disk partitioning in vista

[Mac]

Hi all,
I have a new HP laptop that I wish to partition into a C and a D drive. I
can't seem to find an Fdisk proram that will work with vista, even with a
bootable CD. The HDD is a 150 Gig so the old Fdisks don't recognize the
size. I tried using an XP disk (at boot) but get the blue screen of death.
I tried a few free bootable iso files off the net but no luck. I guess I'm
old school, used to just fdisk, format, and install. Not any more huh?
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
-Mac

 

[Danny Krychek]

Hi all,
I have a new HP laptop that I wish to partition into a C and a D drive. I
can't seem to find an Fdisk proram that will work with vista, even with a
bootable CD. The HDD is a 150 Gig so the old Fdisks don't recognize the
size. I tried using an XP disk (at boot) but get the blue screen of death.
I tried a few free bootable iso files off the net but no luck. I guess I'm
old school, used to just fdisk, format, and install. Not any more huh?
Any suggestions?

Use Vista's Disk Management utility:

Click the Start Orb, type MANAGEMENT in the Start Search box.

Choose Disk Management from the options.

Shrink C and then create D in the unallocated space. NOTE: the amount
you can shrink C is limited because the Disk Management utility can
only shrink C until it finds an unmovable file.

If you can't get C to the size you want, you will need a third-party
partition manager.

Lacking one, Google EASEUS.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

If you are partitioning the drive into C: and D: then I assume you are going
to re-install the operating system? If so then you can partition the disk
during the installation of Vista. See this link from my website:
http://www.winuser.co.uk/windows_vista_faq/16_create_new_partition_using_the_vista_dvd.html

Alternatively you can do as other have said, i.e, use Vista disk management
to shrink the C: partition and then create your D: partition. Shrinking, of
course, does have its problems as already noted in previous replies.

Failing that a third party partitioning application can be used, such as
Acronis Disk Director to partition the drives for you; unfortunately,
though, Acronis Disk Director is not free.

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com
Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org


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[RalfG]

Unless you have a System Recovery disc set from HP you don't ever want to
run fdisk on that harddrive. HPs usually have a recovery partition on the
harddrive so C: and the recovery partition D: should already exist. The
recovery partition D: should be left unchanged and unused by you, but C: at
least can be resized and divided into more partitions. As already
recommended, use Vista's Disc Management utility to shrink your C: drive
and create a new partition or multiple partitions in the unallocated space.
Even if you use 3rd party software to do the partitioning, the correct way
to do it without losing access to your recovery partition is to shrink the
C: partition and create a new partition in the emptied space.

 

[Mac]

Thanks everyone for your help. I had no idea Vista could shrink partitions.
As it's my wifes computer, I don't get much chance to just play.
Yes, I failed to mention that I do have the recovery partition as D: but I
also have the disks. I need to decide whether or not to keep that
partition. I like doing a clean install myself, it helps me know the
computer a little better.
Thanks again,
-Mac

 

[ray]

Hi all,
I have a new HP laptop that I wish to partition into a C and a D drive.
I can't seem to find an Fdisk proram that will work with vista, even
with a bootable CD. The HDD is a 150 Gig so the old Fdisks don't
recognize the size. I tried using an XP disk (at boot) but get the blue
screen of death. I tried a few free bootable iso files off the net but
no luck. I guess I'm old school, used to just fdisk, format, and
install. Not any more huh? Any suggestions?
Thanks,
-Mac

The 'gparted' Live CD should do fine.

 

[RalfG]

Installing from the recovery discs will put the recovery partition back onto
the drive anyway. Installing clean from a Vista disc might leave you without
drivers for proprietary hardware in the computer. HP downloaded drivers and
firmware updates are often keyed and won't install on non-HP computers,
which is what yours will be recognised as after you remove the OEM OS and
software. You may not need the software that came bundled on the HP, most of
it can't be reinstalled other than from the installed System Recovery
utility.