Formatting & Partitioning Hard Disks in Windows XP

[CotswoldCS]

I have grown up with computers since the good old (?) MS-DOS days and am used to using commands such as FDISK and FORMAT to configure a hard disk, format a drive, or setup partitions.

How can this be done with WindowsXP since there is no "Command Prompt Only" option when I want to bypass the operating system? I can use an old boot disk or boot CD, but I imagine that there must be a newer way which may be simpler or better in some way. ???

Any ideas? I feel the need to move with the times (although I shall miss MS-DOS!!!)

 

[NumbaJuan]

" I imagine that there must be a newer way which may be simpler or better in some way. ???"

the simpler way is to use a program like Partition Magic!

 

[JZilla]

Control Panel - Administration - computer/system administration.
Then click on disk management, init the new disk, partition and format.

Sorry if the terms seems unclear, as I am trying to translate from the danish WinXP.

 

[smitty99]

As was said, go to "Computer Management" in the Administrative Tools portion of Control Panel. Even simpler, right-click on "My Computer" and choose "Manage." Once there, use the Disk Management tool to do everything you need. You can format, partition, change drive letters, all the good stuff.

 

[CotswoldCS]

Thanks for your help. Now I see - I'm sure I'll get used to the new method. Looked complicated at first but seems pretty straightforward. Is it any quicker than doing it through DOS?

As for Partition Magic - I love the program but use an old version (v4) which works great for Windows 9x but can't get it to work under XP because if I boot into DOS from a Windows or DOS boot disk I cannot see any NTFS partitions. Is there any way of creating a boot disk that can detect NTFS partitions. I am considering upgrading to the new version but don't want to spend the money just yet. It would be great if I could carry on using my old version if possible.

 

[AndyHui]

Yes, it's actually faster doing it through Windows XP. The 32-bit drivers are a lot faster than the old-fashioned DOS way.

 

[TheCorm]

Yeah the 2k/XP way of formatting and partitioning disks is quick and easy....and if you want to do anything later a bit more complex then Partition Magic 7/8 will allow you to resize, merge etc.

Corm