Format Hard drive, How?

[Network_Bum]

I have 20gb & 40gb drives. I upgraded from 98 to xp pro off the 40gb drive. The 20gb drive is split up into c: (3gb) e: (16gb),

my ? is, how do i make the 20gb drive into 1 drive?

[Krell]

Right Click on My Computer, and chose Manage.


Click on Disk Management, and delete the smaller partitions, then redo them as a simple volume. Then right click, Format.

[Network_Bum]

If i format will it ask me to install windows? if so can i point it to the 40gb drive?

[Krell]

I dunno, detail what you have now

ei : 40 = Xp

3 + W98 etc etc

Spell it out very clearly, and what you want to accomplish

[Network_Bum]

the c: drive has xp on it and has a partition which is e: drive.
d :drive is the 40gb drive which has the intsaller of xp pro. I have 98 on cd-rom.

All i want 2 do is have c: drive as 1 20gb drive without the partitions.

[Krell]

So it will be

C: = 20Gb (hd 1)
D: = 40 Gb? (hd 2)

[Network_Bum]

yes thats right.

will i have to install windows again?

[Krell]

Give me a few . . . . .

[p00n1s]

Short answer: Yes.

If you change the partitioning of a drive, all data will be erased. That means that to re-format your 20GB hdd with one partition (one drive letter), you will need to erase that drive.

However I am not sure if your install of XP would still work if you should copy the required files to another drive and back. This works on some OSes; I don't know if XP is one of these.

[Krell]

. . . .

Want the least work no bullshit way? Get a copy of Partion Magic 8. *cough*

Install and run this from your C: drive.

Be sure to back up your stuff first.

I also advise you to get a copy of Ontrack System Suite, use it first to back up your stuff.

Estimated to to do all this correctly, = by this weekend.


sweeeet.

[Network_Bum]

ok yep :)




how do i intall windows 98 of cd-rom from dos????

[Krell]

You need a standard W98 boot disk, which you can download if you need to.

[p00n1s]

Originally posted by Krell
Get a copy of Partion Magic 8. *cough*

of course, magic :-}

[Network_Bum]

I've accomplish what i wanted to do :fire

Formatted c:
install 98 form cd-rom
install xp pro from harddrive

now have this setup:
- 20gb harddrive = xp pro
- 40gb harddrive = storage


Thanx for all ur help.

[Krell]

That will be $29.95

I will PM you with the PO BOX

[el_omega]

Thanks Krell, you are a heck of a guy.

FYI, I will do mine tomorrow.

[RACKnRAIL]

A word of advise...if you're using XP pro and you decide to use the file encryption, remember to unencrypt all data on any partitions before you ever reinstall XP and format again. Even a ghost image will make unencryption extremely difficult. I found out the hard way!!:error

[Krell]

You can export your encryption key easy enough.

Its only good for the data it was enrypted with. But if you will be changing your O/S, or have multiple machines networked to access the same data, then its a good idea to put the key on a floppy.

[RACKnRAIL]

You can export your encryption key easy enough.

It still has to be done before reformatting though, doesn't it, or can this be done afterwards, and how?

[Krell]

The moment that you decide you want to use File Encryption, you export that key !!!

You put it on to a floppy, and email it off somewhere to your self zipped.

In your next O/S, you inport that key, so you can unlock your data.

[RACKnRAIL]

I gotcha...thanks!

[Krell]

This is a pretty straight forward how to, 5 pages,

http://www.compulink.co.uk/~davedorn/computing/windows/xpencrypt1.htm


Agent Backup

Should the worst happen and your personal encryption certificate becomes unavailable for any reason, the recovery agent certificate provides you with an alternative for accessing your encrypted files. Thus, backing up this certificate is just as important as backing up your personal encryption certificate.