Need help with deleting a partition and rebooting...

[faerymom]

I have a Toshiba Satellite P105 than runs on Vista Home Premium 32bit.

I bought the computer used, so it already came partitioned, and without any CDs.

I'm fairly competent in my computer skills; I just need someone to tell me how to remove the partition(which is a (D drive) and reboot my pc without a CD.



thanks in advance

 

[VaguelyRapt]

Start -> type Computer Management. Click Disk Management on the left pane. You should now see a list of all your disks and their partitions. Right click on the volume or partition you want to remove and select Delete Volume. You will then want to use that free space on your C drive, I assume - right click on the drive you want to add it to and select Expand Volume.

I'm assuming your D: drive is a recovery partition that Toshiba gave you instead of discs. Only delete it if you backed it up, or don't plan on saving your computer in case something goes terribly wrong. The recovery partition OEM's offer instead of discs are supposed to save your computer and return it to it's original state if the need arouses (it's cheaper and easier than shipping discs along with the computer).

 

[faerymom]

ok... I DID NOT get the pc from Toshiba...I was bought used and it has VISTA on one partition and XP on the other... when I go to disk manegement, i get this: 'Windows cannot delete the active system partition on this disk.'

yes, I am sure that I'm doing it correctly...are there any other solutions??


also, if my D: drive is for recovery, does it really need to be 93GB??

 

[sassofalco]

ok... I DID NOT get the pc from Toshiba...I was bought used and it has VISTA on one partition and XP on the other... when I go to disk manegement, i get this: 'Windows cannot delete the active system partition on this disk.'
yes, I am sure that I'm doing it correctly...are there any other solutions??
also, if my D: drive is for recovery, does it really need to be 93GB??

G'Day faerymom, and a big welcome to Vista Forums:D

While I'm sorry that I don't have the technical expertise to advise you on your dilemma, but I do recommend that you have a good look at this Tutorial;

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/95418-disk-management-delete-extend.html
'cos I'm sure that Brink will have covered your particular situation in one of the related Tutorial threads.

I have just finished the successful creation of a new internal Hard Disk Drive in my system, here;

http://www.vistax64.com/general-dis...ement-shrink-partition-vista.html#post1111757
.........ably assisted by, and with considerable help and guidance from Dwarf, who I am sure will drop by your thread at some time, to offer assistance to you.

You will always find someone here who is ready and willing to help resolve whatever problems you come up with, however, can I suggest that while you are waiting for the help to arrive, you take the time to fill in your System Specs [eg. check out My System Specs];



by going to your User Control Panel

,

and filling in the details for your system. This information will assist any potential helper, immensely.

In the meantime, enjoy your stay with the Vista Forums, and don't forget that this place never closes

 

[Dwarf]

Hi faerymom,

Could you post a screenshot showing the layout of the partitions? I suspect that it originally had XP on it in one partition. This was then split, and Vista put on the section that was carved off. When you boot up, do you get the option to choose which OS you would like to start? If so, it would indicate that the boot files are located on the partition where XP resides.

Can you also provide more info on your system specs, as this is a great help to us in assisting you.

 

[sassofalco]

Sorry Mate, but this did not work for me......

Start -> type Computer Management. Click Disk Management on the left pane

..... To get to Disk Management, I followed either this path; Start >Right click Computer >Select Manage from drop-down menu >at User Account Control select Continue > In the left pane under Computer Management >Left click to expand Storage >Left click Disk Management......Partition details will then display.

.....or alternatively; Start >Control Panel [Classic View] >Administrative Tools >Computer Management >User Account Control......etc, etc.

I'm assuming your D: drive is a recovery partition that Toshiba gave you instead of discs. Only delete it if you backed it up, or don't plan on saving your computer in case something goes terribly wrong. The recovery partition OEM's offer instead of discs are supposed to save your computer and return it to it's original state if the need arouses (it's cheaper and easier than shipping discs along with the computer).

Cheers.

 

[sassofalco]

" .......guidance from Dwarf, who I am sure will drop by your thread at some time, to offer assistance to you."

I knew it! I knew it!

 

[sassofalco]

I have a Toshiba Satellite P105 than runs on Vista Home Premium 32bit.

Hi faerymom,
Can you also provide more info on your system specs, as this is a great help to us in assisting you.

Hi faerymom,

For a quick way of finding most of your system information, I recommend that you have a look at this little tool. It's brilliant. Just download and run it from your desktop, you'll be surprised with the information that it can quickly gather for you.

http://www.vistax64.com/software-tools/176785-vistaforums-sysinfo-tool.html

Especially great for filling in your User CP details.:D

 

[faerymom]

ok...I tried Disk Management...it will not allow me to delete the partition...

instead, this is what I get...

sorry the pics are kinda small...

 

[sassofalco]

ok...I tried Disk Management...it will not allow me to delete the partition...
instead, this is what I get...
sorry the pics are kinda small...

Righteho! Nice to see your System Specs, well done, but the pics I'm afraid are bits of confetti.....as you say.....kinda small at 1 pixel x 1 pixel.

The easiest way to 'capture' shots is by using the "Snipping Tool" [which is in your version] in Vista. Just click on Start >All Programs >Accessories >Snipping Tool> Right click [for drop down menu]Select Send to >Desktop. Then you can either add it to your Task bar from there, or just open it from the Folder [involves a bit of mucking around moving pages] each time. I used it for this;



A full Tutorial on the Snipping Tool is here; http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/148532-how-use-snipping-tool-vista.html

I now recommend that you go back and try to capture what Dwarf has asked for, and repost here, again.

Best of luck.....all in good time.

 

[phynestein]

I have a Toshiba Satellite P105 than runs on Vista Home Premium 32bit.

I bought the computer used, so it already came partitioned, and without any CDs.

I'm fairly competent in my computer skills; I just need someone to tell me how to remove the partition(which is a (D drive) and reboot my pc without a CD.



thanks in advance

Could get Paragon Partition manager and fix up the partition. But if you have no access to a boot disk you wont be able to reinstall (legally). If you arn't worried about legality, there are a number of choices

 

[faerymom]

this is what happens when I try to delete or shrink the partition

 

[sassofalco]

]
Could get Paragon Partition manager and fix up the partition. But if you have no access to a boot disk you wont be able to reinstall (legally). If you arn't worried about legality, there are a number of choices

Can I suggest phynestein, that you check out the Rules of this Forum before suggesting " illegal " paths to fixes.

 

[phynestein]

this is what happens when I try to delete or shrink the partition

I cant read that screen shot. Please type out what it said.

 

[phynestein]

]
Could get Paragon Partition manager and fix up the partition. But if you have no access to a boot disk you wont be able to reinstall (legally). If you arn't worried about legality, there are a number of choices

Can I suggest phynestein, that you check out the Rules of this Forum before suggesting " illegal " paths to fixes.

HEY! I didnt suggest anything!!

^^ I was very careful

 

[faerymom]

]
Could get Paragon Partition manager and fix up the partition. But if you have no access to a boot disk you wont be able to reinstall (legally). If you arn't worried about legality, there are a number of choices

Can I suggest phynestein, that you check out the Rules of this Forum before suggesting " illegal " paths to fixes.

HEY! I didnt suggest anything!!

^^ I was very careful

ok ok...that's enough you two =]
legality is not an issue for me, I just want to get the job done, but I do agree; please be careful with what you post...


also, the window says: Windows cannot delete the active system partition on this disk.

 

[phynestein]

also, the window says: Windows cannot delete the active system partition on this disk.

Oh that would be because you are attempting to delete your boot partition. You'll have to delete the other one. Its possible that the Drive letters are "different" from normal and your boot drive is D:/ and your "backup" is C:/

Just delete the one you can delete (after you make sure there is nothing vital on it) and then you'll be able to right click on your active partition and "Extend" it. Again, you might just be better off looking for a more interactive program such as Paragon Partition Manager and using that.

Oh and after you delete and expand, you can change the drive letter from D to C. That is a bit tricky though. This is a KB article explaining how but it is tricky and can possibly turn your computer into a paperweight if you make one error. Then you will be left with no choice but to buy new OS disks.

GL!

 

[faerymom]

also, the window says: Windows cannot delete the active system partition on this disk.

Oh that would be because you are attempting to delete your boot partition. You'll have to delete the other one. Its possible that the Drive letters are "different" from normal and your boot drive is D:/ and your "backup" is C:/

Just delete the one you can delete (after you make sure there is nothing vital on it) and then you'll be able to right click on your active partition and "Extend" it. Again, you might just be better off looking for a more interactive program such as Paragon Partition Manager and using that.

Oh and after you delete and expand, you can change the drive letter from D to C. That is a bit tricky though. This is a KB article explaining how but it is tricky and can possibly turn your computer into a paperweight if you make one error. Then you will be left with no choice but to buy new OS disks.

GL!

No, my boot drive is C:/, because there's not an option to delete it. I can't alter anything...I've been saying this the whole time...

 

[SIW2]

Hi,

Your Boot drive is C because that is the one you are currently BOOTed into.

The drive containing the boot files is ( confusingly) the one marked "System".

That is why disk management won't allow you to delete it.

What exactly do you wish to do?

Do you want to use some or all of the space on D to enlarge C?

 

[krazyl]

Seems like he wants to get rid of xp all together and make its partition all one big partition. But thats just what I gather out of what it seems like he is trying to do! And I really dont know a way of doing that.