Removing partitions

FredT · 04-18-2009, 11:32 AM

Hi,

I have an external hdd with 4 partitions, 2 FAT32 and 2 HFS+. I'd like to knock out one of each so I only have one HFS+ and one FAT32, and ideally not lose any data. I know it is possible because you can remove partitions in the Boot Camp Assistant, but I don't believe you can do it through Disk Utility and Boot Camp Assistant won't recognize my external drive, only Macintosh HD.

Is there any way I can do this easily? I have a few hundred gb on my external drive and I'd rather not have to transfer all that to another device, then put it back, but if that would be faster than any alternative, thats fine.

Thanks

sinclair_tm · 04-18-2009, 07:39 PM

Short answer is no. Long answer is Partition Magic might be able to do it, but I don't know if there is a Mac version, and the Windows version may not recognize the Mac format. Bootcamp works because it changes the partition table to tell it where the end of the disk is. But if you try to merge partitions, the data on the second partition will be lost, as the table listing the file names and locations will not longer be there for the OS to read. The best thing is to backup everything and start over.

FredT · 04-19-2009, 02:59 PM

Alright, I'll just do that then.

Thanks

doh123 · 04-23-2009, 01:35 AM

in Disk Utility you can remove the partitions you want.. and add space back to the HFS+ partition without losing data... but Disk utility will not resize FAT32 partitions... When I've need to resize FAT or NTFS I've just booted of Linux discs and used gparted and changed stuff around... always worked fine for me.

vondon · 04-27-2009, 08:16 AM

No MS utitilies will work to my knowledge. Only third parties software. Easiest way is burn data to DVD or CD, then delete partition. Run ulitity to merge to another drive, from merger drive. Then upload data on disk.

Did not mentioned any third part software, but search "merge partition" will give you choice. Prices from $49.00 to $149.00.

04-18-2009, 11:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
FredT Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 388 OS: Mac OS X 10.5.7 and XP SP2	Removing partitions Hi, I have an external hdd with 4 partitions, 2 FAT32 and 2 HFS+. I'd like to knock out one of each so I only have one HFS+ and one FAT32, and ideally not lose any data. I know it is possible because you can remove partitions in the Boot Camp Assistant, but I don't believe you can do it through Disk Utility and Boot Camp Assistant won't recognize my external drive, only Macintosh HD. Is there any way I can do this easily? I have a few hundred gb on my external drive and I'd rather not have to transfer all that to another device, then put it back, but if that would be faster than any alternative, thats fine. Thanks

04-19-2009, 02:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
FredT Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 388 OS: Mac OS X 10.5.7 and XP SP2	Re: Removing partitions Alright, I'll just do that then. Thanks

04-23-2009, 01:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
doh123 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 5 OS: .	Re: Removing partitions in Disk Utility you can remove the partitions you want.. and add space back to the HFS+ partition without losing data... but Disk utility will not resize FAT32 partitions... When I've need to resize FAT or NTFS I've just booted of Linux discs and used gparted and changed stuff around... always worked fine for me.

04-27-2009, 08:16 AM	#5 (permalink)
vondon Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2 OS: DOS 1-6, W95, w98,XP, NT, 2000vista sp1	Re: Removing partitions No MS utitilies will work to my knowledge. Only third parties software. Easiest way is burn data to DVD or CD, then delete partition. Run ulitity to merge to another drive, from merger drive. Then upload data on disk. Did not mentioned any third part software, but search "merge partition" will give you choice. Prices from $49.00 to $149.00.