after 'Shrink Volume' Drive C,i can't make 'New Simple Volume' bcos error saying not enough disk space'

i use shrink volume function to my make partition in C. the result,i get 79gig for drive C and 21gig for the new partition. the problem is i cannot use the 'new Simple Volume' function to format it and received msg saying 'There is not enough space available on the disk(s) to complete this operation'. Help!!

 

how many partitions u have so far?

cheers ...

 

right know i have drive C, the new partition (but it's still unallocated (not format yet) so it's invisible)...and the Recovery (Drive D)..i use Dell M1330,the recovery drive is already there...

 

I am just guessing: you might have more than that on you HD.

A diagnostic partition
the recovery partiton (D)
the C drive
media direct

(at least this is how it is on my Vostro: not a bright move to place mediadirect at the end)

Problem is that you have no extended partition and you can't create it out of the C drive since it's "stuck" between the recovery and mediadirect partiton.

Using a live linux distro might shed some light on the actual disposition and content of the partitions. Vista's partitioning toll does not tell everything you need to know (as is usually the case with MS apps).

 

so what should i do? i have no knowledge in partitioning,etc. i use this 'Shrink volume' bcos i thought i might be easier and since no partitioning software available for Vista.

 

i guess ur right. it's actually 4 at first (i didn't know the name for the 1st and last drive since it is not stated there). after shrink volume C,the new partition is between C and the last (Media Direct? 2.5 gig)..so now 5. What should i do?

 

well i use the 'extend volume' function for Drive C and it's ok now. Does anyone know good partitioning software for Vista?

 

If you do not care about mediadirect and you can do a fresh install of Vista, here's what I'd do:

1. A full backup of al my data, and an image of my Windows partition on multiple DVDs.
   
2. Grab a linux live distro (such as knoppix, mepis, or ubuntu)
   (this means downloading the iso image and then burn it to CD)
   
3. Boot from CD the linux distro
   
4. Have a look at the partitions you really have. Inspect their content to make sure you don't really need them.
   
5. Use the gparted tool in the linux distro to
   • remove the media direct partition (2.5 GB)
   • remove the recovery partition (10GB)
   • but leave the diagnostic partition intact (250MB)
   • remove the OS partition (WARNING: you will lose all your data, so please back it up before even attempting to touch the partitions)
   You should end up with a single primary partition and a lot of unallocated space.

Now:

1. Create a primary partition for a secondary OS (let's say 10 GB)
2. Create a primary partition for Vista (let's say 30 GB, it's a hog)
3. Create an extended partition
4. Create as many logical partition you need (I'd say, one for OS data, one for OS programs, one for your documents, one for download, and if your secondary OS is linux, a FAT32 partition to move data from Win to Linux and viceversa.

You should be free to choose the size you want for every partition.

Format all partitions and get out of Linux.

Now you can install vista on the 30 GB partition. And enjoy a system that will allow you an easy recovery in case of massive f**k up.