I just installed Windows XP Professional With SP1 and Im very happy that the BSODs are gone!
So, how can I create a partition without having the reinstallation of Windows XP.
I know the fdisk, but I need a correct tutorial for it.
Also, Partition Magic bla bla bla.
Please help me.
-jed
i can tell you step by step how to use partition magic, do you have it?
Yeah, Partitiona Magic is very easy to use
Could you describe what you want better.
When you installed XP, did you make just one partition for the whole drive? Do you want to resize your current partition? Did you leave space during the install to allow for more partitions?
I heard Partition Magic was the best because it could perform NON-destructive partitions on hard drives. However, as for using it, I never have so I really dont know what to tell ya. Normally when I go about formatting and stuff, I try and find an OS that will handle it for me. For example, when I finally get the guts and the free time to try a linux distro, it will probabaly be Mandrake 9 because it can non-destructively re-size a NTFS partition (XP) or at least that what I heard. And you say that your using it for backup? Will you be using an Imagaing program such as Ghost for your backing up? If so, I would HIGHLY suggest Acronis TrueImage because it can backup your entire Windows partiton without having to re-boot into dos. Very Nice. Hope that helps at all!
Yes, Mandrake can resize NTFS partitions non destructively.
But so can QTParted, a free Partition Magic clone for Linux. Now you can use it from a preinstalled partition, or from Knoppix, a LiveCD.
Given the prices of hardrives, making partitions is not as appealing as it once was.
I personally use partitions to store files I dont want to lost during a reformat of my comp. I cant afford a HD right now, I have other priorities, plus im good with my current HD space. The partitions are grea to split files. This way I can format my pc every week and not making backups of my files with CD's, and all that.
Well, its nice to have your personal data seperate from your OS, in case of reinstall. Some people cant afford a new harddrive, and since there are free partition tools out there, why not?
We're not all doctors. <_<
How big is the hardrive ? are you running XP ?
I have a question: When you do a Restore point on XP where is that file stored (name & location). Wouldn't it be good sense to burn on a CD-RW/DVD-RW the Windows Folder and a backup of the Restore Points ?
Im using XP Pro SP1 on a 38.3GB Hard Drive
I want to partition it like 3-4GB with NTFS file system. I will not put an OS for that.
But, if I put an OS, can I put Windows 98? maybe downgrading is not advised but I will use FAT32 file system.
TODAy, I want a backup, I really hate those stupid CD Burning, Waste of Money. 5GB Backup will do 
So, can ya help me, I already have a Partition Magic.
Ok here we go:
1. Open Partitition Magic
2. In the tool bar there is a menu saying "tasks" is between "help" and "tools"
3. Select Create New Partition.
4. A Dialog will pop, click next.
5. Select where you want to create your new partition, it is better to follow what the program marks as "recommended". Click "Next"
6. Then check the HD where you want to grab the space from. Click Next.
7. Then you will be able to set the partition size, label, file system, and letter. (For size if you want 5GB set the space to 5120mb). Click Next and then finish.
8. Then it will come back to the main window, on the left side of it, it will have a task menu, and in the bottom it should say apply, then it will start to make some changes and then reboot. It is important that you have the rescue disks it gave when you isntalled it, just in case something goes wrong.
* Remember to take very imporant files backed up, because if something goes wrong maybe everything might be lost.
This instructions were told assuming that you have Partition Magic 8.
Good Luck
Im so happy and Partitioning is so fun! Im so happy. cho, im not using Partition Magic 8, im using 7. I just experiment up and poof! 5GB Drive is there. Also, 5GB is too big so I resize it to 3GB!! !Im having fun partitioning! Yahoo!!!!
Wait, when I reformat, does the partition permanent? Like, the partition will be deleted? I think no. Please support my answer.
And also, the other way reformatting like format c:\, formatting through bios like preformat etc. does this affect the partition?
Please reply. Haha! No more CD-Burning Yahoo!!!!!
Partition Magic is very easy to use, you got everything to work, Congratulations.
When you reformat you wont loose the files on that partition, when you reinstall windows jut make sure to select the windows partition, the other one will keep intact. In fact the partition remains intact unless you format it from an out side windows program or something like that. But in a windows reinstall, in the method I told before, just select the correct partition and the partition for backup should remain instant. It should work just fine.
Good Luck
What do you mean?
That reinstalling windows should not affect the new partition you are using for backup, if you isntall it on the original partition (windows partition).
In other words, those files will remain intact unless YOU select to format them, just make sure that during reisntallation you select the correct partition. You worry was if it was deleted, and I answered that no, the partition will remain existen unless you remove it.
hope this cleared what I tried to say
I see. That is on my mind but the sentence is kinda confusing.
So my Partition will be permanent!! Yahoo!
@jed717ph
Hope it works for you. I've tried once or twice to Partition and the overlay program that interfaces with the hdd somehow interfered with the formating and the partion on a single drive. I never went back to partitioning drives. I used another hdd drive. At one time I had WindowsME on one drive and Windows98 on a second drive and the computer would sometimes boot from the second drive rather than the first drive maybe it was because there was a difference in speeds between drives and the BIOS went for whatever drive it offered an OS. It did not happened often but once in a while. I have a DVD writable drive so I can burn 4.7Gb on a disk as a backup ($5/ea).
I never had corruption of the WindowsXP System but then again I don't customize that much. I'm not crazy about menus that offer booting to multiple OS'es. Those initial booting menus sometimes become corrupted or get confused depending the order you install the OS'es. Good luck though !
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