HDD Repartition & Format from WinXP...

Marzeth · 08-21-2006, 04:06 AM

I've installed a new HDD and I want to repartition my old HDD to a single partition, then reformat.

Is there anyway to all of this from XP in that order?
1. Partition from a double-partition to a single-partition.
2. Format the single partition.

PC eye · 08-21-2006, 04:47 AM

That is as easy at it comes with the XP installer. You simply choose to delete the current partitions on the drive. Make sure you backup anything you want off of it first however. The next step is to allow the installer to create and format a new primary for the drive. You simply follow the onscreen instructions for this.

If you were wanting to create two partitions instead of deleting a pair you would manually enter an amount of drive space when the installer displays the amount it detects on the drive or drives installed on the system.

SirKenin · 08-21-2006, 05:54 AM

Umm. Read his post. He wants to do it from within XP. To do that he needs to go to Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management where he can work with partitions and formatting.

PC eye · 08-21-2006, 06:35 AM

Either way will work easy enough. If you are planning to install XP onto the new partition you would simply go through with the installation from there. You can also delete the two, create the new one and then cancel the installation out after. You wouldn't use the Disk Management for installation only creation and formatting it for storage.

Marzeth · 08-22-2006, 04:21 AM

I don't want to install anything on them.
I just want to leave it as a Backup or Storage Drive.

PC eye · 08-22-2006, 05:45 AM

You should find it easy enough with the Disk Management to delete those two and create the single storage partition. Here I simply wiped a 250gb drive and created a 135gb for storage. The remaining space with probably see a Linux distro go on when the distro is chosen.

Once you are in the Disk Management section look at the right for the bottom two rectangular windows there. Disk #0 will be the host drive you have Windows running on. The second one Disk #1 is what you are after. You simply right click on that and note the "new partition" option at the top of the menu there. Once the new one is created you repeat that to have it formatted at that time. You are then ready to store files on it.

Since your cd or dvd drive has been the D drive you will notice the drive letter has probably changed to E. At this time you will want to change the second drive's drive letter designation. To have the cd or dvd drive set back to D you would then change the second hard drive's letter from D to another like E or F if you have more then one optical drive installed. The instructions for this can be seen at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307844/

paga · 08-22-2006, 04:19 PM

as far as i understand u want to merge partitions
and after format it,don't ?
well, i'd recommend u to use partitioning software.
good luck

PC eye · 08-23-2006, 02:34 AM

There are a few others like Partition Magic available. Those are especially helpful with older versions of Windows mainly at this time 9X-ME, NT, and 2000. For the faster and easier method rather then buying 3rd party software XP has the Disk Management feature included for deletion of the two current partitions then creating and formatting the new one for storage.

The 3rd party softwares are a plus when going to create custom sized partitions when more then one single is planned. With those you can often adjust the size to some degree depending on program.

paga · 08-23-2006, 09:58 AM

Partition magic is unreasonably expensive(round of 70$).
whereas Disk Director, which has more features(like recovery expert including) cost just 40-45$.
As for Win Xp system tools : of caurse u can use their backup or disk manager programs, but to me they are quite unreliable.
One will save the money , but for me it's more important my data to be safe.
how about u?

computerhakk · 08-23-2006, 10:29 AM

Go and get this partitioner. GParted Live Disc. Free.
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/

Just mount it onto a CD or Floppy. It runs within itself from startup like a Windows Disc. GUI support so easy to navigate and make/resize/delete existing partitions.

Have used this tool in the past and is very effective. It runs on Linux's Gnome. Can format into pc or linux compatability.

08-21-2006, 04:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
Marzeth Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Age: 28 Posts: 176	HDD Repartition & Format from WinXP... I've installed a new HDD and I want to repartition my old HDD to a single partition, then reformat. Is there anyway to all of this from XP in that order? 1. Partition from a double-partition to a single-partition. 2. Format the single partition. __________________ --Laptop-- Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.0GHz + 2GB RAM 128MB nVidia GeForceGo 7300 80GB HDD --Console-- Sony - Playstation 3[/size]

08-22-2006, 04:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
Marzeth Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Age: 28 Posts: 176	I don't want to install anything on them. I just want to leave it as a Backup or Storage Drive. __________________ --Laptop-- Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.0GHz + 2GB RAM 128MB nVidia GeForceGo 7300 80GB HDD --Console-- Sony - Playstation 3[/size]

08-23-2006, 10:29 AM	#10 (permalink)
computerhakk VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: THOJhakk county Posts: 3,635	Go and get this partitioner. GParted Live Disc. Free. http://gparted.sourceforge.net/ Just mount it onto a CD or Floppy. It runs within itself from startup like a Windows Disc. GUI support so easy to navigate and make/resize/delete existing partitions. Have used this tool in the past and is very effective. It runs on Linux's Gnome. Can format into pc or linux compatability. __________________ "Remember, wrong advice may be worse than no advice at all." ::COMPUTERHAKK:::

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
how can i format my external hdd so that it is 250gb	Jarbilong	Computer Memory and Hard Drives	2	05-16-2006 05:15 PM
Can I rename computer without HDD Format?	helmie	Operating Systems	3	01-07-2006 01:52 PM
HDD not recognized by WinXP	Crazyness003	Computer Memory and Hard Drives	1	07-02-2005 05:53 PM
NTFS format - WinXP can't see	MADKING153	Computer Memory and Hard Drives	1	02-02-2005 10:34 PM
Seagate HDD format	dlegault	Computer Memory and Hard Drives	4	12-28-2004 03:31 PM

08-21-2006, 04:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 20,213	That is as easy at it comes with the XP installer. You simply choose to delete the current partitions on the drive. Make sure you backup anything you want off of it first however. The next step is to allow the installer to create and format a new primary for the drive. You simply follow the onscreen instructions for this. If you were wanting to create two partitions instead of deleting a pair you would manually enter an amount of drive space when the installer displays the amount it detects on the drive or drives installed on the system.

08-21-2006, 05:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
SirKenin banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4,711	Umm. Read his post. He wants to do it from within XP. To do that he needs to go to Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management where he can work with partitions and formatting.

08-21-2006, 06:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 20,213	Either way will work easy enough. If you are planning to install XP onto the new partition you would simply go through with the installation from there. You can also delete the two, create the new one and then cancel the installation out after. You wouldn't use the Disk Management for installation only creation and formatting it for storage.

08-22-2006, 05:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 20,213	You should find it easy enough with the Disk Management to delete those two and create the single storage partition. Here I simply wiped a 250gb drive and created a 135gb for storage. The remaining space with probably see a Linux distro go on when the distro is chosen. Once you are in the Disk Management section look at the right for the bottom two rectangular windows there. Disk #0 will be the host drive you have Windows running on. The second one Disk #1 is what you are after. You simply right click on that and note the "new partition" option at the top of the menu there. Once the new one is created you repeat that to have it formatted at that time. You are then ready to store files on it. Since your cd or dvd drive has been the D drive you will notice the drive letter has probably changed to E. At this time you will want to change the second drive's drive letter designation. To have the cd or dvd drive set back to D you would then change the second hard drive's letter from D to another like E or F if you have more then one optical drive installed. The instructions for this can be seen at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307844/

08-22-2006, 04:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
paga Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 34	as far as i understand u want to merge partitions and after format it,don't ? well, i'd recommend u to use partitioning software. good luck

08-23-2006, 02:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 20,213	There are a few others like Partition Magic available. Those are especially helpful with older versions of Windows mainly at this time 9X-ME, NT, and 2000. For the faster and easier method rather then buying 3rd party software XP has the Disk Management feature included for deletion of the two current partitions then creating and formatting the new one for storage. The 3rd party softwares are a plus when going to create custom sized partitions when more then one single is planned. With those you can often adjust the size to some degree depending on program.

08-23-2006, 09:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
paga Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 34	Partition magic is unreasonably expensive(round of 70$). whereas Disk Director, which has more features(like recovery expert including) cost just 40-45$. As for Win Xp system tools : of caurse u can use their backup or disk manager programs, but to me they are quite unreliable. One will save the money , but for me it's more important my data to be safe. how about u?