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My two favorite free, post-install tech tools
If you play with a lot of operating systems, keeping a good set of images (or a stockpile of extra hard drives) around is a must. Reflect is incredibly fast and the free version should provide all the functionality most home or enthusiast users need. If not, the full version is only $40 anyway, and well worth it.
Reflect also works right in Windows, which makes imaging drives a task that users of any skill level can easily handle. People I tell to grab the free version sometimes have trouble finding the download page: it's right here.
If you're like me, there have been plenty of times where you've done a clean install on someone's system and forgotten to leave room for a recovery partition to store their image.If you're running Vista or Windows 7, you can resize partitions using the built-in disk management tool. If you're using XP, your drive isn't NTFS, or you just don't want to use Microsoft's tool, Easeus Partition Manager provides the same functionality.
Like Reflect, Partition Manager runs in Windows and is dead simple to use. Resizing a partition is as simple as clicking and dragging, or typing the desired size in a box. Apply changes, reboot, and your new layout is good to go. Want the pro version? It's $31.96.
Sure, there are other ways to do this - like gParted and Clonezilla. For the average Windows user, however, Easeus and Macrium get my recommendation because of their ease of use.
Thanks for writing in, Jeff!
Comments
6
Subscribe to commentsHalo2MasterJan 15th 2009 9:07AM
I prefer gParted for XP users. I've had issues before in XP trying to resize and/or partition from any app within windows. With gParted, you can create a bootable live CD that will launch the program without loading windows. I've had much better luck with this method.
Of course, Vista and 7 users have this functionality baked right in, like you said.
Jimmy the ChipJan 15th 2009 9:15AM
Parted Magic all the way. No need for creating a bootable live cd by hand when its done for you with style.
Jash SayaniJan 15th 2009 9:24AM
Thanks Lee. It is really difficult to find the Macrium Reflect Free page... I was searching for it last week and then had to get the 30 day trial of the Full version....
blasztaJan 15th 2009 11:21PM
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp
JeppeJan 15th 2009 9:55AM
I tried loads of things to parition my drive on an OEM Vista AMD computer with no success. Untill I tried Easeus Partition Manager which worked like a charm. The free version does the expected job perfectly.
AalaapJan 16th 2009 2:43AM
Doesn't Vista's Disk Management app do this (partitioning) already? It lets you "extend" and/or "shrink" partitions from within Windows, without restarting. It works all the time. http://www.tweakvista.com/Article38991.aspx