Partitions in a New Install

[Daave]

I've never partitioned a hard drive before, so I'm not sure the best way
to do so (or if it is really necessary).

I recently obtained a Dell Dimension 2400, which has a 40 GB hard drive
and Windows XP Home installed. I want to start from scratch (formatting
the C drive). I have everything I need for a clean install (Dell
Reinstallation Disc, XP SP2 on a disc, and drivers). I was following the
step-by-step instructions at
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

At Step 10, I get the following:

38147 MB Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0 on atapi [MBR]
-: Partition1 [FAT] 39 MB (32 MB free)
C: Partition2 [NTFS] 38099 MB (31245 MB free)

I guess I'll be deleting both partitions, but I'd like to know when I
load the system, should I create new ones that more or less match how it
is currently partitioned (i.e., a 39 MB FAT partition and a 38,099 MB
NTFS position.

And Step 13 mentions "This is where you reinsert the XP Pro Upgrade CD
if necessary." Although I don't have this, I do have an SP2 disc. Do I
insert it at this point?

Anything else I need to know?

TIA.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I've never partitioned a hard drive before, so I'm not sure the best way
to do so (or if it is really necessary).

I recently obtained a Dell Dimension 2400, which has a 40 GB hard drive
and Windows XP Home installed. I want to start from scratch (formatting
the C drive). I have everything I need for a clean install (Dell
Reinstallation Disc, XP SP2 on a disc, and drivers). I was following the
step-by-step instructions at
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

At Step 10, I get the following:

38147 MB Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0 on atapi [MBR]
-: Partition1 [FAT] 39 MB (32 MB free)
C: Partition2 [NTFS] 38099 MB (31245 MB free)

I guess I'll be deleting both partitions, but I'd like to know when I
load the system, should I create new ones that more or less match how it
is currently partitioned (i.e., a 39 MB FAT partition and a 38,099 MB
NTFS position.

And Step 13 mentions "This is where you reinsert the XP Pro Upgrade CD
if necessary." Although I don't have this, I do have an SP2 disc. Do I
insert it at this point?

Anything else I need to know?

TIA.

I personally wouldn't create FAT partitions. I would simply delete all
existing partitions, tell Setup to create one new partition will all
available space, and format it NTFS.

You would only need FAT partitions if you are planning on dual-booting an
operating system that doesn't know about NTFS, such as DOS or Win9x.

As to Step 13, this applies only if your XP install CD is an upgrade
version. That version will want to see what it is you're upgrading from,
and will accept, for example, a Windows ME CD as proof. It asks for the
upgrade qualifier, you put in the WiME CD, it says thanks, and you take it
out and put the XP install CD back in.

You will use the SP2 CD immediately after finishing the basic install. It's
best to do those basic Windows updates first.

HTH
-pk