Merging partitions in Windows 7

[branskyj]

Hi all,

I have the following problem- a hard drive with two partitions, one of them full and the other one- completely empty. The disk is not with OS on it, it is just used as a storage for my stuff.
My question is- can I merge both partitions so that the empty partition gets added to the full partition and form one partition at the end? Which software do you recommend?
My second question is- if yes, then is there ANY risk for the information on the full partition to be deleted while merging both partitions?

Thanks.

 

[hhhd1]

windows computer management should be able to do that, as long as the 2 partitions are adjacent, (right after each other)

first delete the empty partition, then extend the full partition.
the operation could be done live with zero downtime.

ofc, there is always a risk, however it is minimal.

 

[branskyj]

Wow, that was a fast response.
I just tried it and it worked perfectly.

Thanks a lot, hhhd1.

Edit: Just on the side- do you have any idea why is Windows recognising one of my other drives as Pendrive and not as a disk? There is an icon of a folder next to it and not an icon of a hard disk.
Thanks again.

 

[Nothinman]

Wow, that was a fast response.
I just tried it and it worked perfectly.

Thanks a lot, hhhd1.

Edit: Just on the side- do you have any idea why is Windows recognising one of my other drives as Pendrive and not as a disk? There is an icon of a folder next to it and not an icon of a hard disk.
Thanks again.

SATA drives can show up as removable depending on the hardware and driver capabilities.

 

[branskyj]

Was not aware of that.
Thanks Nothinman.