xp pro disc partition

[D5oug]

Just bought a used computer from work, dell 670, with xp pro loaded but not a
copy of xp. The drive has 80 gig and I was wondering if it is worthwhile to
partition the drive. If so, how do I without reformatting the drive and how
much so I allocate for the partition? thanks

 

[Rich Barry]

Worthwhile is something you will have to determine. But, here is a
free easy to use partition manager you can use within Windows
http://www.partition-tool.com/

 

[Mark Adams]

Just bought a used computer from work, dell 670, with xp pro loaded but not a
copy of xp. The drive has 80 gig and I was wondering if it is worthwhile to
partition the drive. If so, how do I without reformatting the drive and how
much so I allocate for the partition? thanks

The drive is already partitioned, the fact that Windows is installed means
you have at least one partition. You would need to use third party software
like Partition Magic (there are others) in order to create another partition
from the unused space on your disk. I have never felt a need to have more
than one partition, but why you would need more than one is a matter of
opinion.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Just bought a used computer from work, dell 670, with xp pro loaded but not a
copy of xp.

If I acquired a used computer, no matter who previously owned it, the
first thing I would do with it would be to reinstall the operating
system cleanly. You have no idea how the computer has been maintained,
what has been installed incorrectly, what is missing, what viruses and
spyware there may be, etc. I wouldn't want to live with somebody
else's mistakes and problems, possibility of kiddy porn, etc., and I
wouldn't recommend that anyone else do either.

If they didn't give you an XP, you do *not* have a license to use it
and you are using it illegally.. For that reason and for the reasons
in the previous paragraph, I recommend buying a copy.

The drive has 80 gig and I was wondering if it is worthwhile to
partition the drive. If so, how do I without reformatting the drive and how
much so I allocate for the partition? thanks

Whether to change the partition structure so you have more than the
single partition you presently have is entirely up to you and depends
greatly on how you use the computer. I recommend that you read this
article on the subject I recently wrote: "Understanding Disk
Partitioning" at
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=326