📎 AI Summary:
The thread discusses attempts to merge system and boot partitions on a Windows 8 PC, with concerns about risking bootability and data loss. The original poster considers using third-party tools like EaseUS to combine partitions but encounters restrictions, and experienced members advise caution, emphasizing backing up data and avoiding modifications to the System Reserved partition. Overall, the advice leans toward avoiding risky partition changes without proper preparation, and purchasing a larger hard drive as a safer alternative.
techgeekcasey

techgeekcasey

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Thread Author #1
When I go to Control Panel>Administrative Tools> Computer Management>Storage then Disk Management I see this:

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So my question is there a way to combine the volume that says "Healthy (System, Active, Primary Partition)" and "(C🙂 Healthy (Boot, Page File, Crash Dumps, Primary Partition)," so that it doesn't cause my computer not to be bootable or mess up Windows 8? What I mean is to combine then as one, so that instead on in Computer Management it shows then a one partion instead of two like it is now, because I want to create a recovery partition on my hard drive.
 

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davehc
Bassfishers advice is wise, if you are not familiar with the method, but I have done it several times with Eusus. I believe there are other third party programs around which will also complete the operation.
For normal desktop operations, 75gbs is rather lean by todays standards, but that depends on your usage. If you intend to play modern games, you will quickly be out of space.
But, I assume, if you are going to buy another HD, you have the Windows installation Media? Perhaps you could back up your private data to a DVD, and, during the beginning of the install, accept the options to delete the smaller partition(s)
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Saltgrass

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#21
Maybe some information to help you decide how you want to handle the change.

You don't have the 350 MB partition because the 100 MB partition was already there. As pagroundhog points out, you had to remove all prior partitions for Windows 8 to install its own partitions.

The Hidden, System Recovery folder is currently located in your C: partition, as it is in Windows 7. The reason the Recovery partition is so large is because it needs around 172 MB of space for its files and images.

Currently your Recovery system will probably work. If you use the bcdboot command to copy the BCD store from the Windows directory to the C: directory and make C: active, your system will boot. But the recovery process will no longer function. It will take a rebuild of that system, and it can be fairly complicated. But if you want to check, you might do a search for reagentc.exe and see how it works.

If you were to get all of these things accomplished, moving the leading edge of a partition can be very dangerous, so you might loose your install anyway.

I would suggest you reinstall and make sure to remove the prior partitions during the install. That way you will have what you want and everything will work.
 

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techgeekcasey

techgeekcasey

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Thread Author #22
@pagroundhog: I did not delete all partitions before doing a clean install of Windows 8, so I had to select what partition to install Windows 8 on.
@Saltgrass: Thanks for the tips and help.
 
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