Windows XP Hard Disk Partitions

Partitions:

A partition is an area of a hard disk that is treated logically as a single unit of storage. A partition can use some or all of the available disk space on a hard disk. In order for a partition to be accessible, you must format it and assign a drive letter to it. A partition can be either primary or extended. A primary partition can be used to boot the computer; an extended partition cannot. You must mark a primary partition as active in order for it to be used to boot the computer.


When you format a disk, you assign a file system to it. Windows XP Support the following file systems:

• FAT

• FAT32

• NTFS

Create a Primary Partition in Widows XP:

1. Log on as local Administrator.

2. Open Computer Management(right-click My Computer and choose Manage)

3. In the console pane, select the Disk Management folder.

4. If you’ve using Windows XP, right click the available free space in the disk on which you want to create a new partition and choose New Partition. The New Partition Wizard starts.

5. Click Next.

6. On the Select Partition Type page, select Primary Partition.

7. Click Next.

8. If you’re using Windows XP, in the Partitions Size in MB text box, type the size of the partition you want to create.

9. Click Next.

10. On the Assign Drive Letter or Path page, select one of the following:
      a.  If you want to assign a permanent drive letter to the new partition, choose a drive letter form  the drop-down list.
      b.  If you want to mount the partition into an empty NTFS folder, enter the Path to the folder or click browser to select a folder.
      c.  If you do not want to assign a drive letter or mount path, select Do Not Assign A Drive Letter Or Drive Path


11. Click Next.

12. Select whether or not format this partition. If you choose to format the partition, you can select from the following options:
      o The file system to use (FAT, FAT32, or NTFS)
      o The allocation unit size. This is the size of the smallest available file-storage unit on the disk, and determines the size of the file clusters.
     o The volume label, a name that’s assigned to the partition.
     o Check Perform a Quick Format if you want to perform a quick format instead of a full format.
     o Check Enable File and Folder Compression to enable compression on the entire partition.


13. Click Next. 

14. Click Finish.

15. Close Computer Management.

16. Verify that the new partition is accessible by using utility such as Windows Explorer or My Computer.

Create a Extended Partition in Widows XP:

1. Log on as local Administrator.

2. Open Computer Management(right-click My Computer and choose Manage)

3. In the console pane, select the Disk Management folder.

4. If you’ve using Windows XP, right click the available free space in the disk on which you want to create a new partition and choose New Partition. The New Partition Wizard starts.

5. Click Next.

6. On the Select Partition Type page, select Extended Partition.

7. Click Next.

8. In the Amount of Disk Space to Use text box, type the size of the partition you want to create.

9. Click Next.

10. Click Finish.

11. Create at least one logical drive within the extended partition.

a. If you’re using Windows XP, right click an extended partition with free space and choose New Logical Drive. The New Partition Wizard starts.

b. Click Next.

c. On the select Partition Type page, click Next.

d. In the Amount of Disk Space to use text box, type the size of the logical drive you want to create.

e. Click Next.

f. On the Assign Drive Letter or Path page, select one of the following:
     • If you want to assign a permanent drive letter to the logical drive, choose a drive letter form the drop-down list.
    • If you want to mount the logical drive into an empty folder, enter the Path to the folder or click browser to select a folder.
    • If you do not want to assign a drive letter or mount path, select Do Not Assign a Drive Letter or Drive Path.


g. Click Next.

h. Select whether or not format this partition. If you choose to format the partition, you can select from the following options:

i. The file system to use (FAT, FAT32, or NTFS)
  • The allocation unit size. This is the size of the smallest available file-storage unit on the disk, and determines the size of the file clusters.
  • The volume label, a name that’s assigned to the partition.
  • Check Perform a Quick Format if you want to perform a quick format instead of a full format.
  • Check Enable File and Folder Compression to enable compression on the entire partition.

j. Click Next.

k. Click Finish.


12. Close Computer Management.

13. Verify that the new partition is accessible by using utility such as Windows Explorer or My Computer.

Delete a Primary Partition in Windows XP:

1. Log on as a local Administrator.
2. Open Computer Management (right click My Computer and choose Manager)
3. In the Console pane, select the Disk Management folder.
4. Right Click the partition you want to delete and choose Delete Partition.
5. Click Yes to confirm that you want to delete the primary partition.
6. Close Computer Management.
7. Verify that the partition is no longer accessible by using a utility such a Windows Explorer or My Computer.

Delete a Extended Partition in Windows XP:

1. Log on as a local Administrator.
2. Open Computer Management (right click My Computer and choose Manager)

3. In the Console pane, select the Disk Management folder.

4. Delete any logical drives within the extended partition first:
   a. Right-click a logical drive and choose Delete Logical Drive.
   b. Click Yes to confirm that you want to delete the logical drive.
   c. Repeat these steps for each for logical drive within the extended partitions.


5. Right click the extended partition you want to delete and choose Delete Partitions.

6. Click Yes to confirm that you want to delete the extended partition.

7. Close Computer Managemetn.

8. Verify that the partition is no longer accessible by using a utility such as Widows Explorer or My Computer.