I have a 20GB hard drive (thats my only one) and am about to install Windows
XP. I was wondering if I needed to create partitions on this drive when the
option arises during setup? My drive is so small after all...

And, speaking of drives, when it comes to selecting the file system for the
drive, is there any benefit to choosing 'NTFS' over 'NTFS (Quick)'?

Thanks

I believe in partitioning. You can easily store your data, personal files and other stuff on a different partition from the operating system. Then, if you do wind up having to re-install (short of an actual disc failure), you don't lose your data.

As for the formatting option, NTFS and NTFS quick do the same thing with one differnce. The "quick" option does very limited checking of the disk/partition and only wipes and recreates the MFT (Master File Table). The full format option overwrites any existing data on the disk/partition.

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"wildlywicked" <wildlywicked@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:E9E5876F-0BE4-47E2-B2A3-370B80F2768E@microsoft.com...

Hi Doug,

Thanks for the speedy reply. So do you think my points 1,2 and 3 are
valid in the original post, i.e. it is possible to do the things i want
to do ?. I have partition magic.

Cheers,
Andrew

Doug Knox MS-MVP:

In particular, if i have a partition on the spare drive, 40GB holding
Vista, and the other 160GB holding backup data, and i later decide 40GB
is not enough for VIsta and i then want to have 100GB / 100GB partition,
can i alter the partition sizes WITHOUT losing Vista or my backup files
?

Regards,
Andrew


Doug Knox MS-MVP:

My experience with Partition Magic, is it is a hit or miss on changing
partition size, you can lose all of the data on a whole partition.

I sure would not rely on Partition Magic for my important information.

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"Andy" <andyNOSPAM@apple100.NOSPAMfreeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:XYSf1KCIQ2hgLRxXandyNOSPAM@apple100.NOSPAMfre eserve.co.uk...

Hi,

What do you suggest is the best software to use for partitioning without
losing my current o/s or backup files then ?

Can i create a new partition from boot up sequence in Vista (like i
think you can when installing XP ?)

Regards,
Andrew



CSM1:

Re-partitioning of disks that have data on them is very risky.

Windows XP's disk manager will not keep the data, it is a destructive
partitioning program, as are most disk management programs.

You can copy all of the data on the disk using some disk imaging program
such as Acronis True Image. True Image can restore partitions to a
different partition than the one that was imaged.

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing...cts/trueimage/


If it were me, I would image the disk as it is now, then re-format and
partition the whole drive.
Then restore the parts of the disk into the larger partitions.

It is not hard to do if you have an external hard drive big enough to hold
the images.

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"Andy" <andyNOSPAM@apple100.NOSPAMfreeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:czroSpFW1l1xKU3vandyNOSPAM@apple100.NOSPAMfre eserve.co.uk...

Hi,

Thanks for the quick reply there. I'm not really confident at doing
that, or have the knowledge. I haven't done anything like that before. I
have Norton Ghost, could i use that in some way for what i'm wanting to
do ?

The backup data on the drive is already backed up elsewhere (double
backed up as i'm paranoid !!), so losing the data in the event that
Partition Magic went wrong, would not be such a disister !

Regards,
Andrew


CSM1:

Incidentally:

Say i had this setup:

Main Hard Drive C running Windows XP (no partitions)
Secondary Hard Drive S running Windows Vista (Partitioned into
80GB(Vista) / 120GB(Data backups)

When i start my PC it will automatically assume i want to boot to C
drive (XP). How do i get the PC to give me the choice of operating
system to start up each time when i switch it on ?

I want it to boot to XP (Drive C) as default (i.e. if i press no buttons
on start up), but still prompt me to ask me which o/s i want to boot
into. If i select which one then it starts up with that one, and if i
don't select any o/s then it just assumes i want to start with Win XP
(Drive C).

Which key do i press to enable it to give me the options ? or can i have
the pop-up asking me which o/s i want to boot into come up automatically
?

Regards,
Andrew



CSM1:

What you are asking for is doable.
It is called Dual Boot.
In Dual Boot you get a menu that allows you to choose the system or do
nothing, it boots the default after a timeout period.


Note: These web sites were slow loading when I went there. (Just be patient)
I have a fast DSL connection.

Windows XP and I suppose Vista has an option when you install of building a
Dual boot system.
http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vi...creenshots.htm

If Vista is already installed.
http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_v...step_guide.htm

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"Andy" <andyNOSPAM@apple100.NOSPAMfreeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
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