cannot set new partition during winxp installation?

[LordSnailz]

weird problem here, let me explain what I did first and what I want to do 2nd.

1st - this is what I did.
Plug in brand new 120G HD into the comp. and boot with WinXP CD.
Created 3 partitions and installed winxp on the first and 2nd partition, left the 3rd one as a storage drive.

2nd - what I want to do.
Delete the all partitions and rearrange how I divide up the partitions in terms of size. So basically I want to start all over again just like when I pulled off from the static bag. Mainly because I want to rearrange the sizes of each partition.

Any step by step instructions? For some reason I can't delete the partition ... TIA!

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: LordSnailz
For some reason I can't delete the partition ...

What have you tried? You should be able to do this during a fresh XP install. It will give you the list of available partitions, and you press D, IIRC, to delete one. It will ask to confirm the choice, and then the partition is gone. Wipe them all out that way, and you can start over fresh.

 

[LordSnailz]

The thing is that I want to keep my 3rd partition, and wipe out partition 1+2 and re-create new 1 and 2 partitions. When I delete partition for 1 and 2 it deletes it but it doesn't not combine the "free space" from the deleted partition into one total. So after the deletion and I go create new partitions, it only lets me create the partition from the space available in the original partition 1 not the total partition from 1 and 2 which are deleted.

Any suggestions?

 

[firewall]

Did you try using Partition Magic or any other similar utility?

 

[firewall]

Also, can't you use your harddisk manufacturer's disk preperation disk and programs?

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: LordSnailz
The thing is that I want to keep my 3rd partition, and wipe out partition 1+2 and re-create new 1 and 2 partitions. When I delete partition for 1 and 2 it deletes it but it doesn't not combine the "free space" from the deleted partition into one total.

Sounds like either a) Partition #3 was actually created between 1 and 2 on the disk or b) The install routine created an extended partition for the original #2 and #3, so that the free space within the extension cannot be merged with the free space from the primary partition #1. I'll guess that it's the latter - Windows has an odd habit of creating extensions where they're not really necessary.

Either way, you won't be able to merge the space without relocating/transforming #3 into a primary partition at one end of the disk. And you'll need Partition Magic to do that. You'll have to decide whether it's worth the cost/hassle.

 

[LordSnailz]

If I dont' want to use/buy partition magic just for this, how can I resolve the issue. Do I have to delete all partitions including 3, will that merge the total space together afterwards?

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: LordSnailz
Do I have to delete all partitions including 3, will that merge the total space together afterwards?

Yes and yes.

 

[firewall]

Can't you copy partition 3 on some other disk while you reformat your disk and then restore your data later?