Question about D: partition, and laptop hanging constantly

I have an Acer Aspire E1-571 laptop with a 750 GB HDD partitioned in the following ways:


Recovery partition - 400MB
Recovery partition - 450MB
Recovery partition - 20GB
EFI System partition - 300MB
C: (boot, page file, crash dump, primary partition) NTFS - 338.07GB (31% free)
D: Data (primary partition) NTFS - 339.32GB (100% free)


My laptop keeps hanging, which I think could be due to the C: drive being so full.
Sometimes it will hang with only a couple of tabs open in Firefox, and it has been known to hang on start up - though this is rare and hasn't happened for a while.
Task manager keeps saying 100% disk is being used (which leads me to wonder if it is to due with the free disk space in C: ) - and sometimes even task manager can hang.
I have been wondering if utilising the D: partition could help alleviate this problem.


I'm currently rewriting this on my phone due to the laptop hanging again.


Since my HDD is partitioned into 3 recovery partitions, what is my D: Data for?
Can I merge it with my C: without adversely affecting my laptop?
Can I otherwise use my D: to store files safely?
Since it takes up almost half of my 750GB HDD space, I would find it odd if I was unable to utilise it and to find that it was also full of hidden recovery information.
I assume I'm not just being stupid - and that when someone (PC World) says they'll sell you a laptop with 750GB HDD space, they actually mean that they'll sell you one with less than half this free disk space?


The constant hanging has gone past infuriating and I would love to get it sorted - though even if it has nothing to do with freeing up space on the C: drive, I'd still love to know what this D: is for and if it can be used.

C & D partitions

Hi Eekimus,
The wonder of MS and OEM's not talking to each other.
When you bought your comp it had
3 partitions
recovery (small), C & D 50% each of the the rest of the space.
Then MS came along and said lets make 8.1 a new Operating system,
AND where shall we put the new recovery partition
I know bang in the middle of C & D, and negate the OEM's restore key function.


The original recovery position is still there but someone more versed in partition manangement/movement will point you in the right direction.
A lot of of disc rehashing will be required to get you 2 partitions, (1 recovery 2 C), and im sure whoever posts this fix operation, will recieve agreat deal of thanks from an awfull lot of people

Roy

Cheers Roy - so does that mean I can use the space in D: if someone shows me how?

eekimus said:

Cheers Roy - so does that mean I can use the space in D: if someone shows me how?

Click to expand...

Well of course you can. You should have been storing all your data files, pictures video's etc. In fact some of your games and other less used software could be installed on your D:. So start moving your data off of C: to D: you can actual even move complete library's so that Data files will automatically be saved to your library's on your D: This is a good thing to do with your Data on D: you can restore C: from an image and not lose your data

Here is a good Guide on how to move these folders How to move personal folders to another partition (ie. D or E) - Tweak Arena Forums

Nice one - cheers clint. I kinda thought that should be the case, but didn't want to do anything in case I messed up my comp anymore.
I feel like an utter moron for asking, but wanted to be safe.
Is it likely that this could sort out my laptop hanging issues?

eekimus said:

Nice one - cheers clint. I kinda thought that should be the case, but didn't want to do anything in case I messed up my comp anymore.
I feel like an utter moron for asking, but wanted to be safe.
Is it likely that this could sort out my laptop hanging issues?

Click to expand...

I've always felt that it makes more sense to ask a question before, rather than after really screwing up your system. I truly believe there are no dumb question

This is what I do, option 2, User Folders - Change Default Location - Windows 7 Help Forums I create new folder for Documents, Pictures, Videos, etc on my D: drive and then "move" the ones in C:\Users\ (my user name) to D: though the location tab. Your Libraries are updated to the new location automatically.