Forum Home
Press F1
Thread ID: 86127	2008-01-05 03:49:00	Partitioning 320GB NTFS USB drive?	Billy T (70)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
627507	2008-01-05 03:49:00	Hi Team I've been playing around with my new Seagate FreeAgent Pro USB disk and although it seems to be up and running ok, I can't find a way to partition it, short of buying a new program. I want to create five partitions of 60GB each, leaving the original Seagate backup and disk management software in a much smaller partition. The disk is currently formatted NTFS but after partitioning I intend to reformat the new partitions to FAT32, leaving just the Seagate stuff on NTFS. On the basis of what I read on the net, I downloaded the Seagate Disk Wizard software but it doesn't seem to offer a partitioning option, at least not without wiping the disk completely. I have PartitionMagic 6.0 which I read to be incompatible with disks of this size, though as far as I ventured to go it was allowing me to set up for repartitioning so maybe it was going to throw an error message later in the process, or not! I don't want to go out and buy software at this stage, though I will do so later if I have to, so does anybody know if PM 6.0 will do the business and if not, what downloadable freeware there might be available. Removable disks and me don't seem to get along at all, twice after rebooting my computer the damned Seagate program wanted to go right through the software installation program all over again so that's another issue to be resolved! Cheers Billy 8-{) :(	Billy T (70)
627508	2008-01-05 04:40:00	So this software it came with, can't you just reinstall it again after doing the usual Windows partitioning on it? And whats so special about its software anyway? I've never used anything other than Windows Explorer to backup onot my portable drives. Works just fine. Any images I want I just use Paragon. My last enclosure came with some software - I didn't even bother looking at it.	pctek (84)
627509	2008-01-05 08:02:00	try downloading/getting a hold of a linux live CD and use gparted (or qtparted depending on the distro). It will let you do anything you like to your external HDD - edit, remove, resize, create partitions etc. So long as you know the linux method of naming harddisks and removable media, it is very easy to use.	Sherman (9181)
627510	2008-01-05 08:15:00	So this software it came with, can't you just reinstall it again after doing the usual Windows partitioning on it? The software is pre-installed and is a useful looking scheduled back up system that I'd like to keep. What I'm looking for is a means of partitioning a USB drive preparatory to reformatting as FAT32 and, although I do appreciate the suggestions, to be frank I'm not really interested in alternative means of achieving the same end. I'd much prefer to partition, reformat, then leave it to get on with it. Informed comment re PartitionMagic 6.0's partitioning capabilities on large HDDs would be really appreciated right now. Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
627511	2008-01-05 09:46:00	According to some sites, USB drives arent supported in V6. But other sites say it works, but you can't rename it. It would change back to the original name, if you changed it, then rebooted. So, you may have to put it on an IDE cable to format / partition it then chuck it back in the enclosure. You would have to have V7+, for it to support USB drives. This is free (http://www.cutepm.com/)	Speedy Gonzales (78)
627512	2008-01-05 09:54:00	As mentioned in the previous message, G-parted Linux is the way to go. I use "Puppy Linux 3.01" which is free and creates a boot able CD. Partition Magic 6 will not do it, or will almost certainly come up with an error. Partition Magic 8 will do it but costs money! If you are running XP the disc management prog will make partitions & format, but will not preserve (shorten) the existing partition. You could save the data from the partition & then start from scratch.	mzee (3324)
627513	2008-01-05 10:15:00	I can't transfer the Seagate programming, "access is denied" and I have tried all the tricks I've used in the past to no avail. I'm stuck with it the way it is unless I can partition over the USB connection. Taking the disk out of the enclosure is not an option I'd like to attempt either. I've had a look at that and it is not an easy job, plus it is under warranty and even I accept that I will be whistling Dixie if I take it apart and it turns to custard. I'll do a search for free partitioning programs I guess, either that or take it to the nearest comp shop and get them to do the partitions, it would be cheaper than buying PM 8.0. Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
627514	2008-01-05 10:22:00	Theres a free program in the link I gave. Its so small, u can even run it on a cd, floppy or probably a USB flash drive. Its under 300k. Altho dunno if it'll work with USB in DOS.	Speedy Gonzales (78)
627515	2008-01-05 19:02:00	I can't transfer the Seagate programming, "access is denied" and I have tried all the tricks I've used in the past to no avail. I'm stuck with it the way it is unless I can partition over the USB connection. Taking the disk out of the enclosure is not an option I'd like to attempt either. I've had a look at that and it is not an easy job, plus it is under warranty and even I accept that I will be whistling Dixie if I take it apart and it turns to custard. I'll do a search for free partitioning programs I guess, either that or take it to the nearest comp shop and get them to do the partitions, it would be cheaper than buying PM 8.0. Cheers Billy 8-{) It is easy you know. They are just a large empty space with your power and USB bits up one end, held on by a couple of screws. If you want the sw and can't reinstall it, the image the partition containing it, then wipe it and repartition and image it back onto one of your new partitions. You can do that and have it keep the new file format.	pctek (84)
627516	2008-01-05 19:03:00	Besides you can download the software again: www.seagate.com	pctek (84)
1 2