NTFS partition question

[pcat1969]

When I let the Windows XP install partition my hard diisk it always leaves a left over 8~12MB unused portion. Is this an NTFS thing or should I get a third party partitioning program?

 

[markjs]

I am not the expert here but I am pretty sure that is normal for NTFS.

 

[cleverhandle]

Normal. It has something to do with the potential for converting to a dynamic disk, but I don't know the gory details.

 

[toant103]

it's only 8-12 MB.

 

[ProviaFan]

It's not like hard disks are 20 or 30MB anymore...just don't worry about it.

 

[pcat1969]

Right, I know it seems like bit of an anal thing but I am new to NTFS. Heck, even switching to FAT32 worried me a little at first. But at least with FAT32 what I saw is what I got when looking at the partition. I could boot with a floppy and see what files were there as well. I carried an operating system in my pocket and had all the tools to fix my machine or head over to a friends house to fix theirs. Now I can't even do that any more. It's only 8~12MB and heck I have an 80GB drive. So if I partition this to a 20GB (system) and 60GB (data) does that make a 8~12MB spook partition for the 20 and the 60 GB or just one for both. I'll probably reformat and repartition soon and try to figure it all out myself. Reccmmend any quick way to boot and partition NTFS from a floppy??? Thanks again for letting me know that it's all normal. Still wondering why it does it but *shrug* I'll worry about that some other day.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

<< It's not like hard disks are 20 or 30MB anymore...just don't worry about it. >>


mine is 106MB! ~~~~

buying ram for it on ebay tonight

 

[Bglad]

It is normal. If you reformat, you will get the same thing.

You can't repartition or format NTFS from a floppy because NTFS can't be read by DOS. You can't even remove an NTFS partition with FDISK. You must remove it with the 2k/xp disk first, then you could partition fat or fat32 with fdisk.

You have to create your partitions with your Win2k/XP cd then format extended partitions once you are in windows. The only other way is with a third party app like Partition Magic. But you will still get the wasted space in an extra partition.

 

[CPORonin]

I had the same thing happen once, never did figure it out. So I re-installed and it went away.

You can use fdisk from a 98se boot disk to get rid of an NTFS partition, it just reads it as non-DOS. I do it all the time. You cannot however format in NTFS with a 98 boot floppy.

So if ya want to try re-installing Xp. Backup anything ya need from the Xp install. Boot with a 98se(not sure if plain 98 will do, haven't tried it)bootdisk and clear out all the unwanted partitions, set them up as you like. If possible boot Xp install from the CD(goes much faster this way)then select the partitions you want in NTFS and format(quick format sucks) them. See if it fixes your problem/curious behavior.

Good luck.