Parted Magic

pasquanel · Joined: Jun 20, 2005 Posts: 507 Location: Maine

I have used Partition Magic 8 successfully for years now but recently had it really mess up a brand new 720 Gig sata drive.
I was able to correct all the errors with Spinrite 6 (over 14,000) but was leary of running PM8 again.
A Google search led me to an open source program called Parted Magic that can be down loaded as an ISO image and run as a live CD.
I must say I was impressed as the ease and speed I was able to partition the big drive into four partitions.
If you find yourself in need of partitioning software give this one a close look.
You can down load it here

Killa · Joined: Feb 13, 2009 Posts: 12

Live CD, you meen - bootable?

And, does this software able to divede the HDD into partitions without formatting and data loss?

Seems very interesting!

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

For years, I installed Partition magic 8 on every hard drive that I wanted to run it on.
Dumb! Really dumb!
I finally realized that Partition Magic will make a boot CD for you, if you just ask it to.
Now I only use PM8 from that boot CD. It works very well indeed, from a clean boot.

The clinker is that if you have any (and I do mean ANY) errors on the HD, PM8 can make a mess of it. So if you're ever going to use PM8 to repartition a HD, make darned sure that there are NO errors on that HD.

Before I ever run PM8, I run Chkdsk /f (Check Disk) on the drive at least twice.
Heck, I might even run "Spinrite 6" on it too, just to make sure the drive is 100% good.

PM8 can likewise convert an NTFS volume to a FAT-32 Vol.
Again, any errors on the drive can be disastrous.

So, regardless of what program you use to partition your HD, make VERY sure that the drive is 100% error free, before you ever start to re-partition it.

For safety, it's also a very good idea to back up your HD before ever trying to re-partition it. Just a little power glitch, during the process can leave your HD unreadable.

Be safe, Be Happy!

Doc Cool

pasquanel · Joined: Jun 20, 2005 Posts: 507 Location: Maine

Thanks Doc.
I didn't realize you could run PM8 that way. Embarassed

I have used it successfully many times and this was my first negative experience and on a brand new drive.
Thankfully Spinrite 6 was able to correct it in about 4 hours. Razz

I learn something new every day or at least it seems that way more likely I've already learned it once and forgotten it already.
On a more positive note senility leaves so many more things to rediscover. Rolling Eyes

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

Pasq.....
You're a riot!!!

In 29 years of working on PC's, I've probably forgotten more than I still remember.

When i said "Dumb! Really dumb! " ..... I was of course referring to myself.

Sometimes we get so used to doing something a certain way, that we forget that there may be another way to do it. But the mark of a true technician is the ability to change the way we do things, when a better way comes along.
Don't be unwilling to accept change.

PM8 runs much simpler from a DOS boot disk than from the GUI in windows.
I'll never install it again.

But if you (anyone) already have it installed on a hard drive, look thru the menus and find where it offers to make you a boot CD. It's there!
Once you've run PM8 from a boot disk, you'll never go back to the GUI.

But again, however you run it.....make doubly sure there are no errors on your HD.
Just one little error can ruin your day!
I've been there, so I speak from the voice of experience. Evil or Very Mad

Cheers mates!
The Doctor Cool

goodwill221 · Joined: Apr 24, 2009 Posts: 3

Don't let PartitionMagic's ease of use fool you; considerable danger is inherent in futzing with hard disk partitions--even with PartitionMagic. For example, it's all too easy to make a partition disappear or make your entire system unbootable. When things do go wrong, you must boot to DOS with rescue floppies that you created during the software installation process (or, you can boot from the PartitionMagic installation CD). It would be nice if PartitionMagic would alert you of potential operations that might make your system unstable.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

If I never learned anything else about "Partition Magic 8" it's that it is a tech tool, not a fun little program for nubes to mess around with.

It also helps if the user of PM8 has a good grip on the logic behind creating new partitions on a HD with an OS and data already on it.

Many a user has come to this and other forums, in tears, because they tried to create a new partition without first resizing the existing partition to make room for the new one. Or they tried to run PM8 on a HD with errors on it.
The result was a totally hozed HD.

That's almost as dumb as trying to change the fan belt on a car with the motor running. Wink

I guess, being an old and stubborn tech, I'll just continue using PM8, from a boot CD or Flash Drive (I have both) till drive technology makes it un-usable.

If someone wants the PM8 boot CD and can't figure out how to make it, drop me a PM and I'll help you with it.

Cheers mates!
The Doctor Cool