[HELP] how to format/partition new hdd using Acer Recovery CD

Can someone please help me how to partition my hdd ?
(using Acer Recovery CD to install Win XP)

I have an Acer Ferrari 3000Lmi notebook.
I just replaced the hdd with a new one.
it's 80GB 5400 rpm, IDE
It's not formatted and it's not partitioned.
My notebook is an old model,
so I don't think there's a recovery partition and it doesn't have an e-empowering acer button, etc.
It only comes with Acer recovery CD's.

when I put the new hdd in, it's detected in bios,
so I installed Win XP Home using the Acer Recovery CD.
and it didn't have option to format or to partition my hdd there.
everything just ran automatically.
and now I have one C: drive.

Can anyone help me on how to partition my hdd ?
I prefer not to use partition magic/other programs to partition my hdd.
I don't know if I have DOS.
I don't mind installing XP all over again, I just don't know how to format/partition the hdd before using the recovery CD.

thanx thanx.

 

Hi, does XP boot ok, if so then you should be able to use this method http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000 or http://www.theeldergeek.com/disk_management.htm
Chris

 

Hi chriscatt,
thanx for the info links,
But I don't have unallocated space to create the partition.
I only have one drive C: for the whole 80gb (79gb)
and windows is installed in C:
in this case, I don't think I can create a new partition from windows ?

How about this :
Do I have to take the hdd out of the notebook, put it in an external casing,
go to another computer, plug it in
and go to disk management, find the ext drive,
delete partition, and format, and create a new partition from there.
and then put the hdd back in the notebook.
Is this they way to do it ?

Is there a way to do it without taking the hdd out of the notebook ?

thx

 

Within the disk managment tool in XP, you should be able to shrink the c:, you can then turn this into another partition.

If it won't let you, you can use several programs that can. Acronis Disk director (works inside windows), and gparted. These programs should let you partiton the drive. Gparted is free but acronis isn't, but has a free trial.

 

Acronis / Ghost / etc. All are good apps to do what you are looking.

 

Hi guys, thanx,
but I'd like to format/partition the hdd without acronis/gparted/partitionmagic/etc.

I'm curious on how to do it from scratch.
New hdd, format, partition, install xp.
I can only install win xp wih acer recovery cd and there was no option to format/partition the hdd.
Help

thx

 

I doubt you can using recovery CD's from the original acer erecovery, what it does is put an image of the original laptop C: onto your HDD.

You would need third party software to do it if all you have is recovery CD's

 

Hi bangert,
I'm using a new hdd, so I was hoping I could partition it first before using the Acer Recovery CD, but I don't know how.
I just would like to have XP on C: drive and data on D: drive.
without having to use additional software

thx

 

What brand of hard drive is it? You should be able to download some disk utilities from the hard drive manufacturer that will help you format and partition the drive.

 

If you want to partition your HDD before you install the recovery CD's, you will need to use other software to do it, there's no ther way of doing it. The recovery CD's won't do it.

Basically you have 2 options. Keep XP on there that you've already installed, as you've stated in your first post. Use XP's disk management tool to create the partition. You can do this by obviously first going to disk management, right click on you C drive, and click shrink, select the size you want to shrink. It should then leave you with the C: and some unallocated space. Right click on the unallocated space and select new volume or something like this, then it will go through the steps to create the partition, assigning drive letters etc. Make sure you choose NTFS as the file system before it formats. Then you should be done.

The second way (and this involves using other software, no way round it) would be to use Gparted or similar, format drive, create 2 partitions, then install recovery disks. The first option by far should be the easiest.

GParted is a good utility that you can run from boot. Here's the link:

GParted Live CD

I've used it before, it's a very good free utility, many people from this forum can recommend it.

 

Hi bangert,
I couldn't find the shrink option there.
But anyway, will try the software.

Just out of curiosity.
Since I only have one C: drive,
If I created D: drive with Acronis/PartitionMagic/Gparted,
and If I re-install XP in the future, then all the data in the new partition (D will be erased right ?
(Unlike if the hdd is already partitioned first, then data in D: won't get erased)
Just want to make that clear and always be 'prepared' and bak all data

thx

 

If you reinstalled XP using the backup disks after you have created the partition, the backup utility won't touch the D:, only the C:.

Have a try at partitioning it with Acronis within windows, it should be able to do it. You get a free trial so should work for your needs.

 

To find the shrink volume option, right click the drive you want to shrink and select it from the menu as shown in the attachment.

Whoops! Nevermind. That's in Vista.

 

Thanx guys,

I think I'll try Acronis
will it make the notebook slower ?
Just wondering whether it causes a bit of a pause when accessing data ?
I'll only use it to create C: (programs) and D: (data)

I have 512 ram, hdd 80gb (hitachi travelstar), and AMD 1.86ghz
will also install Kaspersky internet security, photoshop, office, etc.

thx