Hard Drive Partitioning

Okay, so I reformatted my work PC this morning because I accidentally blew up my registry and couldn't be bothered fixing it (cursed Windows XP Pro!). As I was sitting here watching the files I had saved be compressed into a .zip on my gaming PC, I figured it might be wise to partition the hard drive this go around. After all, I've got 3~4 hours on my hands to do this, and it would be wise to do this now instead of later...

Popped open the Disk Management window and realize I have forgotten how to do this.

If it's possible, and I am fairly sure it is as I can remember doing it once before (albiet ages ago), how am I supposed to partition my hard drive without completely reformatting my hard drive again? I feel like an idiot asking the question I used to be able to answer... I guess this is what happens when you stop being a techie and start being a full-time gamer. I've Googled my arse off and haven't found anything except tuts on how to do it during the Windows installation...

Many thanks to those of you who provide me with any information on the matter

Edit: Windows site is bugging me. Tells me to select unallocated section but I can't seem to find one. Further explination of the official Microsoft description is also appreciated if you care to give it...

Nothing wrong with Windows XP Pro, unless you yourself breaks it... lol

Anyhow I would suggest using the program Partition Magic to set pratitions quickly and easily.

I got my computer setup this way within 5 mins. I now have a 10GB Partition for Windows and Programs (Things that don't change that often), a 70GB Partition for Games and Music. I like to keep things simple so two is fine.

*whistles innocently*

I blame Bill Gates.... And I always will!

Anyhoo, thanks for the tip, working on getting the trial now. I appreciate it a lot, Firebat.

Edit: Hoookaaay... So it seems, or maybe I'm just a moron, that I can't actually create a new partition with the trial version. Scrudbuckets. Guess this means I'm going to have to break into my wallet again...

Or not... *wink* *wink*, but I leave that up to you lol

Its a expensive application, but works well, and well worth the money.

Why didnt you just make the partitions during the Windows setup? Before you install, you have to select a drive XP goes on (like all Windows). At that point it allows you to delete and create partitions.

However, Partition Magic will allow you to repartition your hard drive after installation so I guess that's what you're looking for.

Yeah... I just didn't think to do it at the time (3AM, I was tired, bored, and just wanted to get it over with)... Only decided to partition it after the fact while I was waiting for the files on the other PC to compress. I had nothing better to do, so I figured "Why not?"...

Use the GParted LiveCD (open source). Resize the partition that XP is residing on (NTFS partition, likely, GParted can handle those also), create new partitions with the new free space (which it can also do, or you could reboot and handle partition creation in diskmgmt.msc).

Although it's likely more trouble than just reinstalling Windows if you don't know how to work the damn thing.

If you don't know the difference between allocated and unallocated space, I would suggest you get someone who does to partition your drive, unless you have nothing to lose on any partition. While the short answer is simply this, allocated is in use by a partition and thus is not repartitionable without being resized, unallocated is not in use by any partition according to the drives partition table. If all you are doing is reinstalling windows, partitioning is not really all that important, though for a clean install such a thing might be important. However compressing your files to a partition will probably not help you unless that partition is available before install time, and you know which one it is during install time. You should back your data up to an external media like dvd or cd and not to a partition that will reside on the same drive you intend to repartition or install to. You put your data at risk by doing so. Not everything is garunteed, software deployment systems like the windows installer, can fail, and can nuke data on a drive.

Thank you for that utility, I've been looking for something like that
Works like a charm, tried it on my work junk laptop.