Creating New Partition

[PatETC]

I want to create a new partition (drive d) in my laptop. Is it
possible to do this without deleting anything or doing a restore? I
want to save everything the way it is--just have a partition of about
10 gig where I can store pictures and backups. Since I've never done
this I'll need pretty detailed instructions . My DVD drive is
currently drive D.


Thanks.

Pat

 

[Guest]

You'll need a bootable floppy disk. If you don't have one, you'll have to
create one, because you need the executable file fdisk.exe.

1. Insert the floppy and open Command Line (start > Run) and type fdisk.
2. Answer Yes to “Do you wish to enable large disk support?â€
3. At the “FDISK Options†window, select “1. Create DOS partition or Logical
DOS Drive.
4. At the “Create DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive†window, select “2.
Create Extended DOS Partition.â€
5. At the “Create Extended DOS Partition†window, create a 10240 MB(10-GB)
patition.
6. At the “Create Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partitionâ€
window, it shows the Total Extended DOS Partition size. When prompted to
“Enter logical drive size in Mbytes,†accepted the size that is shown.
7. The following window shows that the drive was created on whichever drive
is next...probably E: if D: is being used by your DVD.
8. Save your changes and restart.

Hope this helps. If you don't have the bootable floppy, there's a GUI
program. Someone else might have instructions for that.

 

[Ron]

I may be wrong but I don't think you want to do what KOOJ say's as I thing
this will delete all of your stuff on the hard drive. I think you need a
program called Partition Magic, but please wait and see if you get any more
reply's before doing anything with your drives

Ron

 

[Guest]

Partition Magic!!

Ignore KOOG!!!!!

Will loose everything you have!!!!

 

[Guest]

WOOOOO! KOOG

Did yuo read the OP??

They don't say anyting about having free unallocated disk spave.
They only have ONE partiton now.

Your method won't work/does not apply!!!

 

[Guest]

thanks ron!!!

I may be wrong but I don't think you want to do what KOOJ say's as I thing
this will delete all of your stuff on the hard drive. I think you need a
program called Partition Magic, but please wait and see if you get any more
reply's before doing anything with your drives

Ron

 

[Guest]

Using fdisk worked for me! I had 98 on C: and created a new partition on D:.

Patition Magic? Go ahead. I'm sure it works great, but I've never used it.

 

[Guest]

Was "D" a different hard drive or free unalocated disk space?
No matter it doesn't apply here!!

 

[Anna]

I want to create a new partition (drive d) in my laptop. Is it
possible to do this without deleting anything or doing a restore? I
want to save everything the way it is--just have a partition of about
10 gig where I can store pictures and backups. Since I've never done
this I'll need pretty detailed instructions . My DVD drive is
currently drive D.


Thanks.

Pat

Pat:
You're probably confused by the responses to your query so far, so let me
try to simplify things for you...

First of all, forget about the recommendation from KOOJ re using a bootable
floppy disk and its FDISK command. This has no relevance in your situation.

I assume your present hard drive has a single partition encompassing the
entire capacity of that drive. Assuming that is so, there is no way that you
can create an additional partition using any built-in XP utility without
wiping out *all* the data presently on your hard drive. As an example... Say
your present HD is 40 GB with a single partition encompassing the entire 40
GB. You want to create a 10 GB partition so that you'll have two
partitions - one of 30 GB, the other 10 GB. You cannot do this within XP
without losing all your data presently on the drive. At this point the only
way you could set up that multi-partitioned drive would be to re:format your
HD after creating the two partitions. And as we have indicated your data
would disappear into the Ethernet or such. Obviously a situation you don't
want.

But there is a way to accomplish what you want to do. You could use a
third-party program such as the one mentioned by Dixonian69 -- Partition
Magic. That piece of software (there are others, but PM is probably the
"industry standard") will accomplish your objective, i.e., create a
multi-partitioned disk without destroying your present data. Unfortunately
PM isn't particularly cheap. There are, however, some "freebie" partition
manager types of programs available but I haven't worked with any of them in
a long time. I recall not being particularly thrilled with any of them.
We've used PM exclusively over the years. But perhaps some reader of this
thread has had some good experience with one or more of the freebies and can
make a recommendation.

Incidentally, if one way or another you ultimately do create a
multi-partitioned HD along the lines you want, you will be able to change
the drive letter of your present D: drive letter assigned to your DVD drive.
You can easily do that from within XP. But that's something for later,
right?
Anna

 

[deebs]

Whatever approach is used it is always wise (essential?) to make sure
recent backups to external media have been completed.

If the data are very important or even very, very important may I
presume that backups have been (recently) made already?

fdisk is neat but will obliterate almost all stuff on the drive.

A neater solution (weigh up cost of a single use partitioning utility
against the cost of a reasonable hard drive?) is to install a new hard
drive, port all data there. make sure you have all, I'll rephrease that
to ALL installations disks available and to hand.

If any progs were installed via downloads make sure you have activation
details writ somewhere AND a secured copy of the installation prgram
writ to separate media.

Any ommissions will probably become very, very obvious in the days after
repartitioning and it can be done

 

[PatETC]

I only have one hard disk on the laptop--just wanted two partitions - C
& D with the DVD drive being E.

Pat

 

[PatETC]

Anna:

Thanks for your reply. It does make sense. I know how to change the
DVD drive letter and will look into a partitioning program

Pat

 

[deebs]

An alternative is to check out your local 'pooter shop and ask them to
upgrade to an 80 GB disk partitioned reasonably for the original setup.

I honestly believe that a more recent and well specced 80 GB hard disk
with reasonable spec will provide more oomph per dollar/euro/pound than
a utility.

 

[PatETC]

The computer I want an additional partition on is my new HP notebook
which has an 80 GB hard disk already. I have Partition Magic but after
the horror stories, I'm afraid to use it for fear of losing my data and
programs!

Pat