7 replies to this topic

[fergiedog]

1 Drive c: () (Fixed) (Total:48.82 GB) (Free:34.44 GB) NTFS ==>[Drive with boot components (Windows XP)]
2 Drive d: (Data) (Fixed) (Total:416.93 GB) (Free:66.23 GB) NTFS
3 Drive e: (Vista & data backup) (Fixed) (Total:456.2 GB) (Free:367.21 GB) NTFS
4 Drive f: (FACTORY_IMAGE) (Fixed) (Total:9.56 GB) (Free:1.3 GB) NTFS

I've been trying to help a friend by installing XP pro on a second drive. He had vista but hates it. I need to reformat drive E and partition it as 50 GB, ~ 410 GB but leave the F drive alone just in-case. I would also like to do a low level format on the partition before I start. Any suggestions on what the best tool for the job? I have partition magic 8 & ubcd4win 3.5.

[Berton]

Based on the C: and D: partition sizes I'd assume it's a Sony computer. Sony was famous for that irritating thing of making the boot partition much smaller than the second partition. And it appears that is a 1TB drive. Or is it two physical HDDs [Hard Disk Drives]?

"need to reformat drive E and partition it"
That is totally backward, always need to have the partition in place before it can be formatted.

New in Vista's Computer Management, Disk Management section is the ability to resize existing partitions.

What I'd do is first resize the D: partition smaller, Shrink, from the left then Expand the C: partition accordingly to the right to include that newly unallocated space. Most partitioning software has the same capability.

I've never done a low-level formatting except after deleting all the partitions to give a totally clean HDD.

[fergiedog]

Hi
I use drive image on my computers and always move my docs to data drive D and take a picture of C. It makes life easy for me when I have a problem, rewrite C drive from recent image and update. Never have to worry about viruses. I am trying to do the same for my friend in Texas. If necessary I can
write to the E drive If C has a physical problem. You are correct about the format last. I have UBCD4Win ver. 3.5; I'm sure one of the format programs
will do, just which one? I know he has a virus on his vista E drive, TrojanWin32Alureon .Broni is presently helping me clean it off of C & D.

Thanks in advance
Fergiedog

[Berton]

Quote

If necessary I can write to the E drive If C has a physical problem

The thing I'm not getting my thoughts around is whether there's two physical HDDs or only one large HDD. If it's just one HDD and you have a physical problem with C: then all partitions on that drive are subject to loss. Or in other words it's important to know if a drive letter is assigned to a partition on the HDD or to a second or third HDD so as to eliminate confusion. All HDDs need at least one partition before they can be formatted.

[fergiedog]

500 gig hatich 2nd HD for clean xp install
1 Drive c: () (Fixed) (Total:48.82 GB) (Free:34.44 GB) NTFS ==>[Drive with boot components (Windows XP)]
2 Drive d: (Data) (Fixed) (Total:416.93 GB) (Free:66.23 GB) NTFS


Original 500G GB with vista installed
3 Drive e: (Vista & data backup) (Fixed) (Total:456.2 GB) (Free:367.21 GB) NTFS
4 Drive f: (FACTORY_IMAGE) (Fixed) (Total:9.56 GB) (Free:1.3 GB) NTFS

[Berton]

The HDD with WinXP on it probably will need a third-party partitioning software to make any changes of partition size, haven't checked that Vista or Win7 can use Disk management on drives with other Operating Systems on them, may not even see them if not booted to them.

[fergiedog]

I used Disk management on it and it worked fine. everything is ok now.

Thanks

[Berton]

Glad to hear it.