Can I do This? (Partitioning)

[Mooncow]

I have a 111gb hardrive (SATA WD)

ok, i want to split it up so windows is on its own partition. So can i just use partition magic, make 10gb for the windows partion, then install windows on it? Update it and such, then remove windows from the current partition? Will that work? I don't particularly wanna have to reinstall everything cos i have a lot of stuff.....

P.S - I been hearing mixed opinions about Page file on seperate partition. Any thoughs/comments? Thanks!

[electromagnetic]

Yes you can do that. If Windows takes up less that 10GB currently you can just shrink the partition to that size and not worry about a reinstall. Then create a 2nd partition with the remaining space.

[Mooncow]

what about all the installed programs and stuff? won't they be like "HUH WHERES WINDOWS ITS NOT IN C:/ ANYMORE??"
Oh will it wall work fine?
so: Make 10gb partition
Instal windows
uninstall windows from current partition

[Sjaak]

If i were you, i would backup the data, format the HDD, partition it, then reinstall windows and replace your data

[electromagnetic]

Changing the size of a partition doesn't change the drive letter.

[Mooncow]

@ Sjaak - I have loads of data... i would rather not format
@ electromagnetic - at the moment I have not split the drive. I want to split it and put windows on its own

So is there a way to keep everything and partition it how i want?

[Sjaak]

it may sound a bit oldstylish but i would NEVER EVER play with the drives partitions if there was still data on it. Several friends of me have lost it all because such operations went wrong.

[electromagnetic]

I've never (usually) had problems.

[Sjaak]

I've never (usually) had problems.

but there's still the chance...lol

i wont do it. period. my data is too valuable. That also why i keep a spare 40GB next to my raid system to backup critical stuff.