Partitioning HDD in vista

[ThaJollyMan]

Hey guys,
i Just bought a new 500gb WD HDD. I want to copy my vista install from my smaller HDD to this larger one. The program that came with the drice is called "data lifeguard" something like that. Anyway it seems as though this program that came with the HDD is not compatible with windows, what kin of stupid crap is that. The box says its compatible with windows, yet the software isnt. Anyway i dont have the money to spend on partition magic so i tried using partition logic with the boot up disc. I get into pArtition logic and it says that there arent any hard drives, then asks me if i want to shut down or reboot. I want to move the vista install cause its dual booted with xp and is taking up way to much space on the one 250gb drive. IF anyone has any suggestions that would be great. In the mean time i will keep trying to figure this crap out.

Thanks for any responses!

 

[akhilles]

START, CONTROL..., ADMIN..., COM. MGR., STORAGE, DISK MGR, right-click the drive.

Another way is get the free utility from your hdd manufacturer and boot it up.

 

[RebateMonger]

n.m.

 

[ThaJollyMan]

HDD manufacturer program doesnt work in vista thats why i was asking...anyway...i was really trying to copy my vista install from partition B on my 250gb hdd to the new drive cause i didnt want to lose my saved Crysis game...LOL! Anyway i just ended up doing a fresh install on the new drive. I havent tried yet cause i have been working all weekend...but i should be able to partition the new drive even with vista already being installed on it right? Should i just be able to go to disk management and shrink the HDD to 300gb and use the rest for data storage?

 

[Rebel44]

Originally posted by: ThaJollyMan
HDD manufacturer program doesnt work in vista thats why i was asking...anyway...i was really trying to copy my vista install from partition B on my 250gb hdd to the new drive cause i didnt want to lose my saved Crysis game...LOL! Anyway i just ended up doing a fresh install on the new drive. I havent tried yet cause i have been working all weekend...but i should be able to partition the new drive even with vista already being installed on it right? Should i just be able to go to disk management and shrink the HDD to 300gb and use the rest for data storage?

You can use Acronis True Image (or similar program) to transfer entire partion to new HDD.

 

[akhilles]

If you're trying to keep your game saves, prefs, etc., you can just hunt them down. Usually, they're stored in C:\Users\***your_username***. You can go there and just do a search like Crysis. Back these files up to a zip on a CD/DVD/USB/FLOPPY. Do a clean install of os & your software. Run the software once to create the said folders. Decompress & copy those files back to their original locations.

Yup, Acronis can back up just those pref files, a partition, a drive, etc. The Acronis backup file is a virtual drive that you can browse in My Computer, and restore your selected files on the spot.