I can't create a primary partition on my XPSM1330

I have a dvd with Windows 7 Beta on and I am trying to isntall it so it will dual boot with Vista on my XPS M1330.

Now the first thing I have to do to dual boot is to create a primary partition for Windows 7 or to shrink the C drive using vista's disk management.

I have tried many different programs to shrink my harddrive or create a new primary partition so that I can dual boot Windows 7 Beta.

For example when using vista's disk management, even though I have 20GB free space on my harddrive, it is only showing 999MB available space?




How do I go about creating an extra primary partition for Windows 7. Even when using programs like Paragon Partition Manager 8.5, it says that I can't create a primary partition due to maybe having too many primary partitions already?

How many primary partitions do I have and how do I check this?

It's really frustrating that I can't even create a partition for Windows 7.

 

this link should help

http://lifehacker.com/5126781/how-to-dual-boot-windows-7-with-xp-or-vista

vista will let you make the partition you need I did it works fine if you want to use win7 with various programes make sure you give it enough room all files and programs in vista partition are not viewable to win 7

 

I already have that link but can't get past the shrink hard drive stage.

It won't let me shrink the C drive.

 

Windows XP/Vista's shipped partitioning application is too restricted. It won't allow you to shrink >50%. That's why it fails in your case.

The guide MarkC mentions recommends GParted since it works and doesn't have the restrictions, flaws and bugs the Vista repartitioning application has.

 

I used Easeus to get all my partitions in order when I put Win7 on my XPS.
Worked like a champ!

http://www.easeus.com/

-Funk

 

I have just downloaded that and it gives me the following:



How do I go about creating a new partition for windows 7?

The create partition option is greyed out when I select my harddrive so won't let me create a partition?

Do I have to select resize partition to create a partition for windows 7? Is this the same as shrinking my c drive and then allocating it a drive letter?

Also, I have 31.5GB space and even after using Perfect Disk to defragment my system files, Easus is allowing me a maximum 20GB of available space?

This is really confusing me now. Not sure what to do?