Hey everyone...

I was looking at how much drive space free I had the other day, and I realized I had less than two gigs left. Not bad, but I started out with 120GB... so I think it's time for me to format and try again. The main problem for me is that most of the items on the hard drive aren't programs, but "stored files and downloads". At least a fourth of it is, and it would be counterproductive to delete them off the hard drive without backing up.

I don't want to go out yet and try using 50+ CD-Rs to try and back up just those files, and I can't afford to get another hard drive to mirror to before I format. Keeping in mind that my drive is partitioned into four letters, I'd like to merge two so I get two and can put the files I don't want deleted into that drive while I format C:. I thought PartitionMagic could do this, but it didn't work.

So, is there an easier way to back up these files before I format, or should I wait for the next FAR CD-R deal? Thanks.

can you "copy" to one of the other partitions??

if looking for FAR CDRs there are some this week.
was by my local B$M yesterday and they had TONS OF THEM
http://www.officemax.com/max/solutions/pro...ckOID=536956913

Sounds like you need to use some form of compression. DATA other then already compressed Jpegs etc should free up plenty of room. With less than 2% of your HD left it's lucky it works. Make some room before you try ANY partitioning. Over 100 Gig of DATA WOW that's BIG!!!

What OS are you running? What file system? Basic or Dynamic Disk?

From within the OS I don't know of any way to merge partitions. You are right in thinking Partition Magic could do this, but I think it depends on the version. I also think that the partitions cannot be merged if the Disk is dynamic. On dynamic disks you create volumes, not partitions. Can extend a volume, but can't merge with another.

Anyone, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Edit: Oh, one more thing (and I don't mean to sound like an a** here). I'd advise that before attempting to change partitions, backup your data first. That brings you right back where you started, right.

Have you gone through and nuked your temp files, internet temp files, and generally some things you no longer need?
If you do it, then you may be able to free up space that enables you to copy/move things around more easily so you can clean more easily.

I just "found" ~20 gigs the other week by getting "bored" and short on space and doing just that.

p0lar: Nope. I was planning to do that so I can move what I didn't want deleted to a partition then delete the other, but I can't seem to find a way to merge my partitions. FYI, I have four partitions (C:/E:/F:/G:) with 526MB, 98.6MB, 926MB, and 223MB free respectively. I'm eyeing that 256MB K-Byte OM deal going on right now with the 150 free CD-Rs. Sounds like a good way to back-up as well as get some extra DDR Ram.

equiptech: Hmm... never thought about compression. What did you have in mind, exactly? Should I just throw the data in groups of 700MB each to Zips or Rars, then burn them?

Alan: Currently running WinXP Pro SP1 on Drive C:. All partitions are FAT32. To be honest, I've never heard of basic or dynamic disk... but I'm guessing I'm on basic. I may end up backing up and formatting first, as I plan to dual boot or even tri-boot soon with SuSE Linux and possibly another copy of Windows.

Bochi: I'm thinking I did go through and erased my temp files... but I didn't get rid of any programs or other files that aren't "temp" yet. Most of the drive isn't organized, so it's a pain right now to do any backing up.

Thanks for all the replies.

Let me ask this also, while on the topic of formats: What do you consider as the best programs in each catagory, like utilities and media? Something you couldn't do without? I think I have too many unnecessary programs also, and it'd be nice to know what I should get instead of what I'm using right now after I format. Many thanks!

p0larbears favorite programs (no particular order):
Trillian Pro - can access MSN chat, AIM, ICQ, YIM, IRC all in one application...and it has some cool plugins
Alcohol 120% - wonderful for burning ISOs
SpyBot and Adaware pro - removes spyware - adaware pro has ADWATCH to help prevent spyware
kazaa lite - always searching for MP3s
SystemWorks 2003 - use it for virus scan and I like some of the utilities
Zone Alarm - Firewall security
WinAmp - use it to play MP3s

These are pretty much the first things I install.
Most the other stuff I can care less about.
(I do like my Remote Desktop Connection too...but that built into XP)

I heard disk cleanup option helps sometimes. I dont know exactly how much space it would free up but you could give that a try to squeeze as much space as you can.