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How to resize or format a partition?

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Hi all.

I have a BenQ laptop. I recently used a Windows XP Home cd to create partitions but I made some errors. My C: drive is now only 10GB and my D: is 30GB. I wanted it the other way around where my C: is 30GB and my D: to be 10GB. Also, both drives are FAT. I wanted to format C: to NTFS and use the D: for Linux using FAT. Even though I used the XP Home CD for partitioning, I didn’t install it on the computer. I used a system restore cd by BenQ to re-install XP Pro, which I prefer. Are there any softwares that can help to format and than partition the drive with ease? I don’t intend to spend money on the software as I have already spent loads on the XP Home and Pro. I spent hours searching google but to no avail. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you so much in advance.

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In reply to How to resize or format a partition?

Clarifications

Since you have already invested so much

In reply to How to resize or format a partition?

in operating systems, this is not the time to pinch pennies. As you probably know, changing FAT32 to NTFS is a one-way operation, which normally does not corrupt your files. Obviously you would want to back up all files before any partitioning or formatting changes.

Although you can do this from command line, it isn’t straightforward, and you would be far better off purchasing Partition Magic:

http://www.symantec.com/norton/partitionmagic

Partition Magic has a nifty GUI (graphic user interface) and shows you the planned changes before they are batch executed. This gives you time to consider and change your parameters.

You will use this excellent application repeatedly as your partitioning requirements change. It is a good investment.

Recommending that the OP spend money…

In reply to Since you have already invested so much

in the face of a statement to the contrary is disrespectful. Particularly as a variety of options that cost nothing are available. Most of us have limited resources. The OP appears to have reached his/hers.

“I don’t intend to spend money on the software as I have already spent loads “

To convert FAT to NTFS…

In reply to How to resize or format a partition?

check this link:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb456984(TechNet.10).aspx

It’s not a painful process.

Also, if you are using XP Pro, the Disk Management tool from within Administrative Tools\Computer Management will allow partitioning and formatting.

Get ‘Partition Magic’ for nothing by visiting your Newsagents …

In reply to How to resize or format a partition?

Take a trip down to your local newsagents store (one of the big ones) and have a rummage through the Computer Magazines. Chances are you’ll find a magazine with exactly what you need included in one of the Cover-Mounted DVDs.

I’m not familiar with your part of the world but do know that you can pick up just about any computer magazine in Honk Kong, so can’t imagine it would be any different in Singapore. Look out for magazines such as Computer Shopper, PC Pro, or any other computer magazine that resembles the size and weight of a medium telephone directory – the thicker the magazine, the bigger the circulation, and the better the contents of the cover-mount discs.

Most of my serious utilities came from magazine cover-mounted DVDs. Anyone in this day-and-age that actually buys the latest build, when the previous build is given away for the cost of a good read, is a blinkered fool. ‘Paragon Hard Disk Manager’ is currently doing the rounds of the magazine publishers.

Get down to the newsagents and grab some good utilities. 🙂

You can resize the drives in “Disk management”.

In reply to How to resize or format a partition?

Right click on the drive and select “shrink” and add this in the boxes:
For 10gb input:
10 240.
For 30gb input:
30 720.
Hope this helps you.

Please post back if you have any more problems or questions.

[Author]

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