I have an 80GB hard disk and it was divided into 8 x 10GB partitions by my computer maker.

The first partition is called 'Drive C' and, as you can imagine, it is well full. It carries the Windows XP Professional operating system and is hovering at around only 16% empty.

When I download software from the Internet, I pop the actual (usually zipped) download file into a named folder after installing it. I then save these individual download folders in a separate 'Downloads' master folder on one of the partitions.

I use two partitions, together with a separate external hard drive, for backup purposes.

Thus I have all my programs for re-installation on either a CD or on this one partition and all my data on one of the other partitions and also on my separate external hard drive.

Most of the other partitions are completely empty.

I would think a completely fresh re-install of Windows would be best, as it would clear out what may well be a very cluttered Registry. However, here's my question:

Q. Is it possible to resize the partition, which I call 'Drive C' without doing a clean re-install of Windows?

Doc
VCom do a product called Partition Commander, 29. Not used it myself (no partitions) but do use their Fix-It utilities.
http://www.shop.avanquest.com/uk/prod.php?pid=1979

Bolshi

It says:-

"Redistribute Disk Space - Easily increase free space in a partition by moving unused space from another partition on the same drive. Windows alone cant do this, and without VCom Partition Commander, this procedure requires a complex sequence of resising and moving of partitions and data. The built-in wizard performs all the necessary actions in a few easy steps."

This looks like it does just the job I want. Thank you. :-)

Get the right download for your Windows system for Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1 - Beta

Browser Add-ons are also available wth a link from the above site:-

Browser add-ons can help personalize the way you use the Internet. The add-ons available here have been carefully screened by Microsoft and rated by users to help you select the ones that suit your needs and preferences. eg,

Online Protection
Parental Controls
Pop-Up Blockers
Privacy

Auto-Fill Forms
Bookmark Managers
Business Tools
Developer Tools
Download Managers
Tools and Utilities
Web Feeds

Offline Browsers
Other Browsers

Animation (Flash) Players
Design Tools
Digital Photography
Music and Audio Players
Video Players

The add-ons available here have been carefully screened by Microsoft

Let's hope it's more careful than the feckless screening of their own products.

I tried an earlier beta of IE7 and it had an unusal problem which may be particularly revelant to traders - it wasn't possible to open and maximise IE windows on two screens with F11. Maybe they've fixed this by now, although the chances are that IE7 will still be full of bugs when it's launched so this may still be one of them.

It was also extremely difficult at the time to get back to IE6 and the process involved doing a system restore under XP.

Kyoto. You say "It was also extremely difficult at the time to get back to IE6 and the process involved doing a system restore under XP. "
Groan :-(
I've loaded IE7.3 Beta. I think it works fine but my provider, BT/Yahoo sys their browser doesn't support it and shouldn't be used! Darn it! Oh well, I'll plough on with it until something bad happens.

Bolshi

"BT/Yahoo sys their browser doesn't support it"

I'm not sure what you mean?

Doc. My browser is BT/Yahoo and I had a problem with an error message that kept cropping up on start up, so I sent their helpdesk a message and they said..........

"I would like to inform you that BT Yahoo! Browser and BT Broadband Desktop Help are not compatible with the Internet Explorer version 7. Therefore, I request you to downgrade the Internet Explorer version from 7 to 6. "

I solved my initial query by deleting the BT helpdesk program!

Doc

Thanks for the reminder. I've just upgraded to RC1 (from Beta 3). Apart from crashing the install program twice, which was mainly due to my system configuration, my initial impression is that it is a lot faster than the previous beta versions and is using less memory.

Bolshi

My rule is NEVER use an ISP that insists that you install their software or use their home page.

Win XP Pro SP2 fully updated. Turned on my pc yesterday afternoon and found that both my optical drives are missing their drivers (apparently) and do not appear in the drive listing in explorer. Windows cannot re-install the drivers, it says they are missing or corrupted. I have uninstalled both and allowed the hardware detection to find them, but it does not install the drivers. I have been in the usual circles with the supposed windows trouble shooter. It advises me to do what I have already tried, ie re-installing the drives. Now for both my CDRW and my DVD drives to go at once is highly suspicious, they re both on the same IDE channel, so I suspected a loose cable or plug, but they are ok. They are both recognised correctly by the bios and by windows but I do not believe that both drivers were corrupted at the same time. I run Zone Alarm and AVG updated daily.
Of course I cannot re load drivers from the CD since the CD and DVD drives are the problem. Should I try the old original driver on the Win XP discs? I have tried to find drivers on the inet but can only find flash firmware upgrades for the Sony and nothing for the LG The devices are:
LG DVD ROM GDR861B and Sony CDRW CRX210E1
Many thanks

rpaco

I doubt that it is a driver problem, as I would expect the standard Windows drivers to at least make the drives partially usable.

Have you any software installed which could take control of the drives? Have you tried running in safe mode to see if they work?

You could also try disconnecting the drives, booting Windows, shutting down and then connecting one drive to a different IDE channel.

OK, 1) Same in safe mode, dirves recognised ans listed on Device manager but showing E

Sorry about above, (typing in akward conditions) I meant:
1) Same in safe mode. dirves show as "!" on device manager
2) Have swapped ide cables, same result, both optical drives U/S
3) Swapped ide channels and firstly same results ie no optical drives usable but then on 50% of boots my primary drive not found resulting in NTLDER not found.
So its my guess that my not very old ASRock motherboard is knacked.
Please give your opinion.
Also somewhere is the boot log but I cant find the damn thing to see if there is a record of some drivers not loading. Any idea where it is and what it's called in XP Pro?

rpaco

It does look as though it could be the motherboard.

To find the logs, do a search for *.log in c:\ without subdirectories and then in c:\Windows including subdirectories. You may have to check the display hidden ans system files in the view options.

One way to check the optical drives, would be to set the BIOS to boot from your CD drives and insert a bootable CD. Either your Windows installation disk or better still a live Linux disc.

It might be worth making sure that any removable chips are properly seated on the motherboard, and as a last resort, you could re-flash the BIOS, although that has the potential to do more harm than good especially with a dodgy M/B.

Best of luck.

Still as confused as ever.

I am still considering the best and cheapest way to be able to trade while wandering around Europe in a Motor home.

I maybe away a month but last time I said I was going away for a month I returned 9mths later.

I have a wireless Sony Laptop. 1.86 Ghz etc.

When at home I have V21 broadband connection left on all day.

I use it for dealing Selftrade, CMC , Barclays and banking as well as down loading end of the day Sharescope Gold data and Moneyam , E-mail and recently started CFDs and Spreadbets. Therefore scanning the net frequently.

I am considering purchasing a data card for the machine, although impressed by finding hot spots in London and Birmingham, which have allowed me to connect in to the Internet.

I would like to know, approximately how many Gigs of data I would likely to be downloading, if I was working in the same way with a data card abroad?

I dont download music, videos or pictures as such. But occasionally listen to BBC reports.

I noticed that somebody was writing about Pay as you go Simms and wondered if this is possible for a data simms card?

Also, beginning to think there should be a training course in evaluation of payment schemes and contracts for mobile phones, Internet connections etc.

Any help would be appreciated.

Fred

I can't say how much data you would download, although my (very) wild guess would be 30 to 100 MB/Day.

You should be able to get a better idea by checking the status panel for your network connection or by downloading a program that will keep track of your network usage.

An alternative method that I've used (althogh not via a mobile phone connection), is to run my programs on my home computer and use remote desktop via a VPN on my laptop to view and operate the home computer. This method probably would not save any bandwidth, but it does mean that your trading software will not be subjected to problems caused by poor connections and you only end up paying for the time that you are logged into your home machine.

That method also has security implications which have to be handled, and you need to have someone who can reboot your computer if required, but it works well.

rpaco

Seen this a few times and the only way I knew to fix it was reinstall XP which I suspect neither you or anyone else is too keen on?

Now I use

"Start Registry Editor (Start, Run and type in regedit then click)

Find "UpperFilters" and "LowerFilters" (and "UpperFilters.bak" "LowerFilters.bak", if they exist) value under the following key in the registry, and delete it:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

Quit Registry Editor.

Reboot.
"

That's it fixed

Does anyone have a spare disc of Picture package. It comes with Sony Handycam`s.
Lost mine, so cant load up films on new computer

Iain

Try http://www.ppackage.com/e/index.html

Fred,

Mainly in the interest of breaking the silence on your quest for ideas about travelling Europe in your motorhome I'll mention that there is a good thread running on another nameless forum on the topic of Mobile Internet Connections for Boats.

It was started and is being updated by someone called energyi who may have chums around here.

This is the URL but it may be password controlled:-
http://www.advfn.com/cmn/fbb/thread.php3?id=6597897

Foregive me for using a dirty word MAM execs, but we don't want to lose Fred when he hitches his horse to his caravan, do we?

Rgds

TP