Question Move Windows from one partition to another on the same drive ?

[Abdul_Ahad]

While installing windows, I created a 66 gig partition for windows 10, and another 50 gigs for programs, but accidentally I installed windows in the 50 gig partition. And now I can't even extend C drive because the bigger partition is on the left of C. Here is the partition structure.

System Reserved (50 MB)| 66 GB (unallocated)| Windows C (50 gb)| 522MB (Recovery Partition)| 3 gb unallocated

1: Is it possible to move windows from 50 gb partition to 66 gb one? Without any paid tools?

2: If i have to reinstall windows, i was hoping the C partition and the 50/53 gb 2nd partition will be next to each other so that i can extend c drive if needed. Is this possible??

3: Is Windows installation media for gpt/UEFI different from mbr/BIOS??

 

[USAFRet]

Please show us a screencap of your Disk Management window.

But I must say, your 50 and 66GB partition concept is a very non-optimal way to install Windows.

 

[Lafong]

What is your motivation to put Windows and programs on separate partitions?

 

[Abdul_Ahad]

My main though/motivation was that i will be able to keep those programs even if I had to reinstall windows. But recently i learned that the programs installed on old windows won't work on new one anyway. But I have been able to run them in past, guess those were programs which had all their files in their installation folder, currently i will have to see if this is the case with Android studio.

 

[SkyNetRising]

While installing windows, I created a 66 gig partition for windows 10, and another 50 gigs for programs, but accidentally I installed windows in the 50 gig partition. And now I can't even extend C drive because the bigger partition is on the left of C.

1. Delete 66GB partition. Not exactly clear, if it is unallocated space or you have created a partition there. If it is unallocated space, then skip this step.
2. Extend System Reserved to 350-500MB. 50MB is not enough.
If some future windows update performs any bootloader update, update may fail and your system will become unbootable.
3. Use 3rd party partition management tool to move 50GB windows OS partition to space, where 66GB partition was. You can use Minitool Partition wizard Free - for this.

And don't split software in a separate partition from OS partition. This is pointless.

1: Is it possible to move windows from 50 gb partition to 66 gb one? Without any paid tools?

Yes. Minitool Partition Wizard free.

2: If i have to reinstall windows, i was hoping the C partition and the 50/53 gb 2nd partition will be next to each other so that i can extend c drive if needed. Is this possible??

You can extend to unallocated space. You can not extend no existing partition.

3: Is Windows installation media for gpt/UEFI different from mbr/BIOS??

Yes. It is different (depending, how it is created).
With Rufus you can specify type of installation.

With windows media creation tool - you get generic installation, compatible with UEFI and legacy/CSM.

 

[USAFRet]

My main though/motivation was that i will be able to keep those programs even if I had to reinstall windows. But recently i learned that the programs installed on old windows won't work on new one anyway. But I have been able to run them in past, guess those were programs which had all their files in their installation folder, currently i will have to see if this is the case with Android studio.

From your previous question, you kept the 128GB drive?

Please, we need a screencap of your Disk Management window.


But with either drive, you really really need to start over with this install.
Splitting Windows and applications in 2 different partitions is pointless, even detrimental. You gain nothing.

 

[Abdul_Ahad]

From your previous question, you kept the 128GB drive?

Please, we need a screencap of your Disk Management window.


But with either drive, you really really need to start over with this install.
Splitting Windows and applications in 2 different partitions is pointless, even detrimental. You gain nothing.

Yea, it is the 128gb drive. (The store was in another city and plans to go there got delayed, so i kept it)

I couldn't provide the screenshot because i was posting this thread from mobile. Although i did take a pic.

And like you a few others also recommend reinstalling windows. And I did that. For now everything seems to be running fine aside from accessing files from my old drive.

About splitting windows and applications. I usually like to open the installation folder of my programs to check things out maybe and just directly run the program from there. (Just sometimes) And i definitely like to know which program is installed where, the default installation path is buried in C. Some goto programs files, some to program files x86, some to AppData etc.

But I am consider keeping the programs in C drive, as it seems like I won't be able to access my old installation and will have to reinstall anyway.. (kinda sucks that i will have to do all the settings again...)


Thanks alot for your support mate.

 

[Abdul_Ahad]

Thanks to everyone for your valuable time. In the end i did a fresh install of windows, is working fine now.

I did learn about tools like GParted and miniTool partition wizard. (I even used this ages ago to partition my old hdd, didn't know it could work here as well.)

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks to everyone for your valuable time. In the end i did a fresh install of windows, is working fine now.

I did learn about tools like GParted and miniTool partition wizard. (I even used this ages ago to partition my old hdd, didn't know it could work here as well.)

And I hope you're still not trying to split this drive in two?