@Sherr wrote:
Windows XP Disk manager appears to offer everything one would need to partition an external 200GB hard drive. I'm going to buy a Maxtor One Touch drive. I would like to partition the drive in three sections. Is there an optimun partition size. Should I buy Partition Magic or is Microsoft Disk Manager adequate.
Disk Manager can only create extra Partition for Unallocated space , ie: if you initially setup from XP CD & created a smaller than HD size for XP Partition or created extra Partitions during XP Install.
You can reduce Windows XP Partition size by using FREE program from BootIt Next Generation , fully functional 30 day Trial from;
http://www.bootitng.com/bootitng.html Download & unzip to New Folder & read .pdf file from Folder for info.
Create Boot Floppy or Boot CD by double click on Folder BootItNG.exe
Checked with BootIt & they say to ignore warning about Data loss if Resizing NTFS Format.
You don't need to Defrag for NTFS Format as long as you Resize to enough space for Operating System.
But if you want to be sure ,1st Defrag Windows XP so Data isn't lost during resize down.
Check Analyze after Defrag to see how much contiguous space is free.
Boot from created Floppy or CD.
Click Setup OK , Move Mouse to check & click NO to more than 4 partitions & NO to Auto create partition ( unless you want to install startup Menu for BootItNG)
Then Select Windows XP partition & click Resize.
Then click Close & remove Boot Disk & Reboot.
After Reboot use Start > Administrative Tools > Computer Management
Storage > Disk Management & right click on Disk.. Unallocated > New Partition .. select Primary partition & set Size if you want to create more than one extra partition.
Using the above method doesn't install BootItNG software on a partition & therefore no BootIt startup Menu.
Also doesn't created an EMBR (Extended Master Boot Record) from BootItNG software uses existing MBR.
So no BootItNG software is installed on H Drive & the downloaded software & created Boot Disk can be deleted if you don't want to Buy BootItNG for less than US $40 ( cheap !)
Thank you for your detailed reply. One other question.
Disk managementm tells me that my existing 60 GB disk is partitioned with 39MB FAT CIS and 55.8GB NTFS. why the FAST AND NTFS format. I thought that everything should be NTFS. An what happened to the other 4GB.
Disk managementm tells me that my existing 60 GB disk is partitioned with 39MB FAT CIS and 55.8GB NTFS. why the FAST AND NTFS format. I thought that everything should be NTFS. An what happened to the other 4GB.
As 1 GB is 1000 MB & 1 MB is 1000 KB & 1 KB is 1024 bytes & 8MB is reversed for Windows (Unallocated) Add the 8MB+39MB + 55.800MB = 55.847MB next multiply by 1024 three times for bytes Equals = 59,965,259,644 bytes
The rest of the space is Master Boot Record & Master File Table Check Disk Manager , right click on Disk O , select Properties , Volumes tab , Partition style (MBR) & Disk Defragmenter , Analyze , View Report , scroll to MFT size.
Also use System Tools > System Information , double click on Components , Storage , Drives & check Size it is expressed in GB & bytes if you divide the Size in bytes by 1024 three times you will get the Size expressed in GB.
To see the Unallocated space reserved for Windows you can use DELL reinstallation XP CD , select Install & Cancel after it shows Partitions. Or use Recovery Console command DISKPART (with no parameters)
The Restore Points are stored in C:\System Volume Information Folder which might show Empty (did on XP Home but not on XP Pro) if so To View System Volume Information Folder by double click on Folder , use Command Prompt & type CD\ press Enter key (to change to Directory of S.V.Info Folder) then cacls "driveletter:\System Volume Information" /E /G username:F ie: cacls "C:\System Volume Information" /E /G GJH:F (my username GJH)
Use System Information , Help > Contents, Search tab for a-z , List Topics , double click topic then "Command-line", click on "C" then cacls.
The 39MB FAT partition is Instaled by DELL & with some versions of BIOS can be accessed at boot by a Fuction key.
Message Edited by gryjhnhpe on 12-16-2003 08:44 AM
As I understand your input from Bootlt. It is NEVER necessary to DEFRAG that portion of the drive that is formatted NTFS. Why? Please confirm. But since NTFS format if used for the major portion of the data stored on the drive, over ninety percent, then it would never be necessary to defrag the drive. That seems questionable to me. In any case what is the best procedure to follow if I defrag that portion of my 60GB drive that is NTFS formatted. How do I determine space require for operating system?
Sherr wrote: Re: Disk Defrag As I understand your input from Bootlt. It is NEVER necessary to DEFRAG that portion of the drive that is formatted NTFS. Why? Please confirm. But since NTFS format if used for the major portion of the data stored on the drive, over ninety percent, then it would never be necessary to defrag the drive. That seems questionable to me. In any case what is the best procedure to follow if I defrag that portion of my 60GB drive that is NTFS formatted. How do I determine space require for operating system?
BootIt site says : ***"non-destructive resizing for NTFS"*** also checked with BootIt & they confirmed ignore warning about possible Data loss when Resizing NTFS.
Microsoft says : "1.5 gigabyte (GB) of available hard disk space" needed for XP Home OS.
The safest way is to Defrag Volume 1st then check Defrag screen for FREE space (white area)
Then Resize Windows to slightly larger size than shown by Defrag screen , allow for new programs & if using XP CD burn it needs 1 GB of free space to store files for full CD burn.
Estimate size to Resize to by portion of Defrag screen showing Blue after Defrag.
Also BootIt Resizing will be quicker if Defraged 1st.
gryjhnhpe
2 Intern
•
2K Posts
0
December 14th, 2003 22:00
http://www.bootitng.com/bootitng.html
Download & unzip to New Folder & read .pdf file from Folder for info.
Create Boot Floppy or Boot CD by double click on Folder BootItNG.exe
You don't need to Defrag for NTFS Format as long as you Resize to enough space for Operating System.
But if you want to be sure ,1st Defrag Windows XP so Data isn't lost during resize down.
Check Analyze after Defrag to see how much contiguous space is free.
Click Setup OK , Move Mouse to check & click NO to more than 4 partitions & NO to Auto create partition ( unless you want to install startup Menu for BootItNG)
Then Select Windows XP partition & click Resize.
Then click Close & remove Boot Disk & Reboot.
Storage > Disk Management & right click on Disk.. Unallocated > New Partition .. select Primary partition & set Size if you want to create more than one extra partition.
Also doesn't created an EMBR (Extended Master Boot Record) from BootItNG software uses existing MBR.
So no BootItNG software is installed on H Drive & the downloaded software & created Boot Disk can be deleted if you don't want to Buy BootItNG for less than US $40 ( cheap !)
Sherr
2 Intern
•
459 Posts
0
December 15th, 2003 12:00
Thank you for your detailed reply. One other question.
Disk managementm tells me that my existing 60 GB disk is partitioned with 39MB FAT CIS and 55.8GB NTFS. why the FAST AND NTFS format. I thought that everything should be NTFS. An what happened to the other 4GB.
jmwills
2 Intern
•
12K Posts
0
December 15th, 2003 14:00
gryjhnhpe
2 Intern
•
2K Posts
0
December 15th, 2003 18:00
As 1 GB is 1000 MB & 1 MB is 1000 KB & 1 KB is 1024 bytes
& 8MB is reversed for Windows (Unallocated)
Add the 8MB+39MB + 55.800MB = 55.847MB
next multiply by 1024 three times for bytes
Equals = 59,965,259,644 bytes
The rest of the space is Master Boot Record & Master File Table
Check Disk Manager , right click on Disk O , select Properties , Volumes tab , Partition style (MBR)
& Disk Defragmenter , Analyze , View Report , scroll to MFT size.
Also use System Tools > System Information , double click on Components , Storage , Drives
& check Size it is expressed in GB & bytes
if you divide the Size in bytes by 1024 three times you will get the Size expressed in GB.
To see the Unallocated space reserved for Windows you can use DELL reinstallation XP CD , select Install & Cancel after it shows Partitions.
Or use Recovery Console command DISKPART (with no parameters)
The Restore Points are stored in C:\System Volume Information Folder which might show Empty (did on XP Home but not on XP Pro) if so
To View System Volume Information Folder by double click on Folder , use Command Prompt & type CD\ press Enter key
(to change to Directory of S.V.Info Folder)
then cacls "driveletter:\System Volume Information" /E /G username:F
ie: cacls "C:\System Volume Information" /E /G GJH:F (my username GJH)
Use System Information , Help > Contents, Search tab for a-z , List Topics , double click topic then "Command-line",
click on "C" then cacls.
The 39MB FAT partition is Instaled by DELL & with some versions of BIOS can be accessed at boot by a Fuction key.
Message Edited by gryjhnhpe on 12-16-2003 08:44 AM
Sherr
2 Intern
•
459 Posts
0
December 21st, 2003 19:00
Thank you for your very detailed reply.
Re: Disk Defrag
As I understand your input from Bootlt. It is NEVER necessary to DEFRAG that portion of the drive that is formatted NTFS. Why? Please confirm. But since NTFS format if used for the major portion of the data stored on the drive, over ninety percent, then it would never be necessary to defrag the drive. That seems questionable to me. In any case what is the best procedure to follow if I defrag that portion of my 60GB drive that is NTFS formatted. How do I determine space require for operating system?
Thanks again
gryjhnhpe
2 Intern
•
2K Posts
0
December 21st, 2003 20:00
Microsoft says : "1.5 gigabyte (GB) of available hard disk space" needed for XP Home OS.
The safest way is to Defrag Volume 1st then check Defrag screen for FREE space (white area)
Then Resize Windows to slightly larger size than shown by Defrag screen , allow for new programs & if using XP CD burn it needs 1 GB of free space to store files for full CD burn.
Estimate size to Resize to by portion of Defrag screen showing Blue after Defrag.
Also BootIt Resizing will be quicker if Defraged 1st.
Sherr
2 Intern
•
459 Posts
0
December 21st, 2003 21:00
Re: Bootlt vs. Partition Magic
I would be interested in your evaluation of Bootlt for parttitioning large external drives if you have experience with Bootlt for drive partitioning.
Dimension 8250, 2.4GH Pentium 4, 512Meg RAM, Windows XP Home, 60GB Internal Drive, 56K Dial Up
Sherr
gryjhnhpe
2 Intern
•
2K Posts
0
December 22nd, 2003 00:00
Don't see why it should have any problems with external HD.
All you have to do is TRY it.