Format / Dual Boot Question

I was having trouble with my computer so I went out and bought a new Maxtor 200gb drive and used the Maxtor software that came with the drive to copy everything from the original drive to the Maxtor drive. The computer is working good again but now I have two drives with the same files on them. I left the Maxtor hooked up and use it for backups. I would like to format the Maxtor drive and install Vista on that drive and leave XP on the other drive. The Maxtor drive doesn't have any partitions on it. If I right click on the Maxtor drive in Windows Explorer there is a Format option. Can I use that option to format the drive and make two partitions on the Maxtor drive? I have never had to format a drive so I want to make sure I do it right before I install Vista. After I install Vista is it possible to leave the two drives hooked up and dual boot to either Vista or XP? I don't know anything about this so I am trying to learn to do it so I don't mess anything up.

 

Hello Mindcrime,

Format the Maxtor by using Disk Management:

Right click on My Computer > manage > Disk Management and right click on the Maxtor drive > format.

XP can't partition a drive.

For that have to use a partitioning application. I personnaly use Partition Magic 8 which works well on XP and is a pre Symantec version. If you look around for it, it should be very inexpensive.


On dual booting Vista, I'm dual booting a Vista RC with MCE XP with 2 drives as you're proposing to do.

When you're ready to do it, post a thread in the Vista section.

In the meantime, cruise the Vista section, a few threads on dual booting and mentions of it by me and others.

Regards - Charles

 

Charles, like you I have always used PM to partition my drives but I understand that XP can do that as well. Please look at this article and see if you agree.

 

Hi SD2,

Yes, I agree

Thanks for the link. I thought only with an install using the XP OS disc that could be done.

Regards - Charles