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June 23rd, 2008 03:00
Partitioning for Dual Boot System
Hi,
I've got an XPS M1330 laptop, with Vista Home Premium, and I love it.
I need to install XP as well, and make it a dual boot system, because I want to run some audio software using XP.
Right now, my ~300GB drive is partitioned as follows:
> 78MB: Healthy EISA partition, which I cannot delete using Disk Management.
> RECOVERY: 10GB.
> C: (Vista), using 12 out of 80 GB, haven't been able to shrink it further.
> 80GB unallocated - this used to be in C:, then I shrank C:
> DATA: 90GB
> FREE SPACE: 40GB
I want to create a new partition to install XP on, but cannot do so b/c I have four partitions already. I cannot delete the EISI partition - I would, but am unable to.
What's my best approach here?
Should I get a good disk partition software (Disk Magic isn't (yet) Vista-ready), move & resize my partitions as I want them, then install XP (and fix the MBR)? If so, any recommendations?
Or should I backup everything and wipe the whole disk clean, then install XP, partitioning the drive into four parts (Recovery, VISTA, XP & DATA)? If I do that, I don't know if I can install Vista - Dell didn't include installation disks, they included recovery disks. Would I be able to use those disks to install Vista on a specific partition, or would they just wipe my disk clean and return it to factory install state?
Many thanks!
Matthew
I've got an XPS M1330 laptop, with Vista Home Premium, and I love it.
I need to install XP as well, and make it a dual boot system, because I want to run some audio software using XP.
Right now, my ~300GB drive is partitioned as follows:
> 78MB: Healthy EISA partition, which I cannot delete using Disk Management.
> RECOVERY: 10GB.
> C: (Vista), using 12 out of 80 GB, haven't been able to shrink it further.
> 80GB unallocated - this used to be in C:, then I shrank C:
> DATA: 90GB
> FREE SPACE: 40GB
I want to create a new partition to install XP on, but cannot do so b/c I have four partitions already. I cannot delete the EISI partition - I would, but am unable to.
What's my best approach here?
Should I get a good disk partition software (Disk Magic isn't (yet) Vista-ready), move & resize my partitions as I want them, then install XP (and fix the MBR)? If so, any recommendations?
Or should I backup everything and wipe the whole disk clean, then install XP, partitioning the drive into four parts (Recovery, VISTA, XP & DATA)? If I do that, I don't know if I can install Vista - Dell didn't include installation disks, they included recovery disks. Would I be able to use those disks to install Vista on a specific partition, or would they just wipe my disk clean and return it to factory install state?
Many thanks!
Matthew
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Applecache
12 Posts
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June 23rd, 2008 10:00
Hi
The EISI parition is very very small. Saving 78MB is nothing. In addition, the EISI is for the hard drive firmware/software and cannot be used by the user yourself. Its the brains if you like of the hard drive. It contains platterrs and heads and volumes etc in that area. All hard drives have this.
My experiences with RECOVERY is that you don't need it. DELL gives you everything to re-install windows like drivers etc. Its just there for keeps sake and for people who don't remember they have the driver disks. So don't worry about that partition.
VISTA is in my opinion poof. I would only use XP Home or PRO for games. Especially if you have a XPS laptop. Jealous me i guess.
The DATA parition i am abit confused what you mean. Is this part of the original configuration when you got the laptop or is your own data?? If so puting in your re-covery disks from DELL wont delete this partition BECAUSE PUTTING IN RE-COVERY DISKS IN A COMPUTER will result in the cd/dvd looking for an existing OS and when it finds it, usually the C: drive it will re-install windows to that partition only. The partition with DATA would have another drive letter, maybe G:. So it is safe.
Always backup before ou do crazy stuff.
DISK MAGIC please i wouldnt even use it. Just use the normal partitiion that windows has when you re-install windows fully. You have a big blue screen infornt of you and u choose L to delete certain partions and then you can also make certain partitions and even specify where you want to install windows in which partition.
"""" Would I be able to use those disks to install Vista on a specific partition, or would they just wipe my disk clean and return it to factory install state?""""
The disks like i mentioned above wont be clean entirely.(Note i only know this from XP and not vista, i dont use vista but ubuntu) What you can do is a clean install PARTIALLY. ie insert the recovery disk. delete the partitions which vista is NOT on. It will tell you which partition vista is on. Specify/create partitions there and then(whip out a calculator) then after specifying partitions install vista on the partition the said vista is on.
After the install go to windows management and under disk management you should see LOGICAL DRIVES AND Drives when you click on a message pops up saying reformat drive. DOnt reformat but right click, properties and create a logical drive and specify a drive letter to your liking. Do this for all partitions that you created.
Whoopie then