Computer gurus… partitioning hard drive

03blackrt · Post by **03blackrt** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 4:59 pm

I’m trying to partition my hard drive so as I can install a second OS. What’s the best software to do this with?

rice_eater · Post by **rice_eater** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 5:06 pm

when you install the instalation cd it will ask you if you want to install a fresh copy and if you want to create a new partition

03blackrt · Post by **03blackrt** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 5:22 pm

Yeah, but it (Windows) has to format the entire hard drive doing it that way. I want to create my own partition so I can retain the information currently on the drive. I should have mentioned that. As far as I know the only way to do that is to use 'aftermarket' (I don't know the technical term) software. The Windows software must format the entire harddrive (from what I understand, which isn't much

)

I'm currently running Windows VISTA Bussiness, but must have Windows XP Professional installed by August for school.

jT · Post by jT » Sun Jul 15, 2007 5:33 pm

i have not done much lately with dual OS installations, but from everything i've heard lately you need XP installed first, and then install vista.. otherwise the XP install screws up the vista install.......... so you might end up fully formatting anyways

i dont have time right now to get into anything more specific gotta go to work

rice_eater · Post by **rice_eater** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 5:38 pm

if you're upgrading to vista, it actually saves all your all programs and stuff in my documents under a separate directory called Windows.old in program files... you can keep running the programs just fine, just run them from there or add new shortcuts...

in all honesty, upgrading to vista is totally worth it, it actually sped up even my older machine and it runs perfectly smooth (performance rating of 2.7 lol)

amd 2600+, 500mb ram is all i have, so not a powerful machine by any means... it actually made it faster, you can hear the fans and stuff picking up speed when asking it to do something, where before they would never come on... i didnt like it at first, but once you get used to the new feel, it's totally worth it... you get tons of other software with it, not just the OS, like for example you can now drag and burn any files using just the built in software... you're never gonna need a burning software program again....

03blackrt · Post by **03blackrt** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:04 pm

Actually, I'm going from vista and 'downgrading' to XP. I run allot of programs that are not supported by vista and are extremely memory intensive (which for some reason memory intensive programs do not mix well with vista)... NX (a dynamic engineering software suite) is not supported by vista at all (at least the version I'm running isn't). Nor is my mathematics suite, I need both of these on a daily bases at school. But I love vista for my daily home computing needs.

Thanks for the tip jT. I found several online tutorials about installing VISTA on an XP computer, but not the other way around, I guess that's why.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:48 pm

Vista is still new so there is going to be some of the support issues with software. I'm going to be upgrading to vista here soon, as well as office. As for the multiple systems on a partitioned drive, I am not sure that you will be able to run the secondary system... would the system on the boot drive will take precedence?

gninja21 · Post by **gninja21** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 8:42 pm

OK there are two things you can do. You can use gParted which would allow you to partition the hard drive. You just have one moderately large problem, the Windows MBR or Master Boot Record. Each version of Windows takes precedence in the MBR. It would involve manipulating it by editing the file.

Personally I would backup everything and go back to XP for the time being. I run Windows XP / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 which erases the Windows MBR and using the GRUB installer.

Try this
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/usin ... nov07.mspx

Vista is a bit trickier so try with caution.

03blackrt · Post by **03blackrt** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:30 pm

Ya, I figure I should back everything up before I try something and my computer burst into flames

Right now I'm running two computers, one w/ xp and one w/ vista. But the one w/ xp has seen a few years of heavy abuse and is ready to be replace with the new one I bought (whcih had vista preinstalled).

Mr Josh Zombie · Post by **Mr Josh Zombie** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:01 am

Go buy a mac.

Yea, sorry I have no real information. I could tell you 18 different ways to do it with a mac though. Ease of use is GREAT with these things.

Good luck.

bombtrack07 · Post by **bombtrack07** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:32 pm

partition magic FTW!

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 6:23 am

Partitioning the drive is one thing...
If you have a drive that has not been partioned yet, you better back up everything on it....
You cant partion a drive once it already has an OS installed, well you can but once you partion it all info will be lost. You have to partion first then install your OS's. You cant install and OS then partition....
Ive got my 200GB broken into 3 drives....
100GB - Backup
50GB - WinXP
50GB - for a later OS if I want.....linux,vista..etc..etc...

CrashTeam · Post by **CrashTeam** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:23 am

bombtrack07 wrote:partition magic FTW!

He took the words right out of my mouth...