Fragmented Drive

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by BigBear68, Aug 9, 2020.

  1. BigBear68

    BigBear68 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Posts:
    71
    Location:
    United Kingdom
    Hi looking for some advice on how to tidy up my drive,Minitool is showing 5 partitions of which 3 are tiny in size and presumably empty as follows E:556 MB,F:43 MB and G:127 MB.

    As these partitions are to the left of my main C drive there is no way i can merge this empty space using Disk Management and the software i have read can do it require the Pro versions and need payment.

    Any way i can tidy this up and merge these empty partitions into my main partition ?.
     
  2. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2011
    Posts:
    4,945
    Location:
    The Pond - USA
    They may not really be empty. Can you post a Windows Disk Mgmt screen of the partition layout.
     
  3. BigBear68

    BigBear68 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Posts:
    71
    Location:
    United Kingdom
    No they are not totally empty,Minitool shows each partition has 4 MB used,however i have no idea what that data is.

    Disk Management is not showing the partitions just 601 MB Unallocated.
     
  4. BigBear68

    BigBear68 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Posts:
    71
    Location:
    United Kingdom
  5. BigBear68

    BigBear68 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Posts:
    71
    Location:
    United Kingdom
    So after doing a little work i have to refresh the thread,i now have four partitions as follows
    1,600 MB and is unallocated
    2,is the EFI system partition
    3,is the reserved partition
    and 4 is obviously the data partition.

    So can i merge the first partition of 600 MB into the data partition or do anything else with it ?.
    Also i have read the reserved partition on Windows 8 should be 350 MB but mine is only 128 MB,should i increase this partition size or leave it as it is ?.
     
  6. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,113
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    BigBear68,

    What happened to the three tiny partitions?

    Can you post a screenshot from Minitool?
     
  7. BigBear68

    BigBear68 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Posts:
    71
    Location:
    United Kingdom
    Brian K
    I believe while I was tinkering with Minitool I split the unallocated partition into two sections which became E & F, G was the reserved partition.So I am left with the 600 MB empty partition.I was trying to tidy things up before I did a backup but I believe there is nothing I can do with the small empty partition so will leave it as is.
     
  8. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,113
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    BigBear68,

    The 600 MB area is not a partition. It's Unallocated Free Space.

    To remove that Free Space you would...

    Slide (move) the ESP to the left
    Slide (move) the MSR to the left
    Slide (move) the Windows partition to the left
    Resize the Windows partition to remove the new Free Space at the end of Disk 0
     
  9. BigBear68

    BigBear68 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Posts:
    71
    Location:
    United Kingdom
    Brian K

    Ok i moved the EFI partition to the left,however the unallocated space is not giving me the option to move it.

    Windows partition gives me the option to move it but when i select the option you cant actually move it just resize.
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2020
  10. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,113
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    A
    You can't manually move unallocated space. You have to slide partitions.

    After you slide the ESP you will have 600 MB of free space between ESP and MSR.
    After you slide the MSR you will have 600 MB of free space between MSR and Windows partition.
    After you slide the Windows partition you will have 600 MB of free space after Windows partition.
    Resize Windows partition 600 MB larger.
    Now there is no unallocated free space.
     
  11. BigBear68

    BigBear68 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Posts:
    71
    Location:
    United Kingdom
    It is the reserved partition that is not giving me an option to slide it.
    Screenshot (4).png
     

    Attached Files:

  12. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,113
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    BigBear68,

    BootIt UEFI can slide (and delete if desired) the MSR. It seems MiniTool can do neither. There is a pdf in the BootIt UEFI download that describes how to make a boot disk. Use the BootIt UEFI boot disk and follow my instructions. Don't install BootIt UEFI.

    https://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads-bootit-uefi.htm
     
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2020
  13. BigBear68

    BigBear68 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Posts:
    71
    Location:
    United Kingdom
    Brian K thanks for your help,as a last resort I tried AOEMI partition software and that allowed me to merge the unallocated space into the C partition.Hard drive is now tidy.
     
  14. imdb

    imdb Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2011
    Posts:
    4,208
    @Brian K and @TheRollbackFrog

    hi, brian and trf, this post is ot but, thank you for your valuable posts on imaging and backup issues. i learned a lot reading your posts. what would we do without you. again, thank you for your time, guys. :thumb:
     
  15. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2005
    Posts:
    12,113
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    imdb, thanks for the pat on the back.
     
  16. Tarnak

    Tarnak Registered Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2007
    Posts:
    5,285
    You deserve it. You have helped me in past. :)
     
  17. TheRollbackFrog

    TheRollbackFrog Imaging Specialist

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2011
    Posts:
    4,945
    Location:
    The Pond - USA
    ...and like @Brian K - I also love those li'l back pats. Anytime you need some help, we're laways here.
     
  18. Tarnak

    Tarnak Registered Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2007
    Posts:
    5,285
    Much appreciated. :)
     
  19. imdb

    imdb Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2011
    Posts:
    4,208
    :thumb:
     
  20. imdb

    imdb Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2011
    Posts:
    4,208
    thank you, trf. :thumb:
     
  21. A_mouse

    A_mouse Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2019
    Posts:
    94
    Location:
    A field
    With minidisktools you don't merge into an empty space, you simply expand a partition next to the space so it takes up that space.
     
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.