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Partitioning differences ...... ?

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by Christer, 2003/04/23.

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  1. 2003/04/23
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Hello all!

    When I install WinXP, can I keep my partitions, created using the WinME Start Disk version of FDISK?

    The reason I ask is, when partitioning my friends PC, using the utility on the WinXP CD, it leaves an 8 MB unpartitioned space. When I highlighted it to find out what would happen if I tried to use that space, the message was that it is reserved for WinXP partition information.

    This unpartitioned space is not present on my HardDrive so, can WinXP do without it or will it be claimed from the system partition when formating using the utility on the WinXP CD?

    Thanks for Your time,
    Christer
     
    Last edited: 2003/04/23
    Christer,
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  2. 2003/04/24
    reboot

    reboot Inactive

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    XP will only attempt to partition something, if it needs the room to install. If you have already set up partitions using fdisk, XP will not change anything, unless you specify when prompted during setup.
    Your friend got 8 meg unpartitioned space, probably because of the hard disk size. If you had used fdisk beforehand, XP would not have given that message, nor allocated 8 meg for setup.
     
    reboot,
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  4. 2003/04/24
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Hi reboot,
    thanks for Your reply!

    I don´t understand why the size of his hard disk would be the reason for the 8 MB unpartitioned space.
    I would understand less than 4 kB unpartitioned space if WinXP adjusts the partition sizes to be a multiple of 4 kB (the cluster size) and the rest (less than 4 kB) would be unpartitioned space.

    When I partitioned his hard drive I started by removing all the old partitions. After that, there was only one piece of unpartitioned space.
    Next I told it to use 8000 MB for C:, which setup adjusted to 8001 MB. After that step, unpartitioned space was displayed in two halves, a big chunk and the 8 MB.
    The big chunk could be divided in two partitions, D: and E:, but the 8 MB couldn´t be touched, it was reserved for WinXP partition information??????

    Christer ...... :confused: ...... as usual

    I came to think of that it´s a Compaq LapTop. Could they have stuck their fingers into the partitioning procedure, reserving this space for the Compaq partition but blaming WinXP for it?
     
    Last edited: 2003/04/24
    Christer,
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  5. 2003/04/24
    reboot

    reboot Inactive

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    Either Compaq, or the physical hard drive size.
    There's a bug in XP setup for drives over a certain size, I think it's 128 gig, but don't quote me on that.
    Now that you tell us it's a Compaq, well...any @%^^%*&*# thing is possible. :eek:
     
    reboot,
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  6. 2003/04/24
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Well, I´ve learnt about a few of the Compaq Oddities the hard way so I know what You mean.
    His hard disk is only 40 GB so my vote goes to Compup ...... :rolleyes: ...... sorry, I mean Compaq!
     
    Christer,
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  7. 2003/04/24
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    Lots of the computer makers strip out a little space for stuff they want to store in there. Usually for recovery or similar. That's probably what you are dealing with. I just took a look at several of our Compaq servers and they all have the same sort of thing. Slightly larger (36Mb) but otherwise just what you are seeing.

    I think their recovery tools need to use that space. At least on the servers I looked at it is a FAT partition while any that we set up are NTFS so it must have been done by the OS.
     
    Newt,
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  8. 2003/04/25
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Thanks Newt,
    that kind of confirms my suspicions!

    It´s strange though that the installer tells you that it´s a space used by WinXP rather than telling that it´s a space used by "Compaq Restore" or whatever the truth might be?
    (I don´t expect any response to that question ......)

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  9. 2003/04/25
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    Christer - the installer could have been right. But I'd certainly ask him to point me to documentation (like a M$ article) that said so. And especially since Compaq does do the exact same thing on servers. And maybe on workstations - not messed with them and just don't know.

    I know my IBM at work and my Frankenbox (home built system) at home with XP-pro and NTFS partitions don't have anything like that.
     
    Newt,
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  10. 2003/04/27
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Hi Newt!

    Now my bad english is confusing the conversation. By "the installer" I mean the program on the WinXP CD that installs WinXP on the computer ...... :eek: ......
    When I highlighted the 8 MB unpartitioned space, a screen message gave this information, not a person hitting the keys.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  11. 2003/04/28
    reboot

    reboot Inactive

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    Although I wouldn't expect XP's installer to be precognizant, the fact that it recognized the 8 meg as something, and decided to NOT let you change it, means that at least it knows that needs to be there, and it's going to stay for a reason. Typical of Compaq though, to use up 8 meg of your hard drive space for something it considers critical. Probably because it's cheaper to slap it on the hard drive, than burn it into an EPROM on the mainboard.
     
    reboot,
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  12. 2003/04/28
    AndyO

    AndyO Inactive

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    My Compaq Evo N800 has no mysterious partition, its build is the standard Compaq one that it comes with.

    Newt,
    The partition that you are seeing on the servers is the System Partition that holds the clever stuff to do with server diagnostics in the Compaq ASR mode.

    This partition is put there by SmartStart so I guess thats how you build your servers ?
     
    AndyO,
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  13. 2003/04/28
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    I´m wondering and I´ll keep wondering because I´m not gonna try but what would have been if I had used a retail copy of WinXP and not the one with the Compaq label? Would the 8 MB be there or not?
    AndyO's post indicate that it´s different on the Compaq Evo so, it´s difficult to tell. Anyone with a Crystal Ball?

    Christer
     
    Last edited: 2003/04/28
    Christer,
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  14. 2003/04/28
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    AndyO - you said "This partition is put there by SmartStart so I guess thats how you build your servers ? "

    All the compaq servers were here when I arrived. The company has switched to buying only IBM for new stuff so I haven't had occasion to set up any of the Compaq stuff from the beginning.

    But thanks for the info.
     
    Newt,
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