Hi, does anyone know how to create an NTFS partition, without destroying the data on current partition.

Is it possible using XP setup disk, as i am after a free option

I think you would need software like partition magic to this.

Cheers

Mark

Convert it and keep the data (though prolly a good idea to make a backup first, just in case!):

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/convertfat.mspx

Sorry if i didnt make it clear, i have an NTFS partition that takes up the whole drive. I was after making another partition to run another OS, but i was unsure whether you can do this with data on the drive.

Partion magic will do it as previously stated but as always back up the data first. I have only had one fail but it was the one I didn't bother to back up

Dave

By second operating system do you mean a different version of windows or Linux.

Most version of Linux have very good partition shrinking/creation/deletion tools -- the Fedora/Red Hat and Mandrake ones are excellent, most Debian based distros use Parted.

The Windows tool of choice is partition Magic but booting two version of Windows from different partitions can bit tricky conventionally you need mastering the NT/Xp boot manager anytime I have tried it I always found it a bit unreliable.

I have the Beta version of Vista and was going to install it onto a different partition, although first of all, i need to create the partition! The xp setup disk has some partitioning stuff, but i cant remember whether or not it was creating them on a blank disc.

Partition magic is probably the only way you will partition your HDD without losing data.

There has been issues getting build 5219 (1st or 2nd Beta) to dual boot with XP. Especially when XP was on the primary partition. Vista uses a new bootloader (Bootmgr I think) as opposed to the old NTLDR.

I do a quick Google and see if anyone is having trouble with the new beta - better safe than sorry.

I think I used a trial version of Virtual PC in the end. This was before Virtual Server was free. Not Sure if Vista will work with Virtual Server but it might be a safer way to go.

Scott.