Moving Win10 C Drive to the 'left'

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  1. Posts : 35
    Win10 pro
       #1

    Moving Win10 C Drive to the 'left'


    I reinstalled Windows 10 on a new Hard Drive from an ISO but left a partition in front of the C Drive with 137 GB on it, plus another unallocated space at the very front of the drive with 500 MB.
    It's a long story about how this came to pass but the fact is that it did.
    The Computer boots to the C Drive and the CBD file and winloader.exe is located there but I just don't know if there's anything on the very front of the first drive in either the unallocated space or the partition in front of the C Dr. (left of the C drive)
    The Drive to the left of the C drive currently is marked as F drive, and is marked as healthy as a primary partition, but not the boot drive. I have already changed its letter from H to F without any issues arising.
    I could use the F Dr. simply as a storage partition but I don't know if that would create issues with 3rd party imaging software restorations. Therefore I would like to include it in the C Dr. and then maybe move the D and E to the "left".
    Is there anyway to make sure that I won't screw things up if I merge the C drive with the F drive and the unallocated space, considering all factors I have identified?
    I have included a link to a screenshot of windows disk management console.[rollob1]
    Thank you for your time
    Rollo
    Moving Win10 C Drive to the 'left'-disk-mgt.png


    [rollob1]
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #2

    Install minitool partition wizard free, delete f drive (as empty)

    Move c drive to left

    expand c drive to right OR

    move others to left and expand to right.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 35
    Win10 pro
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thank you Cereberus,
    I do know how to do that having done it many times, but I have also done it and wound up with lots of problems - so I am looking for reasurance that given what I have said about the situation, that it is 'all clear' and that there is nothing hidden that I haven't acounted for
    Rollo
    .
    cereberus said:
    Install minitool partition wizard free, delete f drive (as empty)

    Move c drive to left

    expand c drive to right OR

    move others to left and expand to right.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2,324
    Win10
       #4

    how old is the install of win10 ? did you already install programs etc or could you wipe it out without worry?

    I would consider deleting the 1st 3 partitions with MTPW Boot disk and converting the disk to GPT and then reinstall win10 into the Unallocated space , it will then configure the Proper Win10 partitions on its own including the missing Recovery Partition.

    I would make the Macrium Rescue Disk so so you have it's "fix boot" Utility if you need it too ....

    I'd also make Macrium images of d: and e:\ just incase something goes sideways so you don't lose data.


    KB.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 35
    Win10 pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Much obliged Kbird, but I have put a lot of work into building this installation up so I wouldn't be willing to start again. I have many boot utilities available to me but I haven't had a Macrium disk for a long time (my current version must be 3-4 years old and may not be capable of handling Win10 - of which I have encountered extraordinary difficultes with that I never had with W7 or XP). That is why I have such a weird arrangemnt to begin with!
    Cheers,
    Rollo


    Kbird said:
    how old is the install of win10 ? did you already install programs etc or could you wipe it out without worry?

    I would consider deleting the 1st 3 partitions with MTPW Boot disk and converting the disk to GPT and then reinstall win10 into the Unallocated space , it will then configure the Proper Win10 partitions on its own including the missing Recovery Partition.

    I would make the Macrium Rescue Disk so so you have it's "fix boot" Utility if you need it too ....

    I'd also make Macrium images of d: and e:\ just incase something goes sideways so you don't lose data.


    KB.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 2,324
    Win10
       #6

    You can still make an image of C:\ with Macrium Free , do what I said above to fix the partitions and then use Macrium to restore you image of C:\ over the newly created C:\ , I just did it myself when Win10 AU would not install cos I had a MBR disk in August....

    see here..... Post 9 is the instructions but the rest maybe worth a read for knowledge?

    https://www.tenforums.com/installatio...-mbr-disk.html


    PS i run Macrium about every 3 days with win10 ...learnt my lesson there...esp. with forced updates
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 35
    Win10 pro
    Thread Starter
       #7

    But, but, but....WHY, Kbird??
    After spending a month trying to get an Acronis backup re-installed when my HDD failed It came from a D drive and I couldnt get windows to swallow it. it wanted Windows to be on the C Drive or if i got in working on a D Drive, it would give the me the lightblue screen - 7600 error that the install was not genuine and no place to reinsert my key. So I had to do a clean install on the C drive (its probaly too complicated to explain). I can't handle the idea of any more adventures! I am so far bhind in other areas of my life bec of that nightmare that it is laughable. I have never seen anything like the computer nightmare i went thru (of course I do not have professional level skills).
    I have a UEFI MB but I guess I have a MBR install - I dont know.
    thanks
    Rollo
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #8

    I told you how to do it - it is easy using minitool partition wizard free). Do not need to reinstall, mess around with Macrium (great tool but sledgehammer to crack nut here) etc.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 35
    Win10 pro
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Dear Cereberus,
    Yes I understand HOW to do it- I've done it many many times. Why question revolves around other issues, such as if the BCD is located on the 1st partition, for instance, and you delete that partition and then expand the second partition which contains the Windows OS into it you will not be able to boot without a reapair or moving of the BCD. Windows Recovery Disk used to be able to quickly fix that type of problem easily but in the last month it completely failed me on Win10.
    I am so sick of monkeying with this machine that I want to do it without that kind of dramas - that's why I'm asking on a forum rather than just plowing ahead.
    Rollo

    cereberus said:
    I told you how to do it - it is easy using minitool partition wizard free). Do not need to reinstall, mess around with Macrium (great tool but sledgehammer to crack nut here) etc.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #10

    Hi there

    @Rollo
    I really would take advice from regular users on this Forum who've probably re-installed Windows more times than there are Hot dinners available on this planet !!.

    However the simple way is

    1) Backup HDD with Macrium -- that way if it goes pear shaped you can restore the entire HDD with no problems.

    2) Use GPARTED or any partitioning tool to delete / shift left / get the partition / HDD into the geometry you want.

    3) re-boot.

    In the unlikely problem of a boot fail simply run Repair windows. You won't lose anything.

    If it STILL fails then just restore the HDD while people can work out what next to do.

    IMO the main times people get problems is they've installed 3rd part boot managers (easy BCD for example) which hoses up Windows when you re-arrange the partitions.

    Another piece of advice here - NEVER these days use LOGICAL partitions as these will invariably cause problems if you need to shift partitions around.

    If you need more than 4 physical partitions then switch to GPT . Primary partitions always work properly !!!!!

    99% of people having Boot problems after moving partitions around is either they've used Logical Partitions or have some sort of 3rd party boot manager installed.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


 

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