I've been helping a friend with a laptop and am almost ready to give it back.  For some reason the HD has a C: partition with OS, data, pagefile, etc. and a D: that has nothing.  I've removed the D: partition and have free space that I'd like to add to C:.  C: is FAT32 which I'd like to change to NTFS and I think D: was NTFS.

I have Ghost 2003 and Ghost 10.  Would either of these products help with what I need to do?  Is one better to use than the other?

I'll be using a USB connected HD to move images to for the short term while I'm working.

I'd thought about making an image of the current C:, storing it on the USB drive, using FDISK to resize C: and then "ghost" the image back on to the larger C:; I'm just not sure if the size change will impact this, or if there is a better way.

I use Ghost when I'm in a pinch, but am far from an expert and wanted to ask before I jump off on this.

Thanks!

artesian79 wrote on Aug 14^th, 2008 at 3:12pm:

C: is FAT32 which I'd like to change to NTFS and I think D: was NTFS.

You'll need something like Symantec's Partition Magic to manipulate and/or resize partitions.

But before you do that be sure you have a good verified image backup.

I have an image running now.  I'd like to "test" it for real before blowing away the boot partition.

Can I test it by loading the image on a spare HD in a desktop?  The hardware will be very different and I've never tried to use an image like this before now.

artesian79 wrote on Aug 14^th, 2008 at 7:23pm:

I have an image running now.I'd like to "test" it for real before blowing away the boot partition.

To test it, I would see if you can boot from your Recovery CD, and restore a file or small folder.  That should give you some confidence.  Also, be sure you checked "verify image" as one of the options when creating the image.  If you didn't then you can verify it afterwards.

I'm assuming you are using Ghost 12, right?

Once you have a good backup, use Partition Magic or some other partition software, to enlarge the first partition, and to change it from fat32 to NTFS.

artesian79 wrote on Aug 14^th, 2008 at 3:12pm:

using FDISK to resize C: and then "ghost" the image back on to the larger C:;

I wouldn't use FDISK to do that.  Use a real partition manager.  You won't have to restore anything back because it maniuplates the partition in a non-destructive mode.

I'm using Ghost 10 via SystemWorks Premier 2004.  The Ghost screen that is reporting progress says Norton Ghost 2003. (?)

I'd love to use a partition manager, but they are pretty expensive for a one time use.  Do any of you know of a free one that is trustworthy?

I believe I've seen a free partition manager mentioned on this forum.  Use the search function to find the thread.

John. wrote on Aug 14^th, 2008 at 8:25pm:

free partition manager

GParted

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=115843&package_id=271779