How to Partition a HDD?

demonofaj · Post by **demonofaj** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 9:16 am

Well, I'm buying a new laptop, and have considered going into the VIsta jump, but am not ready to let XP slip my grasp. My q is how to partition a HDD from a laptop I bought from Dell? I have the Vista and XP install CD, but I'm just confused on what to do/where to go. I just thinking slash my HDD in half and then put an OS on each one...but I don't know how to do that

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vskid · Post by **vskid** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 9:59 am

Pop in a Ubuntu live CD and use that to partition the drive into 2 NTFS partitions the size you want. You can do it in XP, but I couldn't figure out how to do it with the boot partition, or the whole boot drive in your case. You might be able to did it in the install, but I can't remember.

Harshboy · Post by **Harshboy** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 11:35 am

You can do it with a Windows Install CD, but one wrong move and you have a fresh WinXP install

demonofaj · Post by **demonofaj** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 12:30 pm

I don't really mind because I'm gonna buy a laptop and then yea...so after I do partition it....I just install XP in one. When I'm done I shut down, put in vista and save that in Local Disk, say D (second half) and boom?

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:02 pm

demonofaj wrote:I don't really mind because I'm gonna buy a laptop and then yea...so after I do partition it....I just install XP in one. When I'm done I shut down, put in vista and save that in Local Disk, say D (second half) and boom?

Yeah, it should sense your XP install and add that to the master boot record. Just don't install it over XP, or you'll have to reinstall XP to the partition Vista was planned for.

vb_master · Post by **vb_master** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:04 pm

I generally use Acronis Disk Director 10 or Partition Magic 8.0.

demonofaj · Post by **demonofaj** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 3:55 pm

All right, I have a brand new laptop with Windows XP Pro. or Vista Business installed on it. I have Vista Ultimate and XP MCE....can anyone tell me how to get those two on the laptop? Sorry if I seem noobish, I just seriously don't want to mess up a 2 grand laptop

Post by **bicostp** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:44 pm

Install MCE first. Partition the drive roughly in half... maybe 60%-40% and put MCE on the smaller partition. (Vista eats up a LOT more space than XP.) Then install Vista on the bigger partition if you really *want* to. It should automatically detect the existing XP partition and modify the boot.ini file accordingly. (This will give you a menu before any Windfows logo and after the POST.)

demonofaj · Post by **demonofaj** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:21 pm

bicostp wrote:Install MCE first. Partition the drive roughly in half... maybe 60%-40% and put MCE on the smaller partition. (It eats up a LOT more space than XP.) Then install Vista on the bigger partition if you really *want* to. It should automatically detect the existing XP partition and modify the boot.ini file accordingly. (This will give you a menu before any Windfows logo and after the POST.)

Wait, OK, I"ll take it from the top. I have a laptop, Vista business preinstalled. I pop in XP MCE, turn off laptop, restart go to install and from there I can pick to partition? Sicne it eats up more space should I not put in the larger partition?

Post by **bicostp** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:13 pm

I meant Vista eats up more space than XP so you should install Vista on the larger partition.

You're going to need normal install CDs of both MCE and Vista. If you have one of those pansy "system restore" discs (which basically re-image your hard drive without letting you do anything) you're probably screwed.

demonofaj · Post by **demonofaj** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:19 pm

bicostp wrote:I meant Vista eats up more space than XP so you should install Vista on the larger partition.

You're going to need normal install CDs of both MCE and Vista. If you have one of those pansy "system restore" discs (which basically re-image your hard drive without letting you do anything) you're probably screwed.

Yea, I have both CD's, got them on sale from Bestbuy.

Harshboy · Post by **Harshboy** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:04 pm

bicostp wrote:If you have one of those pansy "system restore" discs (which basically re-image your hard drive without letting you do anything) you're probably screwed.

Why would he be screwed...I've used my Restore CD many times to install XP on my Computer, and others (With the help of a little friendly Program)

Post by **bicostp** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:28 pm

Because most of the restore CDs I've seen are 100% automated and don't give yo uany way to partition the drive.

JKO-K6 · Post by **JKO-K6** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:43 pm

If you want to have the two on the same laptop and choosing the one you want when you want, just install XP, then install Vista as an upgrade (not as a new install or he will rename the Windows Xp folder as Windows.old and it will become useless, upgrade). Then go in your "sophisticate" option and say him to ask you from witch one you want to boot, and that's it! (not like a witch, I just don't know how to write it in english, damn i'm a n00b) So when you will boot you will have a nice "DOS-like" menu who will ask you like:

Choose the system you want to use:

Microsoft Windows XP
Microsoft Windows Vista

Time left: 32
Hope that help you.

OAtH_OS · Post by **OAtH_OS** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 12:00 pm

Here's me on a different forum, just substitute Vista for PCBSD and give it more Space.

I've looked around, and noticed that there is not a simple step by step guide to dualbooting Windows XP and PC-BSD. I figured that I would make one here using GAG as the boot screen and a blank 200GB harddrive:

1. Download this Program called Super Fdisk 1.0 http://www.easeus.com/download.htm It is what we are going to use to partition the drive.

2. Burn the Fdist to a disk after going through the install setup.

3. Download GAG http://sourceforge.net/project/download ... uperb-east It is going to be the new Bootup Screen.

4. Burn the Iso as an image to a disk.

5. Before we go on, make sure you have PC-BSD on a disk and your XP as well.

6. Now put in the Fdisk and reboot.

7. Select your harddrive and right-click to create new partition. I was using a 200GB harddrive so I gave the partition 30GB (30720 MB) and called it UNIX in the FAT format.

8. Now select General and exit, so it reboots.

10. Plop your PC-BSD CD in your cd tray and go through all of the install setup, making sure you select the partitioned section of your drive to install to.

11. Install Windows XP to the primary drive (the 170GB for me).

12. Remove the disk and reboot with GAG in your tray.

13. click install, your keyboard, and language to get to the main screen. click 'S' and then Add Operating System. Add XP or PC-BSD (doesn't matter) then the other. Press 'H' to save to your harddrive. Press 'R' to return. Reboot without the CD.

14. Your done! You now have PC-BSD and Windows XP up and running. You can set a boot timer as well in the GAG setup if you want, but be sure to save!