Combining multiple drive partitions into one

[Elliot B.]

I just bought a laptop from PCSpecialist and I had two drives included; a 120 GB SSD (I asked for this to be the primary) and 750 GB HDD.

 

Looking at the two screenshots attached, am I right in thinking they've connected them the wrong way?

 

Anyway, my primary question is: The SSD appears to be in 5 partitions. I fully manage my own systems, so I want one main partition to install Windows on. What's the best way to do this?

 

Would Acronis Disk Director (booting from a CD) do the job?

 

Ideally, before I begin to install Windows, I want the setup program to only show:

• Drive 0 Partition 1 (120 GB)
• Drive 1 Partition 1 (750 GB)

 

[Ambroos]

They're installed fine. Windows drive doesn't have to be on drive 0, all SATA connections are equal.

 

If you want to reinstall a clean Windows yourself, just delete all the partitions on the SSD from the Windows set-up, and select the unallocated space as install disk. Windows will automatically create a partition correctly (including a small 128MB invisible one for recovery tools, which is the optimal setup).

 

Remember though that you will no longer be able to use the built-in recovery from the laptop (to go back to factory install etcetera).

[dafox]

It looks like the SSD has the OS on it. Don't delete the partitions, just use something like parted magic to join them together. No need to reinstall. Leave the reserved ones alone. Actually I wouldn't do anything with it. If your worried about the drive 0 and drive 1 numbering that's just which physical slot they are in according to your motherboard.

[cacoe]

Just delete all the partitions on the drive you'd like and create a new one.

[Elliot B.]

It looks like the SSD has the OS on it. Don't delete the partitions, just use something like parted magic to join them together. No need to reinstall. Leave the reserved ones alone. Actually I wouldn't do anything with it. If your worried about the drive 0 and drive 1 numbering that's just which physical slot they are in according to your motherboard.

The SSD is only 120 GB. If I leave it as it is, I lose 6.9 GB of that in Partitions 1-4 :/

[Praetor]

you can delete all those partitions, but you are going to lose the recovery partition that came with the laptop; you sure about that?

[Elliot B.]

Sorted it thanks to you all, cheers guys! :D

 

 

And for the record, I use a legal key with the media I have chosen to install Windows, so don't get worrying :P

you can delete all those partitions, but you are going to lose the recovery partition that came with the laptop; you sure about that?

Yep. I have my Windows media, a key and all the drivers I need (y)

[dafox]

The SSD is only 120 GB. If I leave it as it is, I lose 6.9 GB of that in Partitions 1-4 :/

 True. Make sure you get rid of the Hibernate file and lower the pagefile size to save even more space. Saved me nearly 20 gig! the 120gig SSD life is tight! run things like ccleaner + ccenhancer or wise disk cleaner once in a while to keep the disk size creep down.

[+BudMan MVC]

Not a huge fan of OEM installs myself ;) Delete and start over normally the best option, all their crap is gone.. Since you have the install media, why would you need have wasted space for recovery? And lets say did want a recovery option - why would you put it on the SSD that is limited space, when you have a 750GB drive where 6.3GB wouldn't be that big of an issue.

You made the right choice with just blow away their stuff and start clean.