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    Partition and Formatting

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by kisig, Aug 22, 2007.

  1. kisig

    kisig Newbie

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    Hi everyone I'm new here and I just purchased my first notebook (DV6000)...

    I just want to know, is there a way to format and create a partition on my original HD (160GB)... What software is the best for this job and is there a way to do it without any special software?

    Thanks in advance for all the reply... Sorry for the noob question...
     
    kisig, Aug 22, 2007
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  2. Spider_3000

    Spider_3000 Notebook Consultant

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    Depends if you want to reinstall your OS or not. If you don't mind installing Windows again, you can set up your partitions during the installation process after you boot from the Windows CD.
    If you want to keep your OS and data, download the latest version of GParted. Burn the iso to a CD using Nero or whatever program you like to use. Then you boot from it during startup.
    Using GParted, you first shrink your first partition to create free space, then you create a new partitions in that free space.
    For more information, check the documentation.
    Good luck.
     
    Spider_3000, Aug 22, 2007
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  3. kisig

    kisig Newbie

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    Thanks for the reply, actually I have vista installed on it and it is ok for me to install it again... the thing is the CD that came with my laptop is a recovery CD and it does not go to the partitioning option, it goes straight to format and then installation...

    Anyway around this?

    thanks
     
    kisig, Aug 22, 2007
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  4. Spider_3000

    Spider_3000 Notebook Consultant

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    Doesn't it ask you before the format to choose a partition? I only have XP and that's how I remember it. It asks you on which partition you want to install it, during that screen you can delete it any partition and create new ones. While creating a new one, you have to lower the size so you still have free space for a second (and third, etc...).
    Also, Vista has a built-in "Disk Management" tool under "computer Management" which you can use to resize and create a partition. However some people say that you can't reduce it past a certain size. Have a look at it and see if it works for you.
    Also the GParted thing works fine.
     
    Spider_3000, Aug 22, 2007
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  5. kisig

    kisig Newbie

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    it's the same time i'll be using vista, in XP I know you can do that, but with the recovery CD that I have, it doesnt go to the partition option... anyway, i'll try the shrink option... Thanks
     
    kisig, Aug 22, 2007
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  6. chatte

    chatte Notebook Consultant

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    Partition Magic is good. Can either format then partition, or partition within OS.
     
    chatte, Aug 22, 2007
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  7. Spider_3000

    Spider_3000 Notebook Consultant

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    It is but it costs $70 and other freeware options can do the same thing.
     
    Spider_3000, Aug 22, 2007
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  8. Mayday981

    Mayday981 Notebook Enthusiast

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    What exactly is the benefits of partitioning?
     
    Mayday981, Aug 22, 2007
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  9. Spider_3000

    Spider_3000 Notebook Consultant

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    The reason I partition is so that all my documents and stuff are on D, so if Windows starts going crazy, I can reformat C and install Windows again, without it affecting my stuff. There are probably more reasons...
     
    Spider_3000, Aug 22, 2007
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  10. rahamanpatrick

    rahamanpatrick Notebook Geek

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    rahamanpatrick, Aug 22, 2007
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  11. alect

    alect Notebook Consultant

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    Sorry to revive this but after a near catastrophy with Vista I am re-partitioning my HDD to separate data from OS.

    So I used gparted to shrink the OS partition and now have 50gb unallocated.

    But if I try to create a new partition on that unallocated space it tells me I cannot have more than 4 primary partitions - apparently the Dell came with 4 (two of which are visible as drives C and D).

    So what do I do? there is an extended partition of 2.5gb which appears totally free.
     
    alect, Dec 27, 2007
    #11