Recover unallocated space?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Runswithfish
  • Start date Start date
R

Runswithfish

I'll give the long version, so others might think twice before ending up
where I am. Today I decided to give ubuntu a try, just to give me something
new to play with due to the fact that I can currently dish out about $500 for
vista ultimate :( I'm not new to computers, as I work with them every day,
though not a "geek" by any means. After installing the latest version,
letting it partition my drive, ect., I started having minor issues. All in
all, it seems decent enough, but looks like it is still heavily depends on
command lines.

Simple things such as my resolution being to low, turned into a nightmare. I
searched their forums, tried changing drivers, editing the config files and
so on, just to end up with it crashing on me. Might be a good system, but
DEFINITLY not user friendly. So after some searching, discovered how to get
rid of the dual boot menu, then delete the partitions. Now everything seems
fine, except I now have almost half my drive set as unallocated space.

Now the short version. How can I get back the lost space without having to
pay for software such as partition magic (that looks to be the answer
everywhere I search)? Is there some way through windows to get it back, or at
least a freeware solution thats not to complex?

Windows XP pro SP2
Western Digital HD 250g
 
Hi Runswithfish,

It's been a while since I used it, so I don't know how complex it might be
nowadays, but you can d/load a free trial version of BootItNg and see if it
meets your needs:
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html



Regards,

--
Patti MacLeod
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User


"Runswithfish" wrote:

> I'll give the long version, so others might think twice before ending up
> where I am. Today I decided to give ubuntu a try, just to give me something
> new to play with due to the fact that I can currently dish out about $500 for
> vista ultimate :( I'm not new to computers, as I work with them every day,
> though not a "geek" by any means. After installing the latest version,
> letting it partition my drive, ect., I started having minor issues. All in
> all, it seems decent enough, but looks like it is still heavily depends on
> command lines.
>
> Simple things such as my resolution being to low, turned into a nightmare. I
> searched their forums, tried changing drivers, editing the config files and
> so on, just to end up with it crashing on me. Might be a good system, but
> DEFINITLY not user friendly. So after some searching, discovered how to get
> rid of the dual boot menu, then delete the partitions. Now everything seems
> fine, except I now have almost half my drive set as unallocated space.
>
> Now the short version. How can I get back the lost space without having to
> pay for software such as partition magic (that looks to be the answer
> everywhere I search)? Is there some way through windows to get it back, or at
> least a freeware solution thats not to complex?
>
> Windows XP pro SP2
> Western Digital HD 250g
 
I am also a fan of BootIt NG, preferring it to Partition Magic which I
used previously. However, you can use the Disk Management coming with
Windows XP to reformat the unallocated space. You only need a third
party
utility if you wish to change the partition sizes.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Runswithfish" <Runswithfish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:505A3485-AD45-4CC0-AF2B-23E14BB21C29@microsoft.com...
> I'll give the long version, so others might think twice before ending
> up
> where I am. Today I decided to give ubuntu a try, just to give me
> something
> new to play with due to the fact that I can currently dish out about
> $500 for
> vista ultimate :( I'm not new to computers, as I work with them every
> day,
> though not a "geek" by any means. After installing the latest version,
> letting it partition my drive, ect., I started having minor issues.
> All in
> all, it seems decent enough, but looks like it is still heavily
> depends on
> command lines.
>
> Simple things such as my resolution being to low, turned into a
> nightmare. I
> searched their forums, tried changing drivers, editing the config
> files and
> so on, just to end up with it crashing on me. Might be a good system,
> but
> DEFINITLY not user friendly. So after some searching, discovered how
> to get
> rid of the dual boot menu, then delete the partitions. Now everything
> seems
> fine, except I now have almost half my drive set as unallocated space.
>
> Now the short version. How can I get back the lost space without
> having to
> pay for software such as partition magic (that looks to be the answer
> everywhere I search)? Is there some way through windows to get it
> back, or at
> least a freeware solution thats not to complex?
>
> Windows XP pro SP2
> Western Digital HD 250g
 
"Runswithfish" <Runswithfish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:505A3485-AD45-4CC0-AF2B-23E14BB21C29@microsoft.com...
> I'll give the long version, so others might think twice before ending up
> where I am. Today I decided to give ubuntu a try, just to give me
> something
> new to play with due to the fact that I can currently dish out about $500
> for
> vista ultimate :( I'm not new to computers, as I work with them every
> day,
> though not a "geek" by any means. After installing the latest version,
> letting it partition my drive, ect., I started having minor issues. All in
> all, it seems decent enough, but looks like it is still heavily depends on
> command lines.
>
> Simple things such as my resolution being to low, turned into a nightmare.
> I
> searched their forums, tried changing drivers, editing the config files
> and
> so on, just to end up with it crashing on me. Might be a good system, but
> DEFINITLY not user friendly. So after some searching, discovered how to
> get
> rid of the dual boot menu, then delete the partitions. Now everything
> seems
> fine, except I now have almost half my drive set as unallocated space.
>
> Now the short version. How can I get back the lost space without having to
> pay for software such as partition magic (that looks to be the answer
> everywhere I search)? Is there some way through windows to get it back, or
> at
> least a freeware solution thats not to complex?
>
> Windows XP pro SP2
> Western Digital HD 250g

How did you create the partition for the Ubuntu install? Was it already a
secondary partition, or did you do this during Windows Setup?

If you just want to be able to use that space, right-click on My Computer,
and choose Manage. Under Storage, choose Disk Management. Here, you will
see the partitions, and can right-click for various options like deleting
and recreating the partition, and formatting the partition. Once it's
formatted, it's usable for you. Make sure it's assigned a drive letter.

You can also use diskpart at the command line for this, but the graphical
utility is a little safer as it helps you be sure you aren't deleting the
system partition (you might be blocked from this action anyway).

If you want to extend the system partition to include this space, you need a
3rd party tool. And, you should always back up your data *before*
attempting any such partition changes.

HTH
-pk
 
"Patrick Keenan" wrote:

> "Runswithfish" <Runswithfish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:505A3485-AD45-4CC0-AF2B-23E14BB21C29@microsoft.com...
> > I'll give the long version, so others might think twice before ending up
> > where I am. Today I decided to give ubuntu a try, just to give me
> > something
> > new to play with due to the fact that I can currently dish out about $500
> > for
> > vista ultimate :( I'm not new to computers, as I work with them every
> > day,
> > though not a "geek" by any means. After installing the latest version,
> > letting it partition my drive, ect., I started having minor issues. All in
> > all, it seems decent enough, but looks like it is still heavily depends on
> > command lines.
> >
> > Simple things such as my resolution being to low, turned into a nightmare.
> > I
> > searched their forums, tried changing drivers, editing the config files
> > and
> > so on, just to end up with it crashing on me. Might be a good system, but
> > DEFINITLY not user friendly. So after some searching, discovered how to
> > get
> > rid of the dual boot menu, then delete the partitions. Now everything
> > seems
> > fine, except I now have almost half my drive set as unallocated space.
> >
> > Now the short version. How can I get back the lost space without having to
> > pay for software such as partition magic (that looks to be the answer
> > everywhere I search)? Is there some way through windows to get it back, or
> > at
> > least a freeware solution thats not to complex?
> >
> > Windows XP pro SP2
> > Western Digital HD 250g
>
> How did you create the partition for the Ubuntu install? Was it already a
> secondary partition, or did you do this during Windows Setup?

No, my hd wasn't partitioned. Ubuntu comes with a utility that creates the
partion on install.

> If you just want to be able to use that space, right-click on My Computer,
> and choose Manage. Under Storage, choose Disk Management. Here, you will
> see the partitions, and can right-click for various options like deleting
> and recreating the partition, and formatting the partition. Once it's
> formatted, it's usable for you. Make sure it's assigned a drive letter.

Yeah, the only option given to me was to create another partition to use the
space, but I didn't want to have another drive letter if I don't need one.
Would rather have everything under one partition.

> You can also use diskpart at the command line for this, but the graphical
> utility is a little safer as it helps you be sure you aren't deleting the
> system partition (you might be blocked from this action anyway).
>
> If you want to extend the system partition to include this space, you need a
> 3rd party tool. And, you should always back up your data *before*
> attempting any such partition changes.
>
> HTH
> -pk

Yup, I realise that now, lol. In the future planning on investing in
software for handling both backups and partitions. Just figured if Ubuntu
could create the partition, it could also get rid of it as well. My fault,
should have done some more research before diving in. Thanks for the replys
all =)
 
"Runswithfish" wrote:

> "Patti MacLeod" wrote:
>
> > Hi Runswithfish,
> >
> > It's been a while since I used it, so I don't know how complex it might be
> > nowadays, but you can d/load a free trial version of BootItNg and see if it
> > meets your needs:
> > http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html
> >
> >
>
> Thanks, that did the trick.

You're welcome :-)


Regards,

--
Patti MacLeod
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User
 
"Runswithfish" <Runswithfish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
> I'll give the long version, so others might think twice before ending up
> where I am. Today I decided to give ubuntu a try, just to give me
> something
> new to play with due to the fact that I can currently dish out about $500
> for
> vista ultimate :( I'm not new to computers, as I work with them every
> day,
> though not a "geek" by any means. After installing the latest version,
> letting it partition my drive, ect., I started having minor issues. All in
> all, it seems decent enough, but looks like it is still heavily depends on
> command lines.
>
> Simple things such as my resolution being to low, turned into a nightmare.
> I
> searched their forums, tried changing drivers, editing the config files
> and
> so on, just to end up with it crashing on me. Might be a good system, but
> DEFINITLY not user friendly. So after some searching, discovered how to
> get
> rid of the dual boot menu, then delete the partitions. Now everything
> seems
> fine, except I now have almost half my drive set as unallocated space.
>
> Now the short version. How can I get back the lost space without having to
> pay for software such as partition magic (that looks to be the answer
> everywhere I search)? Is there some way through windows to get it back, or
> at
> least a freeware solution thats not to complex?
>
> Windows XP pro SP2
> Western Digital HD 250g

If you are go to Vista, look at Acronis Disk Director Suite version 10 which
is Vista compatible in the latest build. BootIt NG also works in Vista.
Partition Magic does not.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
 
=?Utf-8?B?UnVuc3dpdGhmaXNo?= wrote:
>
> I'll give the long version, so others might think twice before ending up
> where I am. Today I decided to give ubuntu a try, just to give me something
> new to play with due to the fact that I can currently dish out about $500 for
> vista ultimate :( I'm not new to computers, as I work with them every day,

Wait until Vista 2 before you dish out any money.

--
http://www.bootdisk.com/
 
"Plato" wrote:

> =?Utf-8?B?UnVuc3dpdGhmaXNo?= wrote:
> >
> > I'll give the long version, so others might think twice before ending up
> > where I am. Today I decided to give ubuntu a try, just to give me something
> > new to play with due to the fact that I can currently dish out about $500 for
> > vista ultimate :( I'm not new to computers, as I work with them every day,
>
> Wait until Vista 2 before you dish out any money.
>
> --
> http://www.bootdisk.com/
>
>
>
That was a typo on my part. Should have been "can't currently dish out
$500", not "can". That was the reason for me trying out another OS. No
worries, it will be a while before I have half a grand to drop on an os
(sadly). By then most drivers should be out, and the majority of bugs fixed.
 
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