Creating Partitions After Upgrading New HDD

Hi i literally just finished installing my new hard drive and reinstalling windows. Now I have a fresh hard drive I want it to run the best it can. So I wanted to creat seperate partitions for program files and documents. Can anyone tell me if this is the best thing to do and also what programs are the best to use.
Many Thanks

 

If you're using Vista I think you can resize and create new partitions using the disk manager. If you're using XP then you have to use some other software. Acronis Disk Director is the best software for this. It's about $45 I think.

An alternative is to download a free Linux distro Live CD and use the free partitioning tools it comes with.

A Live CD will boot the entire OS from a CD without touching your disks. Then you can used the partition editor to create a new partition on the disk. Once the partition is added you can boot back into Windows and format that partition using Disk Manager.

Ubuntu and Fedora 8 are both free Live CDs that can do this.

Greg.

 

Windows XP won't let you resize a primary partition (I'm not sure if Vista will or not). The easiest option is to create the partitions while you are installing (when it asks you which partition to use, create all the partitions/sizes you want), then use Windows Disk Manager to format the non-system partitions after installation is complete.

 

Problem is that i never got the option to create partition because I was using acer recovery discs. Also its formatted them in FAT32 instead of NTFS. Is it worth reinstalling it over again? Is the benefits that noticable? Im running XP btw
Many Thanks

 

I would say you really won't notice much performance benefit. Honestly, you'll notice a much bigger performance benefit by switching your file system to NTFS.

If you're interested in converting to NTFS, try this:

Logon to Windows XP with an Administrator account and defragment the disk (start -> all programs -> accessories -> system tools -> Disk Defragmenter). This ensures that there is, as far as possible, a contiguous area for the NTFS Master File Table. It is best if there is a fairly substantial amount of free space while you do it.

Go to Start -> Run, and type CMD

Type (without the quotes):
"VOL C:"

Note the name of the disk in the first line, and the Volume Serial Number (for example, 3F4E-2D1B) in the second. Then type:

CONVERT C: /FS:NTFS

It will ask for the volume name in confirmation. Then it will ask two further questions. Reply Y each time to set up conversion to happen at the next boot, then restart the machine. After returning to Win XP, the hard disk will work for two or three minutes, tidying up. Leave things alone during this time.

 

Thain, I've heard that there are some differences between a converted NTFS volume and one that started out as NTFS. Do you know if the differences make it worthwhile to start over and reformat the drive with NTFS?

I don't know what the differences are, but since the OP just put in the new HD, now would be the time to reformat if there's a benefit to doing so.

 

So, what's the authoritative answer on creating a new partition after Windows is installed? I have PLENTY of extra space, and run Windows XP.

P.S. I will possibly be installing Vista Ultimate here shortly. Will there be a difference b/t installing Vista Ultimate from a clean drive or upgrading from XP Pro SP2? (as far as drivers go & system utilities/programs)

 

If you'll notice, the OP said later that it was an Acer recovery disc that automatically formatted using NTFS, so starting over and reformatting still wouldn't get NTFS on his system.

 

If you're going to create a new partition without reinstalling Windows, Partition Magic is the definitive answer, plain and simple.

And ANY version of Windows will run better off of a clean install than an upgrade.

 

I disagree - I use to use partition magic, but Acronis Disk Director Suite has been so good to me it's wonderful. I'm in love with this suite of programs.... I would recommend it to anybody who wants something to walk them through creating other partitions and installing multiple operating systems. The Acronis OS Selector is also a wonderful tool- I use it to load into the 2 operating systems i have installed right now . It will also let you boot into a partition that you think you may have "lost" because it was not set as active or primary....

So, I recommend Acronis to anyone that wants to do partitioning / multiple installs / HDD maintenance.

 

So, other than popping in the Vista Ultimate CD, what should I keep in mind as far as drivers and whatnot that would be pre-installed if the machine was new.

 

Drivers and Utilities just about covers it. Utilities include DVD playback software (which should actually be built into Vista Ultimate) and CD/DVD burning software.

 

Thanks very much for your help thain i appreciate. On other problem i have noticed is when loading now the pure black screen with the flashing _ symbol in the top left will remain for at least 30secs after which it comes up...(couldnt' get it word for word)

INTEL UNDI PXE - 2.1
...
FOR REALTEK RTL8139(x)/8130/810X PCI FAST ETHERNET
CLIENT MAC ADDR - (gives the mac address) GUID - (also given)
DHCP - this will sit and work for a good minute before stating
PROXY SERVICE DIDN'T REPLY....that the only bit i caught before it disappeared and ran windows.
Could this be a driver problem? it never happened before i upgraded
Many Thanks

 

Nope, it's a BIOS issue. Go into your BIOS and head over to the boot menu. Make sure that NETWORK (or Ethernet or LAN) is set AFTER the CD/DVD and Hard Drive. Your computer is trying to do a network boot.

 

Sweetness, I may just have to do a clean re-format when the time comes...since none of my programs will transfer over.

Thanks for the tips.

 

Thanks for all your help Thain everything is back to normal. You guys do a great job would have cost me 30pounds just to have someone look at my computer here!