Moving to a bigger HD step by step

Running out of HD space (2 partitions)

[silverbytes]

My pc has 1 HD 40 gb:
1 partition 20 gb for programs and SO, unit is C
other partition 20 gb for documents, unit is F

I'm running out of space (deleted some garbage but that is not enough).

I plan to buy a bigger hd, so perhaps I can move documents on F to the new bigger HD and then, make the old hd have 1 partition only to allow all 40 gb for programs and SO (instead just 20 as it is now)

Is that right? Is it possible to do that? And how?

[topr8]

what i've started doing is using external hard drives via usb for data and work - they are still very quick you can't tell the difference .... just a thought, i've already upgraded a computer since then and its great all the docs and images and work on the external usb i just plugged into the new one and presto its there!

to do what you asked is possible

you can use a linux rescue disc which has a partitioner, there are a bunch of tutes on the web as to how to do it.
otherwise your best bet is using windows software like partition magic

[bill]

On Windows I second Partition Magic. Even though it is now a Symantec product, it still works. This is one of the safest ways I know to resize a partition without reformatting. I use this software extensively and can't recall a problem.

[vincevincevince]

gparted live CD is both free and very effective, I have used it before. No warranties of course, but then you have none with PM either.

[lammert]

I often moved from a HD to a bigger one, and I almost always use the following steps:

1. Mount the new larger harddisk on your second drive cable as master
2. Use Norton Ghost to copy the partitions to the new drive. At the beginning of the copy process set the required new partition size.
3. Remove the old HDD and put it in a safe place as a full working backup in case of disaster in the future.
4. Mount the new harddisk on your first drive cable as master.

Advantages:
Even if the process fails, there is no chance of data corruption which might happen with partition editors like Partiton Magic.
You have a working backup copy on a safe place.
You have a fresh new disk in your computer with less chance of failure then when you leave your old one in.

Disadvantages:
You need to buy Ghost, or some other partition copier
The old harddisk space is not online anymore so you have to buy a larger new disk than if you left your old in and just moved one partition to the new disk

[dillonstars]

I use an external USB2 hard drive for all my documents etc. and use a backup utility to copy any changed files to a separate backup 100gb drive every night. I back up to DVD once a month too but that's a different issue.

I travel regularly and it really helps being able to plug the external drive into my laptop and work on my files wherever I am.