Partition doubt

[DKL01]

Hello,

I have Windows 2K. I don't have enough space in my C Drive. Since I have lot of space
in D and E drive I'm planning to merge the partition using Partition Magic. When I run
the Partition Magic it gives following information

Partition Type Size MB Used MB Pri/Log
C: No Name Fat 2,000.3 1,964.6 Primary
*: Extended 6,032.2 6,000.8 Primary
D: No Name Fat 4,000.5 729.8 Logical
E: No Name Fat 2,000.3 206.6 Logical

I'm getting only one option
D: No Name (FAT) becomes a folder of C: No Name (FAT)

File System Type
FAT 32
Though it has option of FAT it is disabled. I have to choose FAT 32.

Next it is giving warning..
Resulting partion is FAT 32. Continue Merge ?

I don't have much knowledge about Partitions. Is it okay if C becomes FAT 32.
Will it create any other problem. I really appreciate any advise.

Thanks

 

[edfair]

C: has to become fat32 to access larger than 2.1 GB and it shouldn't cause any problem,

But I would probably suggest an alternate possibility which would be to steal 2 gb from D: then merge the stolen space with c:

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[DKL01]

Ed Fair,

Thanks for your valuable advise. When I tried to merge I'm getting following error. Don't know what they mean. Any ideas ?

Error:2003
File size do not match FAT allocation for file

Error: 983
Too many errors found. Process halted.

 

[edfair]

From the description I would suspect that the filesize as stored in the directory structure differs from the linked cluster structure for the file.

Might be wise to run a scandisk on all the drives before you start mucking with the partition layout. That should help resolve it.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[Freestone]

As you mention, Ed, FAT limits maximum partition size to 2GB (Maximum Partition Size Using FAT16 File System), so how does one explain the entry for DKL01's D: drive, showing as Fat 4,000.5 MB?

DKL01, I strongly suggest backing up any critical data to anywhere else but this drive before attempting this merge.

 

[edfair]

Suspicion that it is a reporting problem under PM.

After review, would put the stuff from D: on E: for the duration of the conversion. But that is just a tad better than bungee jumping before taking a knots course. This, of course, is confirming your suggestion of backup.

PM is what I describe as "Alice in Wonderland" software. When it is good, it is very, very good. When it is bad, it is very, very bad. I've never had a problem and I've done some really risky stuff with it. But I've heard tales of woe from changes that have gone astray.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[TekTippy4U]

one more piece of info is that;

"The maximum volume size for a FAT16 partition in a computer running Windows 2000 is four gigabytes; this is unchanged from the Windows NT operating system."

Still, PM may be reporting incorrectly, and/or that partition (D:\) is a mess and corrupted. Backup elsewhere first, as others have stated. There are a ton of variables that could factor in to a faulty reading, from malware to legitimate.
I'd prolly backup D: and E: to CDR or similar and blow away the extended and start again from that point. I'd backup C:\ as well as any and all important docs/mail folders/my documents/address book/profile settings, etc..

TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs

 

[TekTippy4U]

Dkl01;
Go here;

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/maintain/opsguide/stormgog.mspx

to read more about some of those 'factors' that can come into play using diff types disks/volumes/partitions etc;
Use your Browser search function to find Fat16 and you'll be approx. 2/3 of the way down this very long page at "FAT16 and FAT32 File Systems", for specifics in Win2K concerning file systems

TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs

 

[DKL01]

Thanks much guys. I will start with scandisk on partitions. I don't have important files in this computer. So I'm not much worried about loosing data.

 

[DKL01]

I couldn't see the option of ScanDisk anywhere in Windows 2000 safe mode. Even tried at the DOS prior to running windows. It is not recognizing. I saw the option of Defragmention in safe mode and defragmented C, D and E drives. Later I tried partition merging using Partition Magic 5.0 but still getting same errors. Could you please suggest next step ? Thanks

 

[DKL01]

I'm able to merge partions ! Thanks for your help.

 

[TekTippy4U]

FWIW;
Windows 2K uses "Chkdsk" , not Scandisk, see;

http://www.pegasus-ofs.com/eSupport/using_CHKDSK.htm

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314835

how did you get it to finally work ? so we can all benefit froim the knowledge of what was holding it up and causing the errors.

TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs

 

[DKL01]

I ran the Properties - Tools - Error-Checking - Check Now on C, D and E Drives. It did not perform this operation immediately as it wasn't getting exclsive hold on drives. I set the option to do this when I restart the machine. It worked when I restarted. Later I tried partition merging again using PM 5.0 and it worked.

 

[TekTippy4U]

Ok thanks

TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs