merging partitions in windows 2000

[raptorgta]

Hello everyone. I have a Windows 2000 box at work and I need to merge 2 partitions. C drive is 4GB FAT (not FAT32) and D drive is 15GB NTFS. Before you start asking why it is FAT and not FAT32 or NTFS all I have to say is it was like that when I got here. Is there a tool in windows or do I need to use partitioning software? Will I be able to merge the 2 partitions given the differant file systems? Thanks

[+BudMan MVC]

No you can NOT merge different file systems - no matter what tool you have.. You can only end up with 1 file system - so one of them will have to be changed... Depending on the tool, this might be done together?

I would HIGHLY suggest you have a backup of your data before attempting this.. Which brings up a valid point - if you have a backup of your data! As all software is going to suggest you have be for attempting this..

Why don't you just delete the partitions - and partition and format them as you desire during setup of your OS.. Then put back the stuff you need from you backup.

[jamend]

I don't think he actually wants to keep both file systems on one partition; instead he just wants to merge two partitions with different file systems into one partition with one file system. Anyways, Parition Magic would do it.

[+BudMan MVC]

^ which is what I said? ;)

[raptorgta]

My boss asked me this question and I told him the same thing but figured I better check to be safe. The problem is that all the computers here are pretty old. The fastest one had NT 4.0 then upgraded to Win 2000 the was to run Mechanical Desktop, another computer has Win 98 (not SE), and the other just was upgraded to XP. The fastest one has 128MB RAM with a P3. I tried getting him to build at least one new one and he said no, so I have to deal with this junk for now. Thanks for the reply but now I have to convince him to backup and reinstall or build a new one or try Partion Magic.

[raptorgta]

Will using Partition Magic to change the file systems delete the data from the disk?

[+BudMan MVC]

Well yes I would HIGHLY suggest you have a backup before attempting such a thing.. But you can merge these partitions - its just one has to be converted before you could do so.. ie C to ntfs (better choice) or D to fat - then they can be merged (with a tool).. Say partition magic, Partiton Manager, etc.. etc.. There are few free tools out there as well.

edit: No the data will not be deleted - but something "COULD" go wrong, etc.. This is why the backup!

[raptorgta]

Thanks for the info. I'll let him know and see what he wants to do. I'll more than likely be asking more questions soon because knowing me things don't always work right.

[Harsesis]

Partition magic will sort the format difference out within the program

U can change the fat to ntfs and then merge in 1 step! (although you'll have to restart while it does it)

Oh and about the poopy computers... you might wanna try moving parts around :p, like stealing ram from one computer to put in another, so you have atleast one semi good computer :ninja: