Splitting a Partition

Is there a way, using XP SP2 tools, to split a single HD partition containing the OS, applications and data into two partitions, one containing the OS/applications and the other containing data?

 

No, not without deleting all of the existing data.

You can do it with TI by using a trick. Note that these steps are to the best of my memory and require you to read the screens carefully. You might try searching the forum since probably better instructions have been posted many times.

First create a backup of your partition just in case something goes wrong.

Using TI, create a Secure Zone on the disk the size you want the second partition to be. Do not enable the Startup Recovery Manager!
After the Secure Zone is created, immediately go back into TI to manage the Secure Zone and delete it. Select the option not to have the now unallocated space returned to an existing partition.
Now you can go into XP's Disk Management and assign a letter to the unallocated space and format it.

You can now copy your data files into the new partition and delete them from the old C partition.

 

very sneaky use of secure zone - I knew it had to have a purpose


Rather than copy data files and delete them from C: assuming that most people
would keep their data in my docs I think it preferable to go to My Docs properties and change the drive letter from C: to whatever the new partition drive letter is and then accept the offer that windows will make to transfer all data

 

It is handy at times, alright.
Yes, moving the location of My Docs as described to the data partition is a good idea if you make use of My Docs. I only use it as a temporary storage area but that is just the way I do things.

 

it's better to use Acr disk director suite 10.0

 

Hello Confuqua,

Thank you for your interest in Acronis Disk Backup Software.

Please notice that previous posters are correct. There are no tools included in Windows XP to split partitions. You can use the workaround described by seekforever, but please notice that there is an Acronis solution specifically for managing partitions - Acronis Disk Director. It allows you to resize, move, copy, split, and merge partitions without losing your data, and some other functions as well.

We recommend you to download and install the free trial version of Acronis Disk Director Suite 10.0 to see how the software works on your computer.

You can find the detailed instructions on how to use Acronis Disk Director Suite 10.0 in the respective User's Guide.

Please visit Acronis online store to purchase the full version of the product.

Thank you.
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Marat Setdikov