Partioning a hard drive

[swmeek]

Sorry if this sounds stupid.
I've got a brand new Hitachi 750 Gb hdd that I'm wanting to install windows on and I would like to ask a question if whether it's easier to partition(if possible) it before I install windows xp mce on it or afterwards.
If anyone can recommend a good free or cheap program to do it with also.
I'm wanting to set it up with several partitions for my programs,games,movies,temporary internet files,music,etc.
Somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 sections.
Thanks for your help.

[Gizmo-guy]

It is possible to partition a HD before you install Windows. After booting from the OS CD it will ask to install windows on this partion, or delete partion and such. Delete the partion and create a new partion. if you want a 50GB for win it would be 50x1024, or 51200MB. Install windows on the new partition and leave the rest unpartitioned. After windows is all installed goto control panel-Administrative tools-computer management-disk management. From here you can finish partioning the HD. I think this is an easy way but you can do all the partitioning before installing the OS. Hope this answers your question and is helpful.

Also remember you after formatting you actually have 93% of your hard drive, this is normal. So a 750GB is actually 697.5GB. Since you are doing several partitions it is a good ideal to plan out the size for each before hand.

[swmeek]

Aw thanks for the info!
The Benny Hill avatar is cool too.

[Gizmo-guy]

You are very welcome, that's what we are all here for is to help each other out. Benny Hill is one of my all time favorite comedians.

[Scott]

Love Benny!!yourock:

[swmeek]

So another stupid question related to my first is what are the benefits of partitioning my drive as opposed to not partitioning it.
When my friend built my computer the last time I think he somehow set it up for a double boot setup because when i start the computer it gives me two choices of windows xp media center to pick from. If i pick the one that I don't use every day then it tells me I need to turn on the account in order for it to work.
I have two seperate hard drives and I'm wondering if each harddrive has the os installed on both hard drives.
I don't remember what raid set-up i have either.It's all greek to me on that.
One of these days I'm gonna grab up some of Benny's shows on dvd to watch.

[Gizmo-guy]

I'm not aware of any benefits from partitioning a hard drive, other than better organizing. I am not familiar with media center edition, but to me it sounds like maybe 2 user accounts. There is no need for the OS to be installed on 2 seperate HD unless the HD are raid or dual booting, even then the primary HD is partitioned into 2 and the 2 OSs installed on its own partition. Thankfully a good friend of mine has the complete series of Benny Hill on DVD, now to find the time to rip them all!