Hi Robert,
i want to learn how to partition both hard drives,
Partitioning is inherently dangerous when you are working with drives that
currently have existing data. It is best to do this when a drive is empty.
If the drive is currently blank, then you can use the Windows disk manager
(start/run diskmgmt.msc) to partition and format it. If the drive is already
partitioned, the disk manager will only allow you to create new partitions
from existing free space. Your HP system is unlikely to have this, so the
only option to rework that drive is to use a third party partitioning
program. These will allow you to dynamically resize the existing partitions,
then create new ones in the free space.
Partitioning programs:
BootIT NG
www.terabyteunlimited.com
Partition Magic
www.powerquest.com/partitionmagic
Partition Commander
http://www.v-com.com/product/pc_ind.html
Ranish Partition Manager
http://www.ranish.com/part/
and particularly how to if possible partition the 'program files' from the
working files on my local existing internal hard drive, that is,
if it is not too late.
Though Partition Magic (above) can assist you in this as well as some
utilities like COA32, I do not recommend it. Programs need to be installed
to a particular location, not moved. If they are moved, then all the
pointers in the system registry will be incorrect and the program will not
function properly. Though some utilities can change the pointers, they
always miss a few, especially on the more complex programs. Best to
uninstall and then reinstall to the new location.
am confused by some of the articles posted on windows web site..
Like what?
is there a simple way short of going to a so called expert?
Partitioning is not simple. You are tinkering with the drive geometry, and
that is not a trivial matter. Even if you do it right, there can be data
loss. Before you do *anything* with the drive in use, backup anything that
is critical to you to guard against this.
Hope this helps, feel free to ask follow up questions.
--
Best of Luck,
Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone
Windows help -
www.rickrogers.org