wanted to use PM8 to dupe
the 30GB drive's OS (more easily than other ways), you could
use PM8 to divide the 250GB drive into a(nother) second
partition to hold this 30GB of "files" (Might be less than
30GB?).

If you just wanted to copy the files from one drive to
another, why not just use windows? It'll be faster.

We need exactly details of your present setup, your desired
target, and why.
 >> Stay informed about: merge two hard drives using partition magic 8? 

<aaronep.RemoveThis@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:1184030034.122420.258480@j4g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>I am using Windows XP. Have computer with two hard drives
> installed. Primary drive is 250 gig and secondary drive is only 30
> gig. There is more than 30 gig of un used space on the primary
> drive. Is it possible using Partition Magic 8, or perhaps some
> other application to merge all of the contents of the secondary drive
> onto the primary drive so that there would be no need for more than
> one drive in the computer?

Don't overcomplicate things. Move the files in Windows onto the big
partition, so as to empty the small drive. Go To "Control Panel" ->
"Administrative Tools"->"Disk Management". Delete the empty (small )
partition. Then you can use a utility such as Partition Magic (or perhaps
something free from a google search?) and enlarge the remaining large
partition to use the space you just freed on the drive.
 >> Stay informed about: merge two hard drives using partition magic 8? 

>>I am using Windows XP. Have computer with two hard drives
>> installed. Primary drive is 250 gig and secondary drive is only 30
>> gig. There is more than 30 gig of un used space on the primary
>> drive. Is it possible using Partition Magic 8, or perhaps some
>> other application to merge all of the contents of the secondary drive
>> onto the primary drive so that there would be no need for more than
>> one drive in the computer?
>
> Don't overcomplicate things. Move the files in Windows onto the big
> partition, so as to empty the small drive. Go To "Control Panel" ->
> "Administrative Tools"->"Disk Management". Delete the empty (small )
> partition. Then you can use a utility such as Partition Magic (or perhaps
> something free from a google search?) and enlarge the remaining large
> partition to use the space you just freed on the drive.

Oh and *BACKUP* important files before doing anything. Then google for
"increase partitions freeware".
 >> Stay informed about: merge two hard drives using partition magic 8? 

"kony" <spam.TakeThisOut@spam.com> wrote in message
news:qct5939frc4arnmd877hd53p0g4vfpqqka@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 18:59:09 -0700, shuaipig_1983.TakeThisOut@sina.com
> wrote:
>
>>i suggest u do not use partition magic 8,cause this software is only
>>used in the windows xp,u can use some other software in the dos
>>model,
>
> Untrue.
>
> PM8 can be run entirely from a bootable (to DOS) floppy
> disc, or thumbdrive, etc. XP is not needed, though after
> you get the PM8 software CD you may need an OS to make that
> bootable media the first time, after which point that media
> can work on the system without any OS, just one blank drive.

This is also true for PM7 !
 >> Stay informed about: merge two hard drives using partition magic 8? 

Not possible the way you want to do it.

--
---------------------
DaveW
<aaronep RemoveThis @pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:1184030034.122420.258480@j4g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>I am using Windows XP. Have computer with two hard drives
> installed. Primary drive is 250 gig and secondary drive is only 30
> gig. There is more than 30 gig of un used space on the primary
> drive. Is it possible using Partition Magic 8, or perhaps some
> other application to merge all of the contents of the secondary drive
> onto the primary drive so that there would be no need for more than
> one drive in the computer?
>
> All opinions, information, suggestions, etc. welcomed!
>
> Aaron
>
 >> Stay informed about: merge two hard drives using partition magic 8? 

On 10 Jul, 02:13, "aaro...@pacbell.net" <aaro....RemoveThis@pacbell.net> wrote:
> I am using Windows XP. Have computer with two hard drives
> installed. Primary drive is 250 gig and secondary drive is only 30
> gig. There is more than 30 gig of un used space on the primary
> drive. Is it possible using Partition Magic 8, or perhaps some
> other application to merge all of the contents of the secondary drive
> onto the primary drive so that there would be no need for more than
> one drive in the computer?
>
> All opinions, information, suggestions, etc. welcomed!
>
> Aaron

I just started up PM8.

Didn't you notice an option in Partition Magic 8 called "Merge
Partitions" ??!!! It's right there under 'pick a task'.

There's also an option to Copy a Partition.

So why not Copy the partitions , so all the ones you want are on one
drive.

Then Merge them.

I may not have used Merge, but, If you have issues of partitions not
being adjacent, you can move them. There's an option to "Resize/Move".
you can move partitions by dragging. PM8 is very powerful and easy to
use(though I new fdisk before). Obviously don't mix serious use of it
with playful use of it!
 >> Stay informed about: merge two hard drives using partition magic 8? 

On Thu, 12 Jul 2007 08:13:39 -0700,
"jameshanley39@yahoo.co.uk" <jameshanley39.RemoveThis@yahoo.co.uk>
wrote:


>so, what method are you using to run partition magic v8 in DOS without
>loading windows?
>

Boot DOS.
Depends on what the host can accept for boot media how I do
that. I prefer a USB thumbdrive but some systems can't
manage that. Next I prefer a CDR, then 2 floppies, but
floppies are a fragile media and some drives are worn out or
too dusty. Last would be a CF card in a CF-ATA adapter. By
last I mean last thing I do use, not the last thing I"d ever
use.


>my point would still stand.. That you're saying PM can run in DOS -
>without booting windows. But you're not saying how.

I don't know how to make it more clear?
If something can run in DOS, all you have to do is boot to
dos. Use your imagination on how you want to get from point
A to point B. Making a DOS boot media and putting a few
files on it is a pretty std. thing to do.


>
>I have done it as the PM rescue disks. You obviously have a different
>procedure, which is probably not even documented.

Maybe not in the official PM documentation, but it's been
fairly well known by many PM users for years. Booting to
DOS and running the dos version from the dos version files
is... well that's what DOS is all about.


>I didn't find
>anything in the PM help files on it. I can guess at how you did it.

Boot DOS. Run the DOS EXE. That's it. I don't recall all
the filenames but the Exe to run is PQMAGIC.EXE. Then
there's a mouse driver (mouse.com), probably an INI file
like mouse.ini, pqmagic.ovl, etc.


>
>
>I can guess that you copied certain files onto the disk from one of
>the directories in PM. I don't know which directory and which files.

Search for the aforementioned file names, probably in a
folder named "DOS" or something like that. I suggest
searching for the PQMAGIC not MOUSE, and it may appear in
multiple PM folders so pick the one that looks right - all
the files in that folder will be the DOS app files and
possibly some misc related DOS utilities.


>
>And dealing with putting the boot record on the floppy disk is another
>matter.

This is not a hard thing to do. Make a DOS boot floppy.
Actually, don't, unless you need it to be a floopy, make a
DOS boot media that's more robust like a CDR or flash
drive... pretty typical activity.


>
>I'm aware that for example, the format command in windows xp and the
>one in win9x, are different ...

You've already taken more time that it would to make the
boot media. Google for DOS boot floppy. Use a Win98 boot
floppy if you prefer, just strip off the memory management
and legacy CD drivers... easiest way to do that is just
delete the config.sys and autoexec.bat files (Or rename
them).
 >> Stay informed about: merge two hard drives using partition magic 8? 

On Jul 13, 5:31 am, kony <s....DeleteThis@spam.com> wrote:
> On Thu, 12 Jul 2007 08:13:39 -0700,
> "jameshanle...@yahoo.co.uk" <jameshanle....DeleteThis@yahoo.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
> >so, what method are you using to run partition magic v8 in DOS without
> >loading windows?
>
> Boot DOS.
> Depends on what the host can accept for boot media how I do
> that. I prefer a USB thumbdrive but some systems can't
> manage that. Next I prefer a CDR, then 2 floppies, but
> floppies are a fragile media and some drives are worn out or
> too dusty. Last would be a CF card in a CF-ATA adapter. By
> last I mean last thing I do use, not the last thing I"d ever
> use.
>
> >my point would still stand.. That you're saying PM can run in DOS -
> >without booting windows. But you're not saying how.
>
> I don't know how to make it more clear?

<snip>

I'll rewrite what you spend the rest of your post repeating, and then
i'll mention the problem with it. (the same problem as I mentioned
before, but explained differently.How much clearer can *I* be?!)

What you write all goes into a sentence. you go on to say (I
paraphrase you)
"You make an MS-DOS boot disk, and put the right files on there"
and you're a bit vague about the files.
and you say it's 2 disks

(that's basically all you say in the rest of the post, without
repeating yourself or mentioning things that are easily googlable, and
known anyway to those that have used DOS, or made msdos boot disks in
win9x or even in win xp)

The problem with that, is what files are necessary.
And, what files aren't <--.especially if you are using floppy disks
And even which files go on which disk. (e.g. maybe one file needs
another file. Some are fairly obvious. others aren't. It's not
something to be cavalier about, this is partitioning a hard drive. You
can't afford a missing file)

Fact is. I just made some rescue disks and did an analysis(don't
worry, i won't dump it in this post). And I am fairly sure I could
make it 1 disk, not 2. It is a risk doing it manually, because you
can only know for sure it has the right files, (or right files on the
right disks), by trial and error. By running PM, maybe performing
different operations in it. And knowing by your singular experiences
that it doesn't have some serious flaw, from some missing file.

And an error if repartitioning an important system, could be
catastrophic without a backup, and a hassle if you do.

At least if you made it one disk it's an obvious advantage over
letting PM put the right files on there. (there's a high risk, but at
least there's an advantage).

What do you gain by doing it manually and still having 2 disks?

(I can see an advantage, since the PQ disks seem very inefficient. but
you haven't given an advantage over it. And you're taking a risk.. And
it's an even worse risk, because in your method (put some files on
there) you haven't examined what files PQ put on there. (if you had,
maybe you'd have been able to have one disk!! At least then you'd have
an obvious advantage for doing it manually)
 >> Stay informed about: merge two hard drives using partition magic 8? 

On Fri, 13 Jul 2007 05:49:28 -0700,
"jameshanley39@yahoo.co.uk" <jameshanley39.TakeThisOut@yahoo.co.uk>
wrote:


>I'll rewrite what you spend the rest of your post repeating, and then
>i'll mention the problem with it. (the same problem as I mentioned
>before, but explained differently.How much clearer can *I* be?!)
>
>What you write all goes into a sentence. you go on to say (I
>paraphrase you)
>"You make an MS-DOS boot disk, and put the right files on there"
>and you're a bit vague about the files.
>and you say it's 2 disks

The files are all together in a folder, I don't recall all
the names since I put them all in a folder on a thumbdrive
ages ago. You only need 2 floppies if you use floppies - I
recommend any other boot media over a floppy due to higher
capacity and reliability.


>The problem with that, is what files are necessary.

Did you look? I suggested some filenames you can search for
and the possiblity of a folder named "DOS" in the PM
installation folder.

>And, what files aren't <--.especially if you are using floppy disks
>And even which files go on which disk. (e.g. maybe one file needs
>another file. Some are fairly obvious. others aren't. It's not
>something to be cavalier about, this is partitioning a hard drive. You
>can't afford a missing file)

You're jumping to unfounded conclusions. If your disks can
boot to dos, access the drive you're trying to manage (by
loading the dos driver for that drive interface if/when
necessary), and you get PM to load (it finishes loading) and
it is allowing you to attemp to do anything, then you have
all the required files. It is not an issue of some critical
thing being missing later _while_ you're partitioning, the
entirety of it is loaded already to do the operation with
one possible exception which is the help file (text).

How about you just try to do it instead of arguing against
it? That's generally how everyone else did it.

>
>Fact is. I just made some rescue disks and did an analysis(don't
>worry, i won't dump it in this post). And I am fairly sure I could
>make it 1 disk, not 2. It is a risk doing it manually, because you
>can only know for sure it has the right files, (or right files on the
>right disks), by trial and error. By running PM, maybe performing
>different operations in it. And knowing by your singular experiences
>that it doesn't have some serious flaw, from some missing file.

I've been using PM like this for several years, including an
earlier version. The only problems are the ones you are
trying to invent, which aren't happening.

I am done discussing something that obviously works fine for
me. If you don't care to do it that way, it's fine by me
but nevertheless my earlier statement was accurate that PM
does run in DOS and gets the entire job done there.
Anything you would do in windows does not actually require
PM at all if it can't be done in DOS with PM... so by
booting windows to run it you just introduce an unneed step.
 >> Stay informed about: merge two hard drives using partition magic 8?