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Appendix E. An Introduction to Disk Partitions

Figure E 10. Disk Drive Being Destructively Repartitioned

Caution

As Figure E 10, shows, any data present in the original partition will be lost without proper

backup!

Non Destructive Repartitioning

Here, you run a program that does the seemingly impossible: it makes a big partition smaller

without losing any of the files stored in that partition. Many people have found this method to be

reliable and trouble free. What software should you use to perform this feat? There are several

disk management software products on the market. You will have to do some research to find the

one that is best for your situation.

While the process of non destructive repartitioning is rather straightforward, there are a number

of steps involved:

Compress existing data

Resize the existing partition

Create new partition(s)

Next we will look at each step in a bit more detail.

E.1.4.3.1. Compress existing data

As Figure E 11, shows, the first step is to compress the data in your existing partition. The reason for

doing this is to rearrange the data such that it maximizes the available free space at the "end" of the

partition.

Figure E 11. Disk Drive Being Compressed

This step is crucial. Without it, the location of your data could prevent the partition from being resized

to the extent desired. Note also that, for one reason or another, some data cannot be moved. If this is

the case (and it severely restricts the size of your new partition(s)), you may be forced to destructively

repartition your disk.