How do I put a partions in my hard drive?

Question

I have 2 hard drives. One has the XP OS on it the other is just storage. I want to partion the storage drive so I can run VISTA on it and still have the XP untouched. How do I partion the drive?

Answer 1

I would have given you my best answer if you have given your Hard Disk Sizes, No of Partitions and the Free Space available on each Drive.

I assume your first harddisk has XP and some free space and your second hard disk has data which you dont want to loose. And both the harddisks have only one partition each c: and d:.

First Copy all the data into the first harddisk or on CD/DVD's

U can right click on my computer and select manage.

In manage menu you will have Storage and Disk Management.

Select the 2nd hard Disk and delete the existing partition. Remember all data would be lost by doing so.

Now right click and create a full size partion and select extended partition.

Now right click and select new logical drive and select 20 GB Capacity.

Now right click and select new logical drive and select the remaning space available on the hard disk and make a partition.

Now you will have 3 partitions in your system. Keep c: as it is for XP install Vista in the newly created 20 GB partition D: and copy all your old data to the newly created partition e:.

You can select compress e: if you want to store more data.

If you need anyfurther clarification please get back to me.

Answer 2

I am assuming you want to KEEP the data on the storage drive and NOT install Vista on the same partition...the problem with the "same partition" solution (that many users here have suggested) is it will likely wipe the storage data out in the process of installing Vista.

1. One option is software like Partition Magic...use it to shrink your storage partition then use the extra space to let Vista make a seperate partition (WinFS-type) for itself.
2. Another equally simple option is to copy the storage data to your first drive (and/or several DVDs if you don't have enough space), install Vista on the second drive, then copy the data back to the Vista drive.


The result for #1 would be
Drive 1 has
A) NTFS partition with Windows XP
Drive 2 has
A) Storage partition with all original files
B) WINFS partition with Windows Vista

The result for #2 would be
Drive 1 has
A) NTFS partition with Windows XP
Drive 2 has
B) WINFS partition with Windows Vista and all Storage files

Answer 3

The best way without loosing the data is get a partitioning software, and if u dont care for data loss then u can right click on my computer > goto manage > select disk storage management and there u can partition ur drive.

Answer 4

Your hard drive hav partition already... all you have to do is to install Vista and direct directory during installation to the other drive where there is OS in it...

Answer 5

you can use the other hard drive to use new vista window...at the same time, you will have 2 windows operating system "the old one and vista"...just install the vista and put it on the other hard drive...it will show during the installation process..

Answer 6

easiest method is to use Partition Magic..others r too complicated