Computer Hardware: Hard Drive Partitioning

Source: waterwheel.com

Hard Drive Partitioning

• So, you decided to Format, partition or Re-partition the Hard Drive?

Windows 2000/XP

• Windows 2000/XP is able to boot from the CD so you do not require a windows startup disk to reformat or partition the hard disk.

• As with FDISK used above you will lose your data on the drive when you repartition and format. Partition software is available like Partition Magic, they make partitioning easy and explain the process in detail in their manuals.

• Simply boot from the CD and tell windows to install a fresh install of XP or 2000. When you are asked which partition you want to install windows on you have the option to delete and create other partitions. Simply delete your existing partitions and create new ones to the size you want. Windows will format the new partitions and install windows to it.

• Job done

Windows 95/98/ME

• To make a partition on the hard drive we need some good software. If at all possible look into Partition Magic Software or you can use the FDISK Utility that comes with Windows 95/98/ME. The bad part about using FDISK is that it will destroy all data on your partitions. A better alternative that we use all the time and make a reformat and partition a breeze is a utility made by Western Digital available here for download, also directions for this are located here. Should you decide to download this utility make sure you have a Windows Start Up disk for Win95 or Win98. This will be used during the automation. Now if you want to format and partition the hard way then we need to get into FDISK.

• If you are concerned that you don't have the FDISK get it here before proceeding and download onto a floppy disk. As a word of warning you are about to wipe out your hard drive and you will also need FORMAT.COM which is also here. IF you already have a open partition then we will basically wipe just that part out rather than the whole drive. As a note when starting you will see what is called a primary partition, this contains your boot sector. If you wipe out your boot sector you will need to have a Win95 or Win98 Start Up Disk available.

Deleting Old Partitions

1. Back up all data and make sure you have a windows 95,98, startup disk with format.com, and fdisk on them or available.
2. Restart your system with a Startup disk. At A: prompt type FDISK
3. At opening screen type number 3 and hit enter. This will allow you to delete a partition or logical DOS drive.
4. If you are using many drives such as c,d,e, make sure to type 3 to delete logical DOS drive(s) in the extended DOS partition.
5. At next screen type the letter of the drive you wish to delete. Repeat Steps 3-5 until you delete all logical partitions.
6. Now delete the extended partition by pressing 2 at the opening screen
7. At next screen type Y to wipe out extended partition
8. Now delete the primary partition to wipe drive clean, this is done by pressing 1.

Making New Partitions

1. Restart your system with a Startup disk. At A: prompt type FDISK
2. You will be prompted to select a file system for large disk partitions. If you have a drive bigger than 2GB its recommended that you use FAT32. If less than 2GB go ahead and choose FAT16.
3. After file system is set go ahead and press 1 at the opening FDISK screen to create a Primary DOS partition.
4. At the following screen hit 1 to create Primary DOS partition. Press Y to set it as active
5. At the next screen you will need to set the size of the partition. FAT 32 can be the entire size of drive and FAT 16 can only be 2,048 MB's. If you have a 6 GB hard drive you will now have 3 separate partitions.
6. If you want to make additional partitions for another Operating System and so on, go ahead and press 1 at opening FDISK screen. This is to create a extended Dos Partition.
7. Enter the size of the partition. For other Operating Systems 2GB is recommended or type 2000 representing 2GB.
8. Repeat process to make as many extended partitions you want. Simple exit and reboot when done.

• Now you may want to reload windows now? If so refer to Windows 95 or Windows 98 installation. These steps are starting from the moment your system boots with the Windows 95 or Windows 98 startup disk.