devnulllore Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Hi, I am looking for a good Windows 7 x64 partition manager. I was looking at Acronis Disk Director but it's $50 and I have read that there are some free ones that are just as good. Looking for suggestions. Thanks, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Jen Smith Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Kind of depends on what you're doing. If you're just adjusting the partitions, for me under Windows the built in Disk Management snap-in works just fine. If I'm dealing with one of my systems that handle multiple OS's, I made an Arch based live CD for PartEd, GPartEd, and the like. (Along with memory diagnostics, recovery tools, etc etc.. a utility disc of sorts.) Max Norris 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 devnulllore Posted August 20, 2011 Author Share Posted August 20, 2011 Kind of depends on what you're doing. If you're just adjusting the partitions, for me under Windows the built in Disk Management snap-in works just fine. If I'm dealing with one of my systems that handle multiple OS's, I made an Arch based live CD for PartEd, GPartEd, and the like. (Along with memory diagnostics, recovery tools, etc etc.. a utility disc of sorts.) hmmm, I found Windows Disk Manager to be very limited. Maybe I am using it wrong but it would not let me resize partitions etc.. I like/need full control over my disks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Jen Smith Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 hmmm, I found Windows Disk Manager to be very limited. Maybe I am using it wrong but it would not let me resize partitions etc.. I like/need full control over my disks. Depends on your setup of course but it can resize. Right click a partition on the lower pane and hit either Extend or Shrink, along with a few other options like mirroring, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 medium_pimpin Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Try GParted. It's free and it's great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Riggers Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Partition Wizard Home Edition is free as is quite a good tool, it doesn`t do much more than Windows Disc Manager but is simpler (interface wise, etc). Check out the reviews/info on CNet. Partition Wizard Free Good Luck, Riggers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 +BudMan MVC Posted August 20, 2011 MVC Share Posted August 20, 2011 "hmmm, I found Windows Disk Manager to be very limited" In what way? You can clearly shrink or extend partitions - this is normally more than enough for general users. That being said there are a few scenarios that are not as straight forward and can be done easier with 3rd party. But you can accomplish what you need without them for sure, might just have to go about it a slightly different way. One issue is that if you have say 2 parts, and say you want to shrink part 2 to be able to add more space to part 1 -- since the built in manager shrinks the disk from the right side and does not allow movement of the partition its not possible to get the unallocated space you need to expand part1 next to part one. Same goes if you shrink say part1 and want to extend part2, the unallocated space is on the left of part2 in that scenario - when the built in disk manager only wants to extend basic disks when unallocated is to the right of the partition. example Here is my original 2 part disk now I shrink part 2 using the build in disk manager to allow space for part 1 to expand into Now with the built in disk manager there is no way to move part 2 to the end of the disk and leave the unallocated space next to part1 so I can expand into it. BUT!!!! Here the thing.. You should ALWAYS!!! have a backup when dicking with your partitions, especially anything that is moving them around vs a simple shrink or expand.. So if you have a backup of part2, and you want to expand part1 -- then just delete part2, expand part1 to as big as you want and then recreate part2 and put your files back. This would be the MS way to do it, you should ALWAYS have a BACKUP of your files before attempting to dick with the partitions on the disk. So no need for 3rd party if you ask me. Now second option would be to just make the disk a dynamic disk and then if you need more space for part1 then your pieces of part one don't even have to be on the same disk or next to each other, etc. So see now part1 is bigger, using up that unallocated space which did not have to be actually to the right of the partition you wanted to extend, does not even have to be on the same physical disk. There are always multiple ways to skin a cat, saying your do not have full control over your partitions without 3rd party is NONSENSE pure and simple.. You have full control of them, any thing you could need to do is available for you to do, its just you can not take a few shortcuts like moving a partition around on the disk to allow for where unallocated space will be when you shrink, etc. But this is easy enough to work with simple backup of your data!!! Which everyone should have anyway. Another way to extend part1 with built in disk manager is now that you have shrunk part2, create part3 in that unallocated space and move all your files from part2 into part3, then delete part2 and now you have unallocated space next to part1 to extend into. As to working with other OSes etc. Again you sure and the F do not need 3rd party partition for this either - since whatever OS your dealing with will have its own partition tools to create/delete/format its file systems etc.. Just let that OS work with the partitions its going to be on. etc. But if you have your little heart set on using a 3rd party, then sure there are FREE ones available -- you forking over $50 to some company to help you create a partition is foolish if you ask me.. Tell you want, send me $5 and I will walk you through how to do anything you want with your partitions ;) goretsky 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Glen Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 The two free tools I see mentioned most often are MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition and EASEUS Partition Master (Home Edition). I've tried both and they both have about the same functionality to provide you with most of what you'll need for partition management on a home computer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 MS Bob 11 Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 Easeus or Paragon Partition Manager are good free alternatives if Windows' Disk Management doesn't do what you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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devnulllore
Hi,
I am looking for a good Windows 7 x64 partition manager. I was looking at Acronis Disk Director but it's $50 and I have read that there are some free ones that are just as good. Looking for suggestions.
Thanks,
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