'puter question

[anthrax]

I want to buy another hard drive, mainly to archive some stuff

Can I create 2 partitions, one for the data and the other one for an OS (probably WinXP) that I would install later?

 

[jafo]

I think you can there are a few programs that will help ..like partition magic

 

[Mr. dB]

I have four partitions on my drive. C:\ for the operating system, D:\ where I keep data and store pics and files, E:\ where I keep all the office suites and applications, and F:\ where I put the swap file and all of the downloaded patches, updates, downloades installation and setup files.

You can make the partition with fdisk when you format the new drive, or use Partition Magic, or use the software that comes with the new drive. I don't know how they do it now, but new drives used to come with a diskette with utilities for formatting and partitioning.

 

[anthrax]

I think you can there are a few programs that will help ..like partition magic

Partition Magic Will create the partition

I just don't know if I can install WinXP on a disk on which there are already some data on another partition

 

[jafo]

Partition Magic Will create the partition

I just don't know if I can install WinXP on a disk on which there are already some data on another partition

you should be able to ...just tell the system where you want to store the program ....are you going to install it after you load it

 

[digger]

Yeah, you can do that if you're careful. Partition Magic is overkill, even, because XP is still going to ask you about formatting the partition when you go to install, so you still have to be paying attention.

Make sure the partition that you're saving for XP is the first one, and when XP wants to install into it, make sure that it does not repartition the drive. You tell it "THIS is the partition I want you to use" and make darn sure it doesn't go "yeah, yeah, whatever...."

Formatting that partition, the one which you set aside for it, is okay. If it says it wants to rewrite the partition table, though, you will most likely be hosed.

"Formatting good, partitioning bad."