GParted-LiveCD

I just used this freeware (Linux kernel) Partition Manager.

You download the ISO and then create the Boot CD.

Worked like a charm!

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php

No need for any magic

Thx jephree for link,
but does it support windowsXp (vista) ?

Yes. It works outside of Windows on a boot CD. Operating Systems are irrelevant to it.

hey jephree, i have a question aboit this software. I have this as well and i noticed that you have the option (when booted from cd) is that you can select a drive such as the os drive and copy it to another part of any hdd. Is this like cloning your C drive, and if so then how would we be able to restore it?...maybe say your drive just died, and have already copied the C drive to another drive on a seperate ide controler. you replace your OS hard drive with a new one. you then boot from this gparted software, create your partitions on it and then copy the saved version of your os, and paste it to the new drive where your old os would have been. after your saved version is pasted to the new drive, would you be able to just resart and the pc boot from the hdd where you just pasted your saves version of the os (asuming you pasted it on ide0 partition 1?...let me know what you think...and why or why it wont work. thanks alot

As a first response this is a good thread to read:

http://www.justlinux.com/forum/showthread.php?t=134457

Let us know if you pick up on anything in particular and perhaps we can discover more details.

alright so i tried to use this software as a cloning tool and it worked beatifuly...if anyone wants to know the "ever so easy" steps please let me know and i will explain...this is such a good tool. it partitions, edits your partitions without losing data, and also clones your windows os and anything else for that matter, and its free

I (and others) would be very interested if you would take the time and show your method.

We can add it to our reference section here.

Thanks in advance as they say

i tried it and it works flawlessly. i created (all through gparted) a partition that is the exact same size as my os partition, i then farmated the partition with ntsf file system, then i selected my os partition and right clicked and then selected copy. i then right clicked the new partition i just created and selected paste.(be sure to click "apply" after each action) then i reformatted my os partition with ntsf (Yikes i said)....then i rebooted to be sure that the os was in fact gone and that it dont boot. i then restarted pc and booted from gparted, again. right clicked and selected copy from the saved copy of os, and pasted it to the original partition...rebooted and presto...all settings all programs everything worked...i think this is a pretty awsome find..the only draw back is that it wont monitor changes so you manualy have to recopy periodicaly if you change or add to the system to keep your back up, up to date(it only took about 10 min to copy and the same to paste)...let me know what you think about this..its simple, no codes or anything to type just click about a dozen times all together and your set from start to finish...just wanted to let you know so you can enjoy the benifets of this free extremely useful software

i think ths should be posted to the general public and would like it if i could be labeled "publisher" for it...thank you and enjoy my contribution!!!

Good job guys.
but there is something i'd like to know.
Does is convert Fat 16/32 to NTFS ?
Often in disk manager utilities we find NTFS to FAT but not versa.

yes it will convert any farmat to any desired on as long as the program supports it...it suports like 10 different farmats so yes this will convert fat 16 or 32 to ntfs...any other questions please feel free to ask