Resolved Have some questions on partioning a backup drive

Sure no problem, let me know if your not sure how to proceed, in whatever detail you need.

So, what (I understand) you did is make different partitions for your data instead of folders on 1 partition. Basically "partitions" are used to separate OS from data (which is something windows and manufacturers don't even bother doing; [so don't feel less about yourself] call it lazy or uncaring?)
there are also other types of partition like "recovery" (factory install files) and optional "hidden" partition for back-up/restore purposes some software offers (I don't hide my back-ups).

So questions welcome ask away! Glad to be of help.

 

JC, I've downloaded Partition Wizard and don't know how to use it.
What I want to do is...
Expand my C: & M: partitions - probably take the space from P:


I expect this will come afterward:
On another front, the clone I made was a few days back, so now it's a bit behind. I have more music on the original drive that is not on the clone, which I am now running (the clone) as we speak. Unfortunately I was just about to work on that music. Is there a way to bring the clone current? I know the answer is yes, I just don't have a clue how, aside from recloning.
And this certainly can play 2nd fiddle to the bigger issue of getting the partitions done and learning how to do updates to the backup HD.
Thx bud!

 

OK at this point, so we don't get confused, don't "re-clone" the drive, instead copy any new files from your drive to your back-up. This way you won't lose any "new files" you might have created on the back-up, since you have been using it.

You could use Folder Match to compare folders easily and (quickly); free trial at: http://download.cnet.com/FolderMatch/3000-2248_4-10033628.html

Now, Partition Wizard, doesn't have the capability to do want you want to do, which is taking space from one partition and moving it to another. For that you will need Acronis Disk Director Suite ($50). You could try the free trial, but I don't think it will let you make changes.
Unfortunately I don't think that there is free software that can do this, unless we tried from Ubuntu or other Linux based OS that has access to an array of open source software.

Are you able to load onto Windows from your USB drive? This is crucial.

Update: I think I found something that will work! Partition Wizard can do it but using EASUS Partition Master's intuitive interface would make it easier to visualize. note that this process will take a lot longer!

I posted pictures of each step here: http://s1003.photobucket.com/albums/af160/jcinvan/

- step 1 click the right most partition with extra space, then drag the left edge over to the size you want.
- step 2 click the next partition to the left and drag it over to the right (skip step 3 if you don't want to re-size it)
- step 3 click the left edge and drag it to the left to the size you want for that partition
- repeat step 2 & 3 for the other partitions...
- step 4 click the last partition (C drive) and move it to the left
- step 5 click the left edge and drag it all the way to the left (important)

It's ok if you don't do it quite right you can undo each move or even discard everything and start over

Finally when it looks just the way you want it click "apply" and sit back this is probably gonna take a while!

This is not how I do it, and I have not tested this software myself (I have done this before way back when with Partition Magic) so use your better judgment, but it's suppose to work.

Good Luck!

 

I'm not sure I really followed all that.
Is EASUS Partition Master's intuitive interface part of Partition Master, or an add-on?

JC, I REALLY appreciate you going through the trouble to post the pics, but they are too small to read. The magnifying glass pops up, but it doesn't work - so I'm unable to increase the image size.

Is there no free software out there that will compare the 2 drives and only update the new/changed files? That was the concept I was operating under in setting up the external drive. (Though possibly I didn't get that I'd have to purchase the software.)

 

Found and downloaded Easeus Partition Master.
Trying to figure out how to use it.

 

Trying to follow your directions, but don't see how to drag the partition window.
When I click on a partition it highlights that same partition in the layout chart below.

 

in photobucket at the top right corner click slideshow, you can pause by moving the mouse and clicking the pause/play button in bottom left corner, and if you use firefox press F11 for full screen mode, press it again to go back to normal mode. you can also click each picture to enlarge.

quit banging on the poor box!

you're getting there, slowly move the mouse between the 2 partitions, you'll see the pointer change to vertical bars with arrows, click, hold and move (drag) to the right.

 

OK, I think I get it now.
I'm running the clone right now, so I'll have to switch to make the changes, or is it better to just try it on the clone 1st, since that way I have my orig (w/ the latest music) in tact?

 

Exactly!!!

 

Went ahead and made the changes to the clone, but now thinking that was a mistake, since the orig (now the backup) has the old partitions.
Seems the 2 (HD's) will have to match.
Assuming everything is fine w/ the clone (now my primary drive) I expect duplicating the partition changes to the other drive will be necessary.


Then comes the question of software to start doing incremental backups.

 

Sorry got side tracked,

I still recomend 2 disk, 2 partitions each, System, data files, alternate system, back-ups

 

The clone (now my main HD) has been repartitioned.
Should I now do the same to the other drive?

 

Tried to make another partition change and the drive appears to be non-op.
Thinking I'll have to re-clone the orig.
Now running orig HD.
The last message on the clone was something like "Partitions do not match" Don't remember the exact verbiage.

 

Acronis will not allow me to re-clone the drive.
It's getting a bit sticking now.
Fortunately the partitions are different (orig & clone) but the drive letters have been switched (orig to clone). I know the orig because of the partition sizes.
Not sure what to do now.

 

By "non-op" do you mean the drive stoped functioning, or the program doing the partition changes was non-responsive (I did say this would take a long time), or you can't see it anymore?

If things got messed up, don't clone again since the partitions are the wrong size, best to create new partition the proper size then copy the data to the appropriate partition.

I say again, please thread carefully!

Don't worry about the drive letters for now, that's no big deal.

 

Hope you're there JC.
I wound up re-cloning the drive.
By non-op I mean it would not boot, as it had before.
Didn't know what else to do.
Now, as you say, I need to change the partition sizes, so I'm thinking I'll try that again. The new clone is fine (right now) - I'm running on it now.

 

Ok, hope your patient! creating partitions in an unallocated disk space is way faster than moving and resizing partitions full of data.

Doing the partition operations all at ounce may be preferable.

 

Did it the long way - repartitioned the (clone) drive. Everything seems fine - running on it now. I let it wk while I slept.
I'm now thinking about cloning the clone rather than repartitioning the orig HD.
I'd wait a day or so to verify the clone is fine before doing that.
I have mixed feelings about doing this since my orig is fine.
What's quicker re-partitioning or cloning?
Any suggestions?

 

Cloning would be faster, but I'd say keep the original (since you know that works well) to fall back on, and boot to it from time to time to update it but keep it simple so it's there when you need it.

So instead of cloning, do weekly backups (put the date in the name, like System__@date! and add comments like before trying "such and such ") to your largest partition and when you start to run out of space delete the older ones (you may want to keep your first backup just in case)

You may also consider installing Ubuntu as an alternative, I'm learning it right now and I like it! Can't go wrong with everything free... no proprietary software allowed!

 

Not sure I got all that.
If I keep the orig then the partitions don't match between the 2 drives. I would think eventually this would be an issue, no?

What does Ubuntu do?

I'm not familiar w/ backing up System__@date. Only did straight backups before.