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Other => General Topics => Topic started by: spg SCOTT on May 29, 2009, 04:41:26 PM
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I have just bought a hard drive enclosure for an 80GB hard drive that I have
It works fine but I want to format it, but have a problem,
It is partitioned (with a recovery console I believe) and when I try to format, it appears to keep the partitioning, is there any way to remove this?
Also I am considering trying to boot from it but USB is not availiable in the BIOS, is there any way to add this?
Thanks,
-Scott-
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what about this
http://download.cnet.com/Active-Kill-Disk-Hard-Drive-Eraser/3000-2092_4-10073508.html
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from PC world
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,22920-order,1-page,1-c,alldownloads/description.html
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I tried the program and it didn't even clear the hard drive ??? ???
I'm going to use the windows format and format them both to NTFS, as the second partition is FAT32
thinking about it, its not really a problem, the partition is only about 10GB
-Scott-
EDIT:Ok so I formatted both partitions and in both there is a hidden folder called 'System Volume Information', Why??
It can't be deleted or accessed
Any ideas about the BIOS thing or is this not possible?
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Use Easeus partioner to remove\rebuilt the partitions.
http://www.easeus.com/
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I may be wrong, but I think the only way to add USB boot to the BIOS would be through a flash update of the BIOS. This may or may not be available for your particular version of the BIOS depending on who made it and how old it might be.
Perhaps one of the below links might help you :
http://www.weethet.nl/english/hardware_bootfromusbstick.php
http://www.bootdisk.com/pendrive.htm
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-22_11-5928902.html
Other helpful links might be found in this ScanDoo/google search results :
http://g.s.scandoo.com/search?hl=en&q=bios+boot+usb&revid=346182321&ei=BtQgSojrH9ONjAfZofG8Bg&sa=X&oi=revisions_inline&resnum=0&ct=broad-revision&cd=6
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Just a thought.
You could clear the hard drive using a 98SE or ME boot disk (from bootdisk.com).
If your hard drive shows its properties under fdisk options, then follow instructiions to delete partiions (DOS partition for FAT and non-DOS partition for NTFS). Reboot computer and format in disk management console.
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Use Easeus partioner to remove\rebuilt the partitions.
http://www.easeus.com/
That's exactly what I was looking for, will have a go, thanks Tech :)
CharleyO,
I think your right, looks to be a bit too far beyond me, I think I'll just use it for backup.
Thanks for the help,
-Scott-
EDIT:just to clarify do I need to leave some space as unallocated or can I just fill it up with the single partition?
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That's exactly what I was looking for, will have a go, thanks Tech :)
EDIT:just to clarify do I need to leave some space as unallocated or can I just fill it up with the single partition?
You're welcome. The free version does not offer the rescue/boot CD.
You can use all space available, no need for not allocate it.
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That's exactly what I was looking for, will have a go, thanks Tech :)
EDIT:just to clarify do I need to leave some space as unallocated or can I just fill it up with the single partition?
You're welcome. The free version does not offer the rescue/boot CD.
You can use all space available, no need for not allocate it.
Ok thanks again, just thought I might have to because it's there on the hard drive and the pc hard drive
-Scott-
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Ok thanks again, just thought I might have to because it's there on the hard drive and the pc hard drive
Scott, please, run Easeus and post a screenshot of the partitions here. Do not make wrong things or you will lose any data on the partitions. Better post before.
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I was going to delete the small partition and resize the bigger one to fill it up.
The external hard drive (Disk 2) has just been formatted so it has nothing on it anyway, the unallocated space on that totals 7.84MB
The hard drive for the PC (Disk 1 -- I'm not going to touch that ;)) has unallocated space of 11.44MB
just curius that's all
Also whats the difference between the 'primary' and 'logical'? (does it matter?)
-Scott-
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The very short answer, Primary partitions are bootable, and logical partitions aren't. So if you wanted to install another OS to dual boot then it would have to be on a Primary partition.
On old IDE fat32 formatted Hard Disks you could only have one Primary partition (possibly why it was called primary), the rest had to be logical as far as I'm aware.
More info, http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/file/structPartitions-c.html (http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/file/structPartitions-c.html).
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The very short answer, Primary partitions are bootable, and logical partitions aren't. So if you wanted to install another OS to dual boot then it would have to be on a Primary partition.
On old IDE fat32 formatted Hard Disks you could only have one Primary partition (possibly why it was called primary), the rest had to be logical as far as I'm aware.
More info, http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/file/structPartitions-c.html (http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/file/structPartitions-c.html).
Ok thanks DavidR,
I'll leave it as logical then
-Scott-
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You're welcome, I doubt it would hurt to have more primary ones, in case you ever decided to clean one out and dual boot with another OS.
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For the first drive, you need a bootable cd to remove the first partition and resize the second (system one).
You won't be able to do it with Easeus, I suppose, as you need to do it at boot time and you're resizing the system partition.
Maybe you need a live Linux CD with gparted. I'll try to find you link to it.
For the second drive, you can delete all partitions and use all the empty space to made a new one.
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Here: http://gparted.sourceforge.net/download.php
There are screenshots of it there too.
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Hang on Tech,
I appreciate this but I don't want to mess with the system hard drive, if it aint broke.....
For the HD in the enclosure can't I just resize?
-Scott-
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For the HD in the enclosure can't I just resize?
It will remain with, at least, two partitions. Is this what you want?
I appreciate this but I don't want to mess with the system hard drive, if it aint broke.
Which is the operational system there?
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For the HD in the enclosure can't I just resize?
-Scott-
Hi, I don't see why not. :) I've done what you're wanting to do with easus home edition program.Just delete the old recovery partition, it should become unallocated space then resize the other. hope this helps
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Just delete the old recovery partition
It will still keep two partitions... is there what he wants?
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Just delete the old recovery partition
It will still keep two partitions... is there what he wants?
Tech, if he uses Easus to delete 1 partition and resizes the other to take the empty space how does this make 2 partitions?
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There is a G: Scott partition at the end of the disk or am I wrong?
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There is a G: Scott partition at the end of the disk or am I wrong?
:-[ missed that tech.sorry
If I understand what scott wanted originally was 1 (one) partition, then he needs to delete the smaller one and resize the other.
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EDIT:Ok so I formatted both partitions and in both there is a hidden folder called 'System Volume Information', Why??
It can't be deleted or accessed
Any ideas about the BIOS thing or is this not possible?
What I gathered, perhaps wrongly, was that Scott was unable to make a clean deletion on disk 2 so that he would be left with 80GB of unallocated space that he could do what he liked with. Instead he was left with hidden folders (remnant allocations) 'System Volume Information'. This why I suggested using a bootdisk and working in DOS. I recall doing something similar a while ago when I simlpy could not wipe a hard drive clean until I reverted to DOS. In this case the NTFS partitions on disk 2 would be deleted in DOS as non-DOS partitions.
However, I would expect Easeus to clean the disk easily enough - that is if Scott does just want to have with 80GB unallocated on disk 2 and partition / format as he likes.
Disk 1
I didn't see his set up on disk 1 until I saw the screenshot this morning. That HDD looks like the dual boot set up that was once popular and if Scott wanted to try the *: drive as active he might find an OS is still currently available - probably 98SE or XP(FAT32). Some people were unwilling to abandon FAT after being subjected to Windows 2000 which was basically NT4 carried a step further.
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Windows creates a 'System Volume Information' folder in every partition, it is where system restore creates restore points, so as such it is a system folder and by default hidden.
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Of course. Thanks DavidR.
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You're welcome.
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CharleyO,
I think your right, looks to be a bit too far beyond me, I think I'll just use it for backup.
Thanks for the help,
-Scott-
You're welcome, Scott, but I'm sorry it wasn't more incouraging for you.
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Scott, after all, what did you do? Do you need further help?
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Hi all,
First of all, I haven't had an internet connection (no xbox live :'() until now so I couldn't even look at the topic (This is what happens when you don't organise an overlap when changing ISPs, oh well wasn't me :))
I suppose this was a good thing with exams and all :)
Scott, after all, what did you do? Do you need further help?
Possibly...since I couldn't look at the topic I haven't touched the computer, let alone the hard drive ;)
For the HD in the enclosure can't I just resize?
-Scott-
I may not have been clear about this, what I meant was to delete the smaller partition with Easeus and resize the bigger one to fill, or should I just delete them both and make a new one?
As for Disk 1.
As you asked this is the HD of the PC in my signiture (the only PC I own, besides my dead laptop where I took the other HD from, now in a USB enclosure)
From the reactions I am not really sure if I should be worried...
I thought it was just a normal drive...
I'd prefer to leave it alone if thats possible, for I wouldn't want to mess things up.
What do you think?
Thanks,
-Scott-
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Hi Scott
If your disk 1 is going okay then that is fine. Exactly what you want.
Is your disk 2 the old laptop drive in an USB enclosure? And if so, is that it?
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Hi Scott
If your disk 1 is going okay then that is fine. Exactly what you want.
Is your disk 2 the old laptop drive in an USB enclosure? And if so, is that it?
Thats good to hear about Disk 1, all is well :)
Yes, Disk 2 is the laptop hard drive in a USB enclosure
-Scott-
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Disk 2 does not appear to have the operating system from the old laptop on it. But there are some files on two of the partitions - I think about 60mb on one and about 40mb on G: if I recall correctly.
If you wanted to save those files on Disk 2 across to Disk 1 then that would leave you free to do whatever you want on Disk 2. First make Folders for them on Disk 1 and then save or copy them across.
Once done, then you should be able to format Disk 2.
Plug it in, then open up local disk C:\ and right-click the icon for disk 2 and choose format. The format should clean the disk leaving one partition and disk 2 ready to go as an external hard drive. Alternatively you can do your formatting (and partitioning if you want) in Disk Management in the MMC Computer Management in Administrative Tools.
The point about copying files off and cleaning out Disk 2 is that it leaves you with all the options. You can try different things out - just reformat and start again, try other things - reformat, start again, and so on until you find an arrangement that you want, or just keep trying other things out on it. As long as you've got Disk 1 taking care of things at system core, and you've still got sufficient space for storage there, you can treat Disk 2 as your playground.
If you have any difficulties or have something else in mind dont hesitate to reply post.
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Disk 2 has nothing on it because I have already formatted it.
I just wanted to use it for backup really, and just wanted a single partition
I don't know what the 60 and 40MB file(s) are, there's only the empty, hidden system restore folder.
-Scott-
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Oh that's right I remember now. Sorry about delay, I'm mucking around with some old hard drives of my own.
So the first format option I mentioned doesn't clean those partitions to single?
Do you have to delete the partitions, but they wont delete?
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I just wanted to know the easiest way to do it with easeus
I may have made this into more of an issue than it is, sorry
I haven't actually done anything with the partitions yet, but format them in through 'My Computer'
-Scott-
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I just wanted to use it for backup really, and just wanted a single partition
I just wanted to know the easiest way to do it with easeus
Right click the partitions, click 'Delete'.
When there is no partition, just free space.
Right click it and create a new primary partition and choose the system file (NTFS, for instance).
If you want, you can right click the partition and format it again.
You can choose a label for it also.
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Thanks Tech I will have a go at that
-Scott-
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Thanks Tech I will have a go at that
-Scott-
You're always welcome ;)
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Wow that was quick, took me longer to load the program ;)
Still have about 8MB of unallocated space that I could not allocate but thats not a problem
Thanks again Tech :)
-Scott-
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Still have about 8MB of unallocated space that I could not allocate but thats not a problem
Why?
Can't you resize the (other, full) partition?
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I have absolutely no idea
I set it to have 0MB of unallocated space and to use the full drive
It doesn't reall matter though, only 8MB
-Scott-
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It doesn't reall matter though, only 8MB
Well, it could matter... will it be a partition or just "lost" space?
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really?
It is just unallocated and I suppose it will be lost space
It would be pointless having an 8MB partition, no?
-Scott-
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really?
It is just unallocated and I suppose it will be lost space
It would be pointless having an 8MB partition, no?
-Scott-
No. It is in the beginning or at the end of the disk?
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It's at the beginning of the drive
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It's at the beginning of the drive
Worse... There is no reason for it, are you sure you can't delete the other partition and create a new one using all the space?
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No matter what I do when I create a partition it will not allow me to even change the unallocated space before value, up or down
Will this cause problems?
-Scott-
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Well, the space before could be identified as the first partition (but it's not).
I suggest you delete the partition you've created and start the creation from the beginning, there is no reason for letting 8Mb free before...
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That is what I tried before, in the last post, and it is the same if I delete and create separately
I don't know why but it is not able to change the value for the 'lost' space, I have no idea why.
-Scott-
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I hate mysteries, but I'm empty... I can't guess what's happening...
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I hate mysteries, but I'm empty... I can't guess what's happening...
Me either, but thank you for the effort and I'm sorry if I dragged it out a little bit, always the little things...:)
Do you know a good, free backup program I could use?
-Scott-
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Do you know a good, free backup program I could use?
What do you want to do: file backup or total disk (partition) backup?
Where do you want to store the backup? (another disk, which is the capacity?)
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I was thinking more just the docs etc. on the pc, so just files really.
I want to store it on the drive we have been working on, the 80GB external HD
-Scott-
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Which is the size of the primary disk (i.e., the one from where you're backing up)?
Did you consider on-line backups like Mozy?
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When partition a disk, it is not possible to divide disk's geometry (I think the geometry - CHS) exactly evenly. so there is always a little bit left over at the end (8mb sounds right) because the math has to go to the nearest round figure. The extra just falls off at the end, you don't see it (or you can format it as a logical partition if you want - like Scott has done here - and it will show up on your partition table). But usual you don't bother about it and it doesn't show on your screen except in Disk Management, where it's visible at end of the table as empty unformatted space.
For example when I partition a 25OGB disk, I would allocate say 40GB for system drive and say 60GB for storage, so I'm off for a start. There is 150GB remaining which I get round to when I have decided some use for it. The 150 GB only shows in Disk Management where I go when I need to re-evaluate my partition table.
Otherwise to all extents and purposes, 100GB is enough for most people to get by on for time being, and thats all that shows on drive settings in My Computer. Add on another partiton when needed - say, when the movie or music collection starts to grow too big for existing partitions.
Alternatively you can format one 250GB partition, or, since many people like to keep system drive separate, 50GB for C:\ and the remainder into storage partitions according to what storage cabinets you think you need.
In your case Scott, you've partitioned and formatted that little extra bit (8mb) that can't make the math when the allocations were worked out, so you are seeing it in your drive set up My Computer. If you delete it so that its empty space, you should not see it in My Computer (best thing to do - just lob it off your work space and don't worry about, its not much use anyway). If you do feel need to access your total space, then you can go to Disk Management and see the whole table.
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The disk I am backing up from is Disk 1, so about 70-80GB, not even half filled.
Yes, I did see mozy in your signiture, but I don't think that 2.2GB is quite enough for all of the stuff on the PC though. I had the hard drive so I thought why not use it.
Thank you Mkis for clearing up that issue with the drive, it makes sense now, just a note though, I was seeing the empty space in Easeus not My computer, not that it matters.
-Scott-
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Good luck with backups. Scott. :)
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So there is always a little bit left over at the end (8mb sounds right)
At the end, not at the beginning... And the people who build disks knows that and makes it round nowadays... specially for one (single) partition... that is what makes me think...
For example when I partition a 25OGB disk, I would allocate say 40GB for system drive and say 60GB for storage, so I'm off for a start. There is 150GB remaining which I get round to when I have decided some use for it. The 150 GB only shows in Disk Management where I go when I need to re-evaluate my partition table.
We're talking about one single partition... Division could not be round, but for a single one and weird, at the beginning...
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Yes, I did see mozy in your signiture, but I don't think that 2.2GB is quite enough for all of the stuff on the PC though. I had the hard drive so I thought why not use it.
You were thinking on docs... maybe for them, 2Gb are enough.
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I meant more like all of the music, pics, school work etc. (the whole of 'My Documents' and the other users too) which is more than 2GB
-Scott-
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The great advantage of on-line backup is that it does not depend on the physical drive and it's working continuously in background.
You can set it to backup just a particular set of files, or a particular folder (like your school works).
You have nothing to lose, on contrary, Mozy saved me a lot of times ;)
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Your right Tech, thats a good idea.
I will use mozy for the really important stuff and use the HD for everything else
Thank you for your help with this :)
-Scott-
EDIT:I signed up and noticed the referall link like your signiture, do you mind if I copy the layout and put it in mine?
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EDIT:I signed up and noticed the referall link like your signiture, do you mind if I copy the layout and put it in mine?
No I don't mind. That just you need to use your own referrer (not mine). This way you (and not I) will receive 200Mb of extra storage for each referrer user ;)
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Ok thanks Tech, will do
-Scott-