- Re: Partitioning CF disks

- RE: Partitioning CF disks

- Re: The Digest V1 # 1288

- Re: Partitioning CF Disks

Date: 10 Nov 2008 12:10:28 +0000
From: Chris Handley
Subject: Re: Partitioning CF disks

John Spillett wrote:
> I have read the correspondence on this topic , the guidance at pscience5 and Microsofts technical pages on the MS tools mentioned. > As I only have access to Windows XP it does not appear possible to  partition a CF card without going through some complex hoops. > Life appears easier under Linux.

I'm really not sure how life could be "easier under Linux", an OS that
is know for cryptic command line tools!  (yeah, it also has GParted
these days)

> Can anyone recommend a partioning tool that works with Windows XP and "removable media" such as CF cards?

Ummm, the one built into Windows XP?!?  Right click on My Computer,
click Manage, then select Storage->Disk Management.  Now find the disk
associated with the partition letter, and delete/create partitions to
your hearts content...

...But be VERY careful not to change your boot (C) partition/disk (which of course applies to all partitioning tools on all OSes, Linux
included).  If you are at all unsure (I would be) then BACKUP YOUR
COMPUTER FIRST.  THEN TEST YOUR BACKUP!  I really cannot overstate
this enough - you can completely destroy all your files (and render it
unbootable) with partitioning tools, so take every precaution, and
triple check everything.  And if you still feel unsure, then DON'T DO
IT, get someone who does (even if you have to pay someone).

Regards,
Chris Handley

Date: 10 Nov 2008 12:28:18 +0000
From: Alan R Morris <address truncated>
Subject: RE: Partitioning CF disks

# From: John Spillett <address truncated>

# Life appears easier under Linux.
# I hope that this is an incorrect interpretation! # Can anyone recommend a partioning tool that works with # Windows XP and "removable media" such as CF cards?

Life is always easier away from Windows!!!!

In 'Computer Management' under 'Disk Management', right click on the drive and select 'Format ...'.

But any data on that drive will be lost.

'Computer Management' is in Start | All Programs | Administrative Tools.

I've not done this as I have used Partition Magic for many years, which does a better job.  One can resize any partition and make new partitions, even on a disk that has data on it without any loss.  So if a partition gets full, you can reduce the size of another partition and expand the full partition, without loss of data.

Alan

Date: 10 Nov 2008 14:49:21 +0000
From: Edward Hasbrouck <address truncated>
Subject: Re: The Digest V1 # 1288

On 10 Nov 2008 at 14:08, "The Digest" <The Digest <address truncated>> wrote:

> Life appears easier under Linux....
> Can anyone recommend a partioning tool that works with > Windows XP and "removable media" such as CF cards?

I don't know if you will find it easier than doing it from Windows, but there are some versions of Linux designed
for disk management (partitioning, cloning, backup, emergency recovery) that can be run from a CD or DVD, without having to install Linux to your hard disk.  You don't really have to learn much about Linux to use one of these CD's to format a CF card, if you have a card reader for your PC.

You download a single file (a .iso image file) on your PC,
burn the image to a CD, and then boot your PC from the CD. (Getting the PC to boot from a CD may require playing with
the boot menu or BIOS settings.)  Once the PC boots, you
can run partitioning and other tools from it.  Here are some:

http://www.sysresccd.org/
http://www.knoppix.net/
http://clonezilla-sysresccd.hellug.gr/
These are powerful tools.  Be careful to partition or format your CF card, not your hard disk! But they might serve your need for one-time use to format a CF card for your Psion.

For partitioning and similar tasks on your hard disk(s), regardless of OS, the best tool (but not free) is Boot-It NG:

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com
----------------
Edward Hasbrouck
<address truncated>
<http://hasbrouck.org+1-415-824-0214

Date: 10 Nov 2008 20:22:44 +0000
From: Alastair Wiggins <address truncated>
Subject: Re: Partitioning CF Disks

John,

You don't need to install Linux to use a Linux partitioning tool. There are plenty of Live CD versions of Linux you can use instead. There is even one that is designd specifically for the task of partitioning disks. It is called GParted and can be downloaded from:

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php
Alternatively, buy a PC magazine that has Ubuntu on the cover CD or DVD. That has GParted as a standard application. You need to be able to boot off a CD or DVD, which may require the BIOS settings in your PC to be changed.

Good luck!

Alastair