Partitioning with /Disk Management

[Guest]

I've got a new 80 GB hard drive with Windows XP Pro SP2 already installed.
About 20 GB are used with the OS & original apps. This new Dell notbook
doesn't come with OS disks, so even though I would prefer new
installation/partitioning, its not an option right now.

I read a How-To article on partitioning through Control Panel/Computer
Management/Disk Management, but when I try to click on my C-Drive to create a
new partition - it doesn't give me the "New Partition" choice that article
indicates it would.

Right now the drive has one basic partition marked as Disk 0 and is the
primary partition.

Any explanation why I can't find this "New Partition" option that the
following article discusses? Maybe there is no "unallocated space" on my
single partition even though only about 20 GBs of the total 80GB drive is
being used?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000/

TIA

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

XP's DiskPart utility is capable of only partitioning a hard drive that is empty
or has "unallocated" free space.
For example, if you were to install a new second drive, DiskPart can be
used to partition and format it. DiskPart cannot segregate current files from
free space, therefore, only a sophisticated third-party partitioning program,
such as Partition Magic 8 , can be used to partition a drive that already has
Windows XP installed.

The only way you can create, delete, resize or merge existing partitions,
and not harm your existing Windows installation, is to purchase and use
a third-party partitioning program such as Partition Magic 8.
http://www.symantec.com/partitionmagic/

The alternative is to perform a "clean install" of Windows XP:

How to Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;313348&Product=winxp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I've got a new 80 GB hard drive with Windows XP Pro SP2 already installed.
| About 20 GB are used with the OS & original apps. This new Dell notbook
| doesn't come with OS disks, so even though I would prefer new
| installation/partitioning, its not an option right now.
|
| I read a How-To article on partitioning through Control Panel/Computer
| Management/Disk Management, but when I try to click on my C-Drive to create a
| new partition - it doesn't give me the "New Partition" choice that article
| indicates it would.
|
| Right now the drive has one basic partition marked as Disk 0 and is the
| primary partition.
|
| Any explanation why I can't find this "New Partition" option that the
| following article discusses? Maybe there is no "unallocated space" on my
| single partition even though only about 20 GBs of the total 80GB drive is
| being used?
|
| http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000/
|
| TIA

 

[Guest]

Thanks. That answers that question.

With so many manufacturers not offering the OS CDs anymore, does microsoft
offer an easy way to make new installation disks from the existing
installation? Or is this something that can only be handled via my
manufacturer's (Dell) system restore program? My concern is that I don't
want to reinstall all the Dell junk applications, just a clean XP install.

 

[Guest]

Thanks. That answers that question.

With so many manufacturers not offering the OS CDs anymore, does microsoft
offer an easy way to make new installation disks from the existing
installation? Or is this something that can only be handled via my
manufacturer's (Dell) system restore program? My concern is that I don't
want to reinstall all the Dell junk applications, just a clean XP install.

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Dell should supply info pertaining to the creation of a recovery set.. after
all, it is Dell's recovery set, and not Microsoft's.. call Dell..

 

[Guest]

okay. Thanks for the response.

Dell should supply info pertaining to the creation of a recovery set.. after
all, it is Dell's recovery set, and not Microsoft's.. call Dell..

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

Dell DOES provide discs for the OS with units they sell.

So, you may not be telling the truth about your situation.

I have a Dell computer and I have the discs for my Windows XP Professional.

DSH

 

[Guest]

Dell DOES provide discs for the OS with units they sell.

So, you may not be telling the truth about your situation.

Man, it sucks to live in your paranoid world! Why would someone lie about
something silly like that? I received my dell yesterday and it did *not*
come with the disks. Reading the Dell message boards, it appears they
stopped including the disks or the utility to make backup disks for systems
after 7/15/05. I haven't tried to confirm that, I just know my system did
not.

Incidentally, after sitting on hold with Dell support, they were very nice
about sending the OS disks and drivers to me via regular mail. They said
they don't send the disks automatically anymore because they have a "system
restore" partition - but that means all the original applications will get
installed as well. Not what I wanted. I wanted a clean OS install only.

 

[Sharon F]

Thanks. That answers that question.

With so many manufacturers not offering the OS CDs anymore, does microsoft
offer an easy way to make new installation disks from the existing
installation? Or is this something that can only be handled via my
manufacturer's (Dell) system restore program? My concern is that I don't
want to reinstall all the Dell junk applications, just a clean XP install.

If you received no recovery CDs, there may be a tool on the system to
create them.

Also, contact Dell. With a little gentle prodding, they usually send disks.
I know folks that have received recovery CDs and/or the plain generic OEM
CD (stamped with Dell's name but contains only WinXP) from making this
extra call. There may be a slight charge for either set but at least you
would have them.

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

Nonsense.

I received my Dell system in November 2005 -- WITH the Windows XP
Professional SP2 disc included.

Why don't you start telling the truth and buy a legal copy of Windows XP?

DSH

 

[Guest]

LOL LOL LOL. Must be a couple of kids having a pissing contest. Most amusing.
I guess it depends on what Dell depot distributes the system and how many you
buy. Some come with discs some don't. I've seen it both ways so you are both
equally correct. LOL LOL. How immature. TTFN.

 

[Stan Brown]

Thu, 26 Jan 2006 10:57:02 -0800 from mas

This new Dell notbook
doesn't come with OS disks, so even though I would prefer new
installation/partitioning, its not an option right now.

I'm in your situation. I found it worth while to buy a third-party
partition manager, which can repartition without destroying data.

Standard advice is to back up anyway before repartioning, but I do
that anyway as part of my daily maintenance.

 

[Stan Brown]

Thu, 26 Jan 2006 13:02:14 -0600 from Carey Frisch [MVP]

The alternative is to perform a "clean install" of Windows XP:

The OP mentioned specifically that his hardware manufacturer didn't
supply installation disks, so that's not really an option.

 

[Stan Brown]

Thu, 26 Jan 2006 12:55:03 -0800 from mas

[quoted text muted]
Dell DOES provide discs for the OS with units they sell.

So, you may not be telling the truth about your situation.

Man, it sucks to live in your paranoid world! Why would someone lie about
something silly like that?

Spencer Hines is a known troll (as you would know if you'd read the
newsgroup for a while before posting your question). Just ignore him.

 

[Guest]

Last post, and thanks to those that did help.

I don't claim any detailed knowledge about Hines' system or Dell's policies
- only that the OS disks did not come with my system and the Dell forum
discusses how that is now standard practice since 7/15/06. Maybe its just
certain models. See:

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportfo...eneral&message.id=75997&query.id=16406#M75997

I'd use linux before using an unlicensed copy of Windows. Saving $200 (or
whatever the current cost) is not worth the risk.

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

Hilarious!

"the Dell forum discusses how that is now standard practice since 7/15/06
[sic]..." [See Below]

You ARE confused.

So, you bought an inferior model and didn't have the Good Sense to ask if a
disc with the OS was included.

Serves You Right...

I DID get the OS -- well AFTER 7/15/05.

DSH

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Dell DOES provide discs for the OS with units they sell.

So, you may not be telling the truth about your situation.

I have a Dell computer and I have the discs for my Windows XP
Professional.

Until recently, Dell provided installation CDs with systems they sold. They
now provide only a restore CD, and sell the installation CD for an
additional $10.

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

That may well be true OR it may be true only for the cheaper systems Dell
sells.

But, in any case, I'm sure Dell tells customers they can purchase the OS
disk for an additional ten bucks.

SO, for someone to squeal like a stuck pig and complain he did not get an OS
disc with his purchase from Dell is thoroughly disingenuous.

DSH

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

That's thoroughly disingenuous.

The Dell disc contains ONLY the OS -- no other apps or drivers.

So, pay the ten bucks -- or wheedle and whine.

DSH

 

[John Doue]

Thanks. That answers that question.

With so many manufacturers not offering the OS CDs anymore, does microsoft
offer an easy way to make new installation disks from the existing
installation? Or is this something that can only be handled via my
manufacturer's (Dell) system restore program? My concern is that I don't
want to reinstall all the Dell junk applications, just a clean XP install.

Look, in the last 15 years or so, MS has made it a habit of somehow
integrating into the OS software that was successful in a specific area,
a practice strongly objected to by many companies and considered illegal
in many countries and in the EU (make a quick search on Google if you
are curious). MS does not need to be encouraged to do this, and in the
process, to kill initiative and creativity.

I remember one utility specifically which allowed to compress a whole
partition into a single file (Stacker, read
http://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue133/82_Stacker.php), that
made popular compressing disks, at a time hard disk space was a hot
commodity. If I remember, a year later, it was integrated into Win 95.
Today, the list of such utilities is endless, and the net result, even
if you overlook the way their integration was achieved, was to stiffle
small companies with smart products.

What you want to do will be best achieved by Partition Magic (my
favorite, from Powerquest, bought by Symantec but apparently no longer
developped)
http://www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice/products/system_performance/pm80/index.html,
and by Acronis Disk Director
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/diskdirector/
very well supported, but IMHO less user friendly.

This being said, it is a shame 20G, according to you, are wasted in a so
called recovery partition. Call Dell and insist on a recovery DVD,
knowing that actually a single CD holding the Dell OEM version of XP
would be enough since drivers can always be downloaded when needed. I am
one of those users who strongly resent, 1/ paying for an OS each time I
buy a machine, even if I already own it, 2/ not being given a recovery
DVD when I buy a machine.

Now you decide which way to go, it is a free country!

John Doue