XP partition size much less than HDD size

"Griff" <berringtons@clara.net> wrote in message
news:48ed2caa$1_1@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...
> Thanks William.
> Yes, it was an OEM drive with no other disk.
> I have always fdisked from a Windows 95 floppy in the past and seem to
> think that that worked with my previous 250gb drive.
> Might try as you say before purchasing XP SP2 or higher.
> Can you tell me have to arrive at DOS mode from boot disk?
> I know how one XP has loaded but assume this is before loading?
> Am used to fdisking the old way.
> Cheers.
>

Don't use Win95 fdisk for modern OS like XP and Vista. Either use a
contemporary 3rd party partitioning tool like Acronis Disk Director or use
the tools that came with the OS. Vista marks disks differently than XP does
even.

"Rotten Ronny" <rotten@ronny.here> wrote in message
news:E5SHk.67662$h94.47605@fe12.news.easynews.com. ..
> "William" <nospam@pacifier.com> wrote in message
> news:5tOdnUy9X6tCtHDVnZ2dnUVZ_obinZ2d@posted.palin acquisition...
>> You can either go down to your local computer store and purchase a
>> partition program and use it, or learn how to use what you have. You
>> will have to "boot up" on your XP home CD and enter into DOS mode and
>> find the program FDISK and partition the HD to the full size it will
>> report available. It should report the full size of the hd, 500gb. You
>> will then have to format it for use, and make the volume active for
>> boot-up control.
>>
>> Then you should be able to install XP home at the full size as desired.
>> You will have to have to have XP Home SR2 or newer to accomplish this
>> task without a third-party partition program.
>>
>> This is very complicated and hard to figure out if you have never done
>> this before. Good luck
>>
>> William
>>
>
>
> Yea, and far more complicated than he needs to do. All he has to do is
> install SP1, 2 or 3 and then go to disk management and create a second
> partition with the rest of the HDD to get full use of the HDD. Yes, he
> will now have two partitions but that is actually a benefit and not a
> detriment. The OS can stay on the partition already created.

I agree, two partitions would be the best way to go. I would suggest a 50
to 100gb partition for system and program files. Then after installing SP2
or 3, set the rest of the hd partition for data files within the "Computer
Management - Disk Management" program. This would have great advantages,
such as "Restore" could be set to the system/program volume only, increasing
speed and decreasing backup file size for restores on the system partition.
Also, this would force a differentiation between program and data files. An
area where few people do a proper job maintaining their computer. It would
also decrease disk defragmentation time, and make it easier to find program
and data files.

This happens to be the way I have my first hd setup.

Excellent point Ronny, thank you

William