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Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition?

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

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Arno wrote:
> In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage AndyHancock
> <andymhancock@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I was talking to tech support about cloning all 4 partitions in my
>> Toshiba Satellite A660 laptop to a smaller auxiliary HDD (not
>> creating an image, but a clone -- recoverable image may be in the
>> plans in the future).  If the laptop HDD suffers a hardware failure,
>> I can drop the clone into the laptop, be up and running (and source
>> down a new HDD). Alternatively, the newer (faster) HDD can displace
>> the current HDD.
>
>> From asking in forums, partition 1 is for booting, partition 2 is the
>> C-drive, and partitions 3 & 4 are for various recovery operations and
>> content.  According to experienced posters, Acronis True Image and
>> Norton Ghost will both adjust partition 2 in the cloning process so
>> that all partititions fit in the target HDD, without requiring the
>> partitions to be resized in the source HDD.  I find it reassuring
>> that I don't have to mess with the partitions on the source HDD
>> until I've confirmed the integrity & full functionality of all
>> partitions in the target HDD.
>
>> However, one Toshiba forum poster said that shrinking partition 2
>> causes partitions 3 & 4 to start at lower locations, and he found
>> that the recovery functionality was lost.  I didn't ask for further
>> details but there are two functions he could be referring to: (1) the
>> creationg of recovery discs using a dedicated Toshiba app and (2)
>> restoring to factory state (Toshiba's are designed to do this by
>> pressing 0 during power up).  I want to retain both functions (1) and
>> (2) in the clone.
>
>> As an alternative to on-the-fly resizing, Tech support suggested
>> shrinking partition 2 on the source HDD before cloning, reassuring me
>> that it is safe and common practice.  In fact, Windows 7 includes
>> functionality for adjusting partitions.
>
>> I am new to disk management and don't have a detailed picture of how
>> partition shrinkage works.
>
> In that case I strongly suggest you do not attempt it. It can go wrong.

Anything can go wrong. Thats why we have backups.

>>  I imagine my C-drive partition to have
>> content scattered throughout the partition, even though I use a
>> miniscule portion of the capacity.  Even after a defrag, you can't
>> assume that all the content is compressed to the bottom of the
>> partition, and when you boot up, who knows at where in the partition
>> the OS is utilizing disk space from.
>
>> My main question is: How is it that you can shrink a C-drive
>> partition without fear of amputating content in the space that
>> becomes unused space?
>
> Depends on the approach. If you shrink the filesystem first and then
> the partition, all data is retained. If you just shring the partition,
> the effect you describe takes place.

Not with Win 7 it doesnt.

>> P.S. In a related note (related to the context of the above question,
>> that is), is there a way to test the 2 recovery functions of the
>> cloned partitions 3 & 4?  For (1), I can burn recovery discs again,
>> but it seems a waste (and I'd have to figure out how to compare them
>> with my existing recovery discs).  For (2), I'd have to perform a
>> disc- less recovery, which I don't really want to do.  I like having
>> my current system state (though I suppose if it's just the clone HDD
>> that reverts to factory state, no big deal).  I'm wondering if there
>> is a simpler, faster indicator of correct functionality.

> I would recommend getting a disk that you just can to a 1:1
> clone to. A bit more expensive,

A lot more expensive in fact now that he already has the second drive.

> but a lot less change of desaster, i.e. loss of the current disk.

You cant lose the current disk if you have proper backups.

> In any case before attempting dangerous operations like a
> filesystem and/or paertition resize, a full backup is non-optional.

So there is no risk if it does go pear shaped.

> Oh, and stay away from Parition Magic. It has a nasty habit
> of crashing in the middle of the process and messing up
> the disk beyond recovery in the process.

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Thread

Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? AndyHancock <andymhancock@gmail.com> - 2012-01-05 16:31 -0800
  Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? "Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> - 2012-01-06 17:57 +1100
  Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? Arno <me@privacy.net> - 2012-01-06 09:46 +0000
    Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? "john james" <jj@jj.com> - 2012-01-07 08:02 +1100
    Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? AndyHancock <andymhancock@gmail.com> - 2012-01-06 21:55 -0800
      Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? Arno <me@privacy.net> - 2012-01-07 14:15 +0000
        Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? AndyHancock <andymhancock@gmail.com> - 2012-01-07 13:12 -0800
          Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? Arno <me@privacy.net> - 2012-01-07 22:50 +0000
            Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? AndyHancock <andymhancock@gmail.com> - 2012-01-08 16:27 -0800
  Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? Winniethepooh@100acrewoods.net (GMAN) - 2012-01-06 16:39 +0000
    Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? "Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> - 2012-01-07 08:14 +1100
      Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? Winniethepooh@100acrewoods.net (GMAN) - 2012-01-06 21:35 +0000
        Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? "Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> - 2012-01-07 14:46 +1100
          Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? AndyHancock <andymhancock@gmail.com> - 2012-01-06 22:07 -0800
            Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? Arno <me@privacy.net> - 2012-01-07 14:19 +0000
              Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? "john james" <jj@jj.com> - 2012-01-08 06:28 +1100
                Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? Arno <me@privacy.net> - 2012-01-07 22:51 +0000
            Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? "Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> - 2012-01-08 07:33 +1100
              Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? AndyHancock <andymhancock@gmail.com> - 2012-01-07 13:31 -0800
          Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? Winniethepooh@100acrewoods.net (GMAN) - 2012-01-07 15:44 +0000
            Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? "Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> - 2012-01-08 07:09 +1100
        Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? Krypsis <krypsis@optusnet.com.au> - 2012-01-08 01:40 +1100
          Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? "Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> - 2012-01-08 06:54 +1100
          Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? AndyHancock <andymhancock@gmail.com> - 2012-01-07 13:19 -0800
          Re: Does shrinking a partition lop off content at top of partition? Arno <me@privacy.net> - 2012-01-07 22:56 +0000

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