Win 7/HDD setup- separate partition for data?

don't suppose you'd have a link to or be able to explain how/what I'd use to partition that drive HFS+ and NTFS?

I'm guessing I'll need a third party tool, right? Partition wizard, acronis disc director, paragon partition manager?

whs said:

coldengrey said:

don't suppose you'd have a link to or be able to explain how/what I'd use to partition that drive HFS+ and NTFS?

I'm guessing I'll need a third party tool, right? Partition wizard, acronis disc director, paragon partition manager?

The easiest would be to use Disk Management. Do the following steps:

1. Right click on the drive and shrink the current partition (shrink volume) - specify as much space as you want for the new partition.

2. Right click on the unallocated space you got and make a New Simple Volume - the wizard will guide you.

that's all.

Thanks for reply...
* Also watched your video tutorial yesterday - how to partition and move user folders VERY WELL DONE!

-Tried recommended steps - when right clicked, no option to shrink volume (likely because it's HFS+ and disc mang. doesn't do?)

-Formatted entire drive to ntfs but the no way to use macdrive to format second HFS+ partition (macdrive tries to initialize entire disc...

? Not sure if/what to use to format a second partition to HFS+
*I'll keep searching, thanks for reply and tutorials, though!

The 100mb System Reserved partition places the Repair console conveniently on the F8 Advanced Boot Options. I believe this alone is reason enough to have it since it presents no problems I know of.

Use Disk Mgmt for your partitioning needs as it is failsafe. For anything which it cannot do use free Partition Wizard bootable CD which has not failed in hundreds of partitioning operations we've helped with here. Partition Wizard Use the Bootable CD

You guys have all been such great help - THANK YOU very much...
You guys seem so enthusiastic and genuinely concerned with helping us end users-
I'm anxious to get this done so I can report back with progress, BUT due to paranoia have more questions..


I'm trying to cover all my bases, especially concerned with switch from vista 32 bit to windows 7 64 bit.
As far as duplicating settings ((wi-fi)network, driver settings, program settings/app data, firefox profile, ect)

1)What options do I have with switch to 64bit from 32bit, as far as duplicating system and program settings go?
- Will WET work 32bit-64bit?
- Other programs that aid in gathering various settings (maybe more foolproof/reliable)
- Anyone know of any tutorials/checklists of what/where/how to gather in prep for moving to clean install?
* Have accumulated 5-6 years of junk and learning mistakes on current os/programs, ect - prefer to not transfer all that muck over to fresh win 7 install
-> Selectively importing settings likely not possible (?) should I just take a lot of screen capture shots of settings

2) I setup and ran SYCTOY twice - backing up mostly USERS/(JASON)Profile folder, and some 64 bit drivers I saved in C: root...
Each time I ran had a lot of FAILED files/folders (Mostly files in use by running processes)

2.1)Are there other programs (GUI - no command line stuff, ie: Robocopy over my head or be next year by time comfortable enough with to trust haha) that facilitate user profile folder back up while (files) possibly in use?

2.2) How to get SyncToy to not have failed files... (how can I make sure no files in use by system?)

Importing system and other settings via hidden AppData folders defeats the purpose of a clean reinstall as it is a direct corruption path. I would not use WET for this reason - just copy and drag User folders or the User profile intact.

These tips I compiled to get a perfect OEM reinstall also can be applied to get a perfect install in this case: Reinstalling Windows 7

Been following Kari's tutorial: How to Create User Accounts on another Partition or Disk During Windows 7 Installation
and have question maybe someone can answer (replied to tutorial thread, no response)..

There is a "relocate.xml" script for moving user accounts to d: partition during audit mode install (having never installed before I'm not sure better ask first..)

1) -Will I be able to access this "relocate.xml" script, during audit mode install, off of usb flash drive or usb portable HDD?
Not sure if they'll be functional at this stage of install; perhaps no drivers installed yet?
Also thought maybe I'd burn to data cd, but I believe my Windows 7 install disc will still be in optical drive at this point, right??

2) Not related really to above tutorial...
Currently on my OEM vista 32, despite having only created 1 administrator and 1 user account, there are like 9 or more user folders like: C:\Users\...Mcx1, Mcx1.JASON-LAPTOP, Jason, Mcx2, Mcx2.JASON-LAPTOP, ect...
- will Windows 7 have this many darned user folders (or do all those folders have something to do w/ OEM OS?
- what exactly are the PUBLIC user folders for?

Thanks again

Public folders are for easier sharing without requiring permissions.

MCX accounts are created In Windows Media Center 2005 each time an Extender is used, e.g. connecting to Xbox. Did you import these accounts? I don't think this happens in Vista - perhaps someone else knows for sure.

I would determine which User account you are operating under in User Accounts then delete all the others.