Partitioning help

Albert_Park

I recently reformatted my hard drives (Striped RAID) and, in my haste after a convoluted XP Pro install, I have got one large drive.

Is it possible for me to partition this drive to segregate the Operating System without losing any files?

I would like to partition it as follows:

OS
Programs
Media
AN Other

Any help/pointers would be appreciated.

ps I have a copy of Partition Magic 7.

David_B_2

Albert_Park wrote: »

I recently reformatted my hard drives (Striped RAID) and, in my haste after a convoluted XP Pro install, I have got one large drive.

Is it possible for me to partition this drive to segregate the Operating System without losing any files?

I would like to partition it as follows:

OS
Programs
Media
AN Other

Any help/pointers would be appreciated.

ps I have a copy of Partition Magic 7.

I didn't think people still bothered doing this kind of thing. Mainly because discs are so cheap now and you can even add USB hard drives/discs for media storage.

If partition magic will do Raid drives (don't think it will). Then Partition magic will not delete or lose files, that's the idea, you can partition any drive any time not just on a brand new drive without loss (otherwise it would be useless).

Other than that, I used to use the Windows disc management tools (within computer management) available on the servers but again don't bother having partitions now just individual drives.

Note, don't move the boot sector off the c: drive otherwise you'll find your PC won't boot up after partitioning.

Not sure on XP as I never needed to do it but I know it can be done during the install. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896528/en-us

PS: I think Partition magic 7 was before Xp so I'm guessing it won't work but You'll need to check.

wolfman

Partition Magic will do it, although be careful. There is the potential for losing data.

With regards to partitions, just make sure you keep the OS and any apps separate from your personal data/movies etc...

I used to go one further and separate the OS and apps, but it's generally pointless, especially as with Windows most apps are tied in some way to the OS (and vice versa) so I just keep them together now.

Conor_3

Albert_Park wrote: »

I recently reformatted my hard drives (Striped RAID) and, in my haste after a convoluted XP Pro install, I have got one large drive.

Is it possible for me to partition this drive to segregate the Operating System without losing any files?

I would like to partition it as follows:

OS
Programs
Media
AN Other

Any help/pointers would be appreciated.

Completely pointless having one for the OS and another for applications. It's worth having a single large capacity drive for storing media though.

BTW, you are aware that Striped RAID is half the reliability for twice the price? Lose one drive and lose everything on any partition shared between the drives on the array.

Albert_Park

Thanks to all replies.

I think I will hang fire and be more careful on my next reformat.

Thanks again