Partitioning unallocated HD space

[Andrew]

I have a 250GB harddrive with about 125GB partitioned and
formatted. I was wondering how you partition and format
the remaining space. Also, I have a my old drive with
files on it that I want to transfer over. I would like to
know how to do this. XP is using NTFS and Win98 of course
is FAT32, are these compatitable with each other as far as
the files go.

Thanks for the help

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Andrew;
Use Disk Management to allocate the unused space:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=309000

The fact the old drive is FAT 32 is not relevant.

You can install the old drive as a slave and copy the data from old to
new drive.

If the old drive is on a computer, you can network the computers and
copy the data.
Or you can use FAST:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

 

[george]

The two file systems are not 'compatible', they're fundamentally different.
However, XP will read/write both of them just fine, so your old data is not
lost.

As for partitioning the remainder of the disk, go to right click Explorer,
Manage and select Disk Management.
The details pane will display the disk, right click the unpartitioned space
on the disc and Create Partition and follow the wizard.
Depending on the size you choose for the new partition you will be able to
choose FAT, FAT32 or NTFS.
With 125GB as the partition size you'll only be presented with the option
NTFS, which should be your file system of choice anyway.
When the wizard finishes you'll get the partition status displayed as
Healthy. (i.e. ready for use)

As for getting your old data accross, one way of doing that would be to
temporarily add the old hd into the machine and simply use Explorer to
copy/paste them onto the new partition.

hth

george

 

[Joe Roberts]

I don't know what "additional" program you have on your machine that allows
you to click on Manage and Disk Management. WIN XP HOME does not contain
this.

Consider that the majority of people in this "newusers" group probably don't
have additional software to manage disks, etc.

--
Joe

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ALL INCOMING AND OUTGOING MESSAGES ARE SCANNED BY NORTON ANTIVIRUS 2004

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[george]

The OP has not mentioned he's running Home edition.
And yes, if you are, then you need 3rd party software to do that, which
usially costs money.
All the more reason to *not* stick with with a functionally inferior product
like Home and fork up some extra bucks up front and get Professional. By the
time you're done purchasing all the functionality left out of Home through
3rd party stuff, you're probably out of more money than the difference to be
paid for Professional.

george