Windows vista - disk management - partition problem

I am trying to dual boot Vista (pre-installed) and XP in my notebook (Dell vostro 1400) and facing problems. The following are the steps I did

1. Shrink the volume of vista partion which is 136 to 70 gb and vista created a 60 gb unallocated space.
2. Tried to create a new volume and assign a drive. But Vista is prompting with this error message "there is not enough space available on the disk(s) to complete this operation".

I tried to install win xp, but during the hard disk selection stage, set up is giving error message "cannot create partition" on selecting the unallocated space.

Please help me.

thanks

 

I'm not an expert on this but I reckon you might have to delete the Vista partition and partition before reinstalling. Be careful though! By deleting the partition you will lose all your data. Make sure you have:
a) backed up all your data and
b) have the Vista disk handy
before you reinstall. Also telephone Microsoft and ask them to sort out your lisence key on your current computer so it works when you reinstall the OS.

Matt. I

EDIT: I'd assign about two thirds of the drive to the OS your going to be using the most and one third to the other one. I don't like going half and half - I find you often waste space by doing that

 

i searched for the error message "there is not enough space available on the disk(s) to complete this operation" and found it is due to 4 partition limitation. Can i delete media direct or recovery partition and try again? will it work? I would like to delete media direct.. any problems will i face?

 

Better instead delete the Recovery Partition as it is very safe and you would be having the reinstall media.... If you delete the MD partition and if you boot your laptop using the MD button it makes some drastic changes to the partition table and cause a lot of chaos....

 

i am confused, i deleted 2.5 gb partition, but my mediadirect is still working... so not sure which one i deleted.. . mine is a dell vostro, can you guys tell me what could be this partition.

correct me, media direct is the button used to bring up a player which i could play dvd and cds rite?

 

The MD button will still work from within Windows but it will create problems if you try to boot the laptop using that button....

 

can i install it back without full re-install of operating system.. hmm.. i screwd up everything by trying out dual boot option

 

Why your dual boot now goes into XP is it ?

 

1. Backup all data.
2. Insert XP disc, delete all partitions and create two primary partitions of equal size.
3. Install XP in the first partition.
4. Install Vista in the second partition.
5. Install required drivers, updates and service packs for both OS.
6. Install required Applications, Utilities and Games.

 

Now, now... not everything is lost.
I did delete Media direct to overcome the 4 primary partition limit.

you will have

1 primary DELL boot and diag (100+MB)
2 primary RECOVERY (10 GB)
3 primary VISTA
4 unallocated space

Once media direct was gone, I shrinked vista (there are a few steps to be taken before actually shrinking it) and then I created a big extended partition into which I created as many logical volumes I wanted.

Actually I also created ext3 partition to install another OS.

If I wanted to install XP, though, I'd be better off with deleting the Recovery partition as well and installing XP over there, so you'll end up with

1 primary DELL boot
2 primary XP (10 GB)
3 primary Vista (for example 25 GB)
4 extended partition

a. logical Vista programs and OS data
b. XP programs and OS data
c. personal DATA
d. ad libitum​

Once you have all your partitions set try this guide for installing XP after Vista.

That's it.








Almost: you might have to fight with the sata drivers, but there are tons of guided in this forum...

 

If you ask me as far as possible avoid using the Vista's or XP's partitioning tool.... It doesnt allow you to create logical partitions at all.... Use gparted (a free tool) or Acronis....

 

Not only that when you delete the MD button you need to take precaution and map the MD button to do something else than it what usually does.... I saw some couple of threads for re-mapping the MD button....

The other option is to keep MD intact and play around with other partitions alone....