Partitioning My Hard Drive Without Losing Data


  1. Posts : 7
    Windows 8.1
       #1

    Partitioning My Hard Drive Without Losing Data


    I intend to partition a hard drive I'll be buying to install Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 on each partition but I don't want to lose my data after I've installed Windows 7 and then 8.1 or maybe install the Windows 10 preview 32 bit. I am not going to install Windows 8.1 or 10 Test version as yet gonna have the second partition available but when I install 8.1 I don't want to lose the files I have on Windows 7 partition. I partitioned my hard drive this way successfully in 2009 with Vista and Windows 7 but that was five years ago and that may have been using a Windows built in tool, don't remember the details. How do I partition without losing my data? What's the procedure like and what software can I use?
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  2. Posts : 719
    win 7 dual boot / 10
       #2

    This is from Windows seven forums but still works. Partition or Volume - Create New - Windows 7 Help Forums
    And then at the end of the tutorial there is this list of about everything you could ever need to do to a partition.

    Partition - Mark as Active - Windows 7 Help Forums The third method in this tutorial mentions the download third party software that can be used to partition and such also. Good luck to you Charlie
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1,463
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 64 bit
       #3

    I use this program. The Home edition is Free as well as a bootable version.

    If you move or resize the OS partition it will reboot and do its work before loading the OS or you can use the bootable version.

    Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online

    Jim
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 40
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #4

    Used this on many (about 60) systems including mine without issues.
    It will warn you if there is a chance of data corruption.
    Have a look.
    EaseUS Partition Master - Best partition manager software for Windows disk management.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,249
    Windows 8.1, Win10Pro
       #5

    When you install Win8.1 after having already installed Win7, you won't lose files from the Win7 partition, but Win8.1 will overwrite the boot loader code in Win7 with its own code. After that, when you boot, you'll get an OS selection screen with an entry for Win8.1 and an entry for Win7.
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  6. Posts : 7
    Windows 8.1
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Mark Phelps said:
    When you install Win8.1 after having already installed Win7, you won't lose files from the Win7 partition, but Win8.1 will overwrite the boot loader code in Win7 with its own code. After that, when you boot, you'll get an OS selection screen with an entry for Win8.1 and an entry for Win7.

    Hi Mark, thanks for the tip. But what software are you specifically referring to for me to do this? I need one concrete program or another to use. I have been getting lots of suggestions from people in this thread but I need to know which program you are referring to specifically to get this done in the way you are describing as I want to do this when I get the hard drive in less than two weeks.
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  7. Posts : 5,286
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #7

    Download any of the suggested programs above and fire up Youtube for a step by step instruction. Easus is a good software. But I personally use MiniTool Partition Wizard.

    It will only take 5 minutes to become a professional hard drive partitioner. :)
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,249
    Windows 8.1, Win10Pro
       #8

    I need to know which program you are referring to
    You don't need to do this yourself. When you install Win8 after already having Win7 installed, the Win8 installer will find Win7, and its boot loader files, and will automatically do these updates for you. What is harder to do is to prevent this from happening so that each of the OS versions has its own set of boot loader files.
      My Computer

  9.    #9

    Before doing anything, be sure to backup your data!
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1,255
    Windows 10 Pro
       #10

    Lady Fitzgerald said:
    Before doing anything, be sure to backup your data!
    Very important.

    Usually these utilities work with no issues. But occasionally they do fail, with potentially disastrous results for your data.
    You cannot rely on recovery methods.
      My Computer


 

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