Too late to partition after WinXp install???

[NasdaqTrader889]

I just installed WinXP Pro on my new PC build, the HDD only has the OS on it at this time. I did not partition the drive, but now I have decided that I do and want a partition just for my OS and use the rest for files and etc. Is it still possible to partition or do I need to uninstall WinXP and start all over. Sorry, but I'm very new to building PCs and all the technical workings that go along with it.

 

[BatmanNate]

There is 3rd party software such as Partition Magic that will allow you to partition after the fact. I do not believe XP is keen on the idea natively, however.

 

[Shadow07]

Windows XP should do just fine if you use PartitionMagic (or some other type of partitioning software).

 

[NasdaqTrader889]

So the best way to go would be with a software program and there is no other way, correct?

 

[RalfHutter]

no, No, NO. You can partition just fine from within Windows XP. PM is probably easier for an inexperiencd user but it's not without risks. No matter what you do, backup your data first.

Here's how to partition from within XP. Go to "Start>Programs>Administrative Tools>Computer Management>Disk Management" and you can partition from there. Right-click an unallocated region of a basic disk, and then click New Partition, or right-click free space in an extended partition, and then click New Logical Drive.
In the New Partition Wizard, click Next, click Primary partition, Extended partition, or Logical drive, and then follow the instructions on your screen.

If you need help, click on "Help>Help Topics>Disk Management>How to>Manage Basic Volumes>Create a Partition or Logical Drive"

 

[Whitedog]

Ralf, I believe his whole hard drive is partitioned already and he wants to break it up.


I wouldn't recommend trying it, but do what you must.

Good luck.

 

[chocoruacal]

Originally posted by: RalfHutter
no, No, NO. You can partition just fine from within Windows XP. PM is probably easier for an inexperiencd user but it's not without risks. No matter what you do, backup your data first.

Here's how to partition from within XP. Go to "Start>Programs>Administrative Tools>Computer Management>Disk Management" and you can partition from there. Right-click an unallocated region of a basic disk, and then click New Partition, or right-click free space in an extended partition, and then click New Logical Drive.
In the New Partition Wizard, click Next, click Primary partition, Extended partition, or Logical drive, and then follow the instructions on your screen.

If you need help, click on "Help>Help Topics>Disk Management>How to>Manage Basic Volumes>Create a Partition or Logical Drive"

Thats only for unallocated space. If you've formated your entire hard drive already, which it sounds like you have, then you would have to reinstall or use something like Partition Magic. Use it at your own risk though....lots of folks have problems with it.

If it were me...since its a new install anyway, I'd just reformat, create partitions, and reinstall XP. Thats the long way...but possibly less headaches

 

[SyahM]

I have used PM numerous times and only once I had problem with it. Be sure to backup any important data and be very strict with the procedures.
All in all, since it's a new PC, just reformat and reinstall Win XP, easy!

 

[NasdaqTrader889]

Thanks for all the suggestions on this subject, seems like the easiest way from what I have read so far is to do a reinstall and partition from there. Now the silly question, how do I go about doing the reinstall? I'm not a PC wiz as everyone can tell.

 

[Bluefront]

I just used Partition Magic 8.0 to re-partition an XP pro install. Divided it into two equal parts.....everything worked fine. Also changed it from NTFS to Fat32 using the same program. After doing the transform, defraging the C drive took four hours...P4 1.8.

 

[RalfHutter]

Originally posted by: NasdaqTrader889
Thanks for all the suggestions on this subject, seems like the easiest way from what I have read so far is to do a reinstall and partition from there. Now the silly question, how do I go about doing the reinstall? I'm not a PC wiz as everyone can tell.

If you're already commited to reinstalling, why not try using PM and if something gets borked you haven't lost anything but the time. There's a free partitioning utility that people have been having good luck with. It's called Ranish Partition Manager.

 

[AnMig]

Dont re -install just yet

I was in the same boat couple of months ago when I was trying to fix a friends computer only had 1 partition.
You can resize, recover a partition without loosing data for free. Use a small program called "presizer.exe"

it runs off a floppy and works like fdisk.

you will need a boot disk(98 boot disk) and the program.
once at the dos promp just type presizer.exe it should be straight forward. no need to buy partition magic.
this works in fat and ntfs file system.


link for the lazy

 

[NasdaqTrader889]

Thanks for everyones help on this subject it has been very helpful. It's just that I got some many opinions on why I should and should not partition and so forth. Have some that say they don't partition on their PC at home and only on servers, yet there are people that say at least partition the OS so that if it ever crashes you can reinstall and not worry about the other files on the HDD. Because of that it is the reason I decided to partition at least a part of the HDD. I had wanted to partition a part just for the OS and leave the rest for my other files.

 

[RalfHutter]

That's exactly what I do on all my rigs and most systems that I build for other folks as well. I've found that it's easier and safer to keep data on a partition separate from the OS and apps.