Unallocated space in vista Premium 64 bit and Local Policy question.

HP Pavilion dv9700 Entertainment Laptop
Amd Turion X2
4 GB memory
SP1

Hit wrong key now have 12.96 Unallocated space

Cannot delete or merge as I have the allowed 4 partitions
I know some do not recommend partitions, but I do, because when
there is a mess up .. then I can reload and start over and still have
my
files and programs.
If I get Ultimate will I be able to delete the Unallocated one when I
am loading
Ultimate ... I know I will have to delete other partitions or think so.
or will I be able to do this using Simply Mepis for 64 bit.
Is there any other method?
I am going to purchase Ultimate anyway so I can get local policy.
but just wanted to know what is available.

RE Local Policy ... is there info on how to use it so I will be able to
see
and delete things in hidden files and other folders and use my computer
like it is mine.
Thanks.

vv.


--
vista_vixen

Hi, Vixen.

Since you are coming to us (here in the
microsoft.public.windows.vista.general newsgroup on the Microsoft public
news server) from some unidentified "forum" via the vBulletin USENET
gateway, there's a very good chance that we're not getting your whole story.
That "forum" relays messages to and from the MS server and posts often get
delayed or out of sequence or just plain lost. (You can cut out the
middleman and come here directly by clicking:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof....vista.general . It's
free and does not require you to log in.)

While you didn't say so, you apparently are using Vista's Disk Management
utility. It's included in ALL versions of Vista (and WinXP and Win2K), so
you don't necessarily need Ultimate. You didn't tell us which version you
are running, but it has Disk Management. As you probably know, there are
several ways to get to it, but my favorite is to just press Start, type
diskmgmt.msc, and press Enter. Then I Maximize it so that I don't feel like
I'm working through a keyhole.

Disk Management is THE tool for creating, deleting, formatting and otherwise
managing "drives" or "volumes", including partitions on HDD, optical drives,
USB flash drives, digital cameras...anything that can be assigned a "drive
letter".

The Vista version added the ability to Shrink Volume; it could be that's how
you got that 12.96 Unallocated Space. Now that you have it, you can do any
of several things with it, your choice:
1. Leave it Unallocated...you may find a use for it later.
2. Create a partition or logical drive with all or part of it, format it
and assign a letter (and a label - this will get written to the HD and won't
change, even if the drive letter changes).
3. Click on the partition immediately before this space and Extend volume
to add all or part of it to that contiguous volume.
4. Whatever other use you might think of.

> Cannot delete or merge as I have the allowed 4 partitions

There's no limit to how many volumes you can have - until you run out of
letters in the English alphabet, at which time you'll have to switch to GPT
drives - but don't ask me about that subject!

We've always been limited to 4 partitions because there's room for only four
16-byte entries in the 64-byte partition table in the Master Boot Record.
But one of those 4 could be an extended partition, in which we could create
as many logical drives as we like and assign each a drive letter. That's
the system I've used for a decade or more: 1 primary partition plus
multiple logical drives in an extended partition covering the rest of the
HD. Vista has made a small change in HOW we do it, but still allows many
more than 4 "volumes" on each HD. Study the Help file from Disk Management;
you'll see that it's arranged for reference, not as a tutorial, so you can't
just read through it like a textbook.

> or will I be able to do this using Simply Mepis for 64 bit.

No idea what this is.

> RE Local Policy ... is there info on how to use it so I will be able to

I haven't needed this. If I did, I might look in Help and Support - or ask
Google.

Rather than vista.general, you might get more-focused help for this question
in:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof...ile_management

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
rc@grandecom.net
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)

"vista_vixen" <guest@unknown-email.com> wrote in message
news:bf06722234b76e43948c6ff15aed7538@nntp-gateway.com...
>
> HP Pavilion dv9700 Entertainment Laptop
> Amd Turion X2
> 4 GB memory
> SP1
>
> Hit wrong key now have 12.96 Unallocated space
>
> Cannot delete or merge as I have the allowed 4 partitions
> I know some do not recommend partitions, but I do, because when
> there is a mess up .. then I can reload and start over and still have
> my
> files and programs.
> If I get Ultimate will I be able to delete the Unallocated one when I
> am loading
> Ultimate ... I know I will have to delete other partitions or think so.
> or will I be able to do this using Simply Mepis for 64 bit.
> Is there any other method?
> I am going to purchase Ultimate anyway so I can get local policy.
> but just wanted to know what is available.
>
> RE Local Policy ... is there info on how to use it so I will be able to
> see
> and delete things in hidden files and other folders and use my computer
> like it is mine.
> Thanks.
>
> vv.
>
>
> --
> vista_vixen

To R. C. White.

Vista home Premium 64 bit.
Thanks for replying RC.
Yes I am using Vista's Disk Management utility. I do not have the
option of extending the volume as extend volume is grayed out in all
partitions. I also do not have any options whatever to adjust the
unallocated I have tried.
I just noticed I have 3 primary and 1 logical. So maybe the best thing
to do is just delate (not C) partitions and start over. The reason I
thought about Ultimate was when installing I could get to the
unallocated one but I also do want the advantage of Local Policy.

I have not been able to reply because I was away for several days and
when I came home found that my ISP had unplugged internet and our phone
...
and that one is a mystery to us and them. I think someone made a
mistake but of course that will not be admitted. So internet was off for
6 days and then it took several days and four tries to get email.

I do appreciate your suggestions and will try to work out the problems.

Also thanks for the links as I could not find my post.

VV.


--
vista_vixen

PS to above post.

I bought a new laptop with Vista Premium 64 bit.
this is the one with the problem.
Other one is Vista Ultimate 32 bit desktop
whick is good so far.
No problems with those partitions.


VV.


--
vista_vixen

Hi, VV.

> I have not been able to reply because I was away for several days and
> when I came home found that my ISP had unplugged internet and our phone

Bummer! Glad you're back online. ;<)

> extend volume is grayed out

This usually means that there is no CONTIGUOUS unallocated space FOLLOWING
the volume that you want to extend. The Extend Volume command doesn't like
jumping over volumes to find more unallocated space.

Sometimes we can work around that problem by temporarily backing up - or
moving - the contents of an intervening volume. Then we can delete that
volume and Extend the immediately-preceding volume into some or all of the
vacated space. If we don't use all of that space with the extension, we can
re-create the deleted volume there and restore its data. This all depends
on the specifics of your hard drive, of course: how big is it; how many
volumes are there, how big are they and how full are they; and other such
details. You'll need to "draw us a picture" of that drive, or send us a
"snip" of the Graphical view of it from Disk Management.

> I also do not have any options whatever to adjust the
> unallocated I have tried.

No, we can't directly "adjust" the unallocated space. All we can do is
delete volumes to create more unallocated space, or create volumes in the
existing allocated space.

RC





"vista_vixen" <guest@unknown-email.com> wrote in message
news:a0e2085132eb36b11ff3c14272233772@nntp-gateway.com...
>
> To R. C. White.
>
> Vista home Premium 64 bit.
> Thanks for replying RC.
> Yes I am using Vista's Disk Management utility. I do not have the
> option of extending the volume as extend volume is grayed out in all
> partitions. I also do not have any options whatever to adjust the
> unallocated I have tried.
> I just noticed I have 3 primary and 1 logical. So maybe the best thing
> to do is just delate (not C) partitions and start over. The reason I
> thought about Ultimate was when installing I could get to the
> unallocated one but I also do want the advantage of Local Policy.
>
> I have not been able to reply because I was away for several days and
> when I came home found that my ISP had unplugged internet and our phone
> .
> and that one is a mystery to us and them. I think someone made a
> mistake but of course that will not be admitted. So internet was off for
> 6 days and then it took several days and four tries to get email.
>
> I do appreciate your suggestions and will try to work out the problems.
>
> Also thanks for the links as I could not find my post.
>
> VV.
>
>
> --
> vista_vixen

Thank you .. I'm happy to be back.

(Sometimes we can work around that problem by temporarily backing up -
or
moving - the contents of an intervening volume. Then we can delete
that
volume and Extend the immediately-preceding volume into some or all of
the
vacated space. If we don't use all of that space with the extension,
we can
re-create the deleted volume there and restore its data.)

I have done this and am happy to report it has worked.
Why I did not do this before .. when I clicked on said partition to
delete .. a pop up
explained if I choose to do so I would not be able to access it. Just
the language
that threw me off.

So now all is well.

I appreciate your help very much RC.

VV.


--
vista_vixen

Hi, VV.

I'm glad it worked. ;<)

Thanks for the feedback. It gives us more confidence in what to recommend
for the next user with a similar problem.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
rc@grandecom.net
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)

"vista_vixen" <guest@unknown-email.com> wrote in message
news:6fc6b0f97a2257c4c00ffdae64b7a088@nntp-gateway.com...
>
> Thank you .. I'm happy to be back.
>
> (Sometimes we can work around that problem by temporarily backing up -
> or
> moving - the contents of an intervening volume. Then we can delete
> that
> volume and Extend the immediately-preceding volume into some or all of
> the
> vacated space. If we don't use all of that space with the extension,
> we can
> re-create the deleted volume there and restore its data.)
>
> I have done this and am happy to report it has worked.
> Why I did not do this before .. when I clicked on said partition to
> delete .. a pop up
> explained if I choose to do so I would not be able to access it. Just
> the language
> that threw me off.
>
> So now all is well.
>
> I appreciate your help very much RC.
>
> VV.
>
>
> --
> vista_vixen

Hello, I've just joined. I'm a relatively new Vista user and have
encountered problems with a split disk drive. I've been reading all that
has been said already and it has helped me to understand....somewhat. My
problem is that my system drive C is over three quarters full and I'm
about to do a big chunk of work. D drive is empty (it's called Data) but
I don't know how to save to it or what to save it it. Sorry to sound so
dumb. I've had plenty of computers but all have worked with just one
drive, or at least one section! I tried shrinking the D drive by 25000
to see what happens, but it has left me with unallocated space. Neither
C nor D will allow the unallocated space in... neither will expand. I
really don't mind having separate drives, but how do I put my normal
files (documents, photographs, music, etc.) into D and still be able to
access them from start menu, photo gallery, etc? In order to resolve
this unallocated space - if I empty D and somehow close it down, can I
then reallocate the unallocated space as D?

Help would be MOST appreciated.

Compuchris (just Chris for short)

ps I hope you understand this - I'm not sure I do!!!


--
compuchris
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

Hi, Chris.

A good place to expand your knowledge about computer hard drives is the
built-in utility called Disk Management. It's a part (officially called a
"snap-in", although we don’t hear that term a lot in everyday usage) of
Microsoft Management Console. To get to Disk Management through the MMC,
right-click on Computer and then click Manage; Disk Management is under
Storage. But this approach to DM always makes me feel like I'm working
through a keyhole, so I just press Start, type diskmgmt.msc, and press
Enter, then Maximize the window so I can see what I'm doing. DM has an
excellent Help file, although it has two drawbacks for me (and probably for
you): It's written as a reference, not a tutorial, so we can't just read it
from start to finish. And it spends way too much time discussing things
that are over the heads of us one-computer guys, such as dynamic disks and
GPT file systems. Still, there's a lot there for us; if you invest a few
hours in this help file, you will learn more than most computer users have
learned in years.

It helps to get the jargon straight so that we all understand each other. A
physical disk drive is numbered, not lettered, starting with Disk 0. Each
disk (often abbreviated HD for hard disk or HDD for hard disk drive) must be
divided into "partitions" (not "sections"), each of which must be assigned a
"drive" letter and formatted so that files can be written to it - and so
that the files can be found and read back later. A "drive" letter is not
assigned to a physical drive, but to a "volume", which can be either a
primary partition or a logical drive in an extended partition. Even if a
physical drive contains only a single partition which covers the entire
disk, the "drive" letter refers to the partition, not to the physical disk.
The terms "drive", "partition" and "volume" are often used interchangeably -
but their meaning is not always interchangeable. :<{

As you will see in the Graphical View of Disk Management, "unallocated
space" (sometimes referred to as "free space") is outside any volume. This
space is available to be included in a newly-created volume, or to be added
to the preceding volume (to its left in this view) by using the Extend
Volume command on that preceding volume. The "Shrink volume" command always
removes empty space from the end (the "right" end) of the volume, leaving
free space immediately following the shrunken volume, as you see following
your Drive D:. You can use that 25,000 MB (roughly equal to 25 GB) in at
least a couple of ways. You can Extend Drive D: by any amount up to the
full 25,000 MB. Or you can create a new volume and name it Drive E: or
Drive X: or whatever letter you choose that is not already in use. You can
even create multiple smaller volumes to use up the full 25 GB, if you like.

How many volumes do you need? That question will get you many answers
because we all use our computers in our own different ways. Some (most?)
experts and other users recommend a single partition for everything. Some
of us (like me) have a dozen or more volumes; many of mine were created when
I was beta testing Vista and this let me delete a beta volume when the next
version came along. Users who are "dual-booting" will need at least two
volumes, one for each operating system. It seems logical, but not always
practical, to have one volume for startup files, another for the operating
system, a third for applications and a fourth for data. Only YOU can decide
which is the right number of volumes for you. The neat thing about Disk
Management is that your first decision need not be final. You can delete
and recreate volumes as your needs change.

Good luck!

By the way, you posted using VistaHeads, which relayed your post to the
Microsoft public news server, where I am reading it. If you'd like to "cut
out the middleman" and access the MS newsgroups directly, just click here:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof....vista.general

The MS server is free and does not require you to log on.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
rc@grandecom.net
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)

"compuchris" <compuchris.3ffg83@no-mx.forums.vistaheads.com> wrote in
message news:compuchris.3ffg83@no-mx.forums.vistaheads.com...
>
> Hello, I've just joined. I'm a relatively new Vista user and have
> encountered problems with a split disk drive. I've been reading all that
> has been said already and it has helped me to understand....somewhat. My
> problem is that my system drive C is over three quarters full and I'm
> about to do a big chunk of work. D drive is empty (it's called Data) but
> I don't know how to save to it or what to save it it. Sorry to sound so
> dumb. I've had plenty of computers but all have worked with just one
> drive, or at least one section! I tried shrinking the D drive by 25000
> to see what happens, but it has left me with unallocated space. Neither
> C nor D will allow the unallocated space in... neither will expand. I
> really don't mind having separate drives, but how do I put my normal
> files (documents, photographs, music, etc.) into D and still be able to
> access them from start menu, photo gallery, etc? In order to resolve
> this unallocated space - if I empty D and somehow close it down, can I
> then reallocate the unallocated space as D?
>
> Help would be MOST appreciated.
>
> Compuchris (just Chris for short)
>
> ps I hope you understand this - I'm not sure I do!!!
>
>
> --
> compuchris
> Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com

Many, many thanks. I now understand. I've found the help file, but must
say I prefer your explanation! I will log on to site you recommend.
Tonight I will sleep easier. This has been bugging me for days.

Thanks muchly, you're a star

Chris (compuchris)


--
compuchris
Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com