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Increase boot partition size

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11 replies

by mferrel

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I have an Nt 4.0 sp6a server with a 2g NTFS boot partition. The boot partition is mirrored. I wish to replace the original 9G mirrored drives with 18G mirrored drives and make the boot partition 4G. This server is a BDC.

I am looking for the safest, most efficient way.

Thanks

11 replies

by jasond

If the equipment is Compaq (Only one I have tried this on), your set. Remove the mirrored 9.1g (the slave drive), replace it with an 18.2. Wait for the rebuild to take place. Remove the first 9.1, and replace with 18.2, Compaqs array configuration will update sizes accordingly (Only after the 2nd 18.2 is installed). Then use Partition Magic to increase the size to 4gig.

Hope this helps,

Jason

by mferrel

It is a Dell Poweredge 2300 Dual PIII 850 server. If at all possible I'd prefer to stay away from Partition Magic.

Thanks

by shmaltz

I have never done it before, but I whould do the following:
Make a full backup of your system including the registry.
Install the new harddrive, partition as you want. Install a clean install of winnt apply the latest service pack.
Install the software you used to back up the original harddrive.
Restore the harddrive including the registry.
Since this is a replacement just removing the old harddrive is no problem if you have to rollback everything is going to work, just reinstall the old harddrive.
I assume the only difference between the 2 harddrive is the size and not scsi drivers or anything else.

by shmaltz

Even if its different in the drivers it uses follow the instructions in the backup software you are using on how to do a full system restore to a different computer (redirection).
I use Veritas Backup and it lets me do it.

by msgtray

Safest method...

Use Norton Ghost to image 9GB drive to 18GB. (Advantage is nothing on original drive is changed)

Use Partition Magic (4.0 or later) to resize the partitions to your specifications (4GB limit for VFAT and 7.8GB for NTFS on bootpartition).

I have used this method for 2 years to save hours of installation time. The safety net is that if all else fails, plug in your 9GB drives and you are back to the original configuration.

I just noticed that you want to stay away from PM. If you are convicted to avoid using it or a comperable tool, you are stuck with backup and restore, and that is about 15 minutes faster than a reinstallation.

Good Luck,

Ray

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