Install without 100MB partition new drive

Dark Nova Gamer · 21 Oct 2009

nate42nd said:

DarkNovaGamer said:

nate42nd said:

I thought I had done this and it didn't work. Maybe I didn't do it right. It would not let me delete the small partition.

You don't delete the 100mb partition, you delete the SECOND one, the one it creates to install Windows on.

When its deleted it turns into unallocated space, then you format the 100mb partition, then extend it and give it all of the space from the one we deleted.

Sorry if my original post wasn't clear.

Hey DarkNovaGamer, if you (or anyone else) sees this, will doing this method you suggested, do you know if the partition woudl be properly aligned for my SSD? I cannot seem to find out. I plan to do it but would like the partition aligned.

Never used a SSD, want one but to pricey.

What do you mean by 'properly aligned'?

nate42nd · 21 Oct 2009

Uhhhh, I don't know all about it. I do know SSD partitions need to be aligned to work at peak performance. You can use diskpart (I think, may be some other tool) to check and align if needed. I will start researching it. I think extending the small one will probably do it. Plus the version I got was Pro so it may not even have the small partition.

Thanks for all your help man.. Have a great day

zrtom · 21 Oct 2009

Hey Nate,
Alignment is very critical with SSDs.
Here's a guide from the OCZ forums. It may sound a little confusing but it's not that confusing. If you have any ??? after reading this over, just let me know.

Guide Partition alignment importance under Windows XP (32-bit and 64-bit)..why it helps with stuttering and increases drive working life. - OCZ Forum
Tom

nate42nd · 21 Oct 2009

Thanks, I will read through it. I have seen it before and YES it did confuse me. I can understand it though. I will just have to think a little.

It also says "for XP" . . . . Windows Vista and Windows 7 do it by themselves if you do it right. I just don't know if using this method is "doing it right"

Thank you so much for the link.

Dickstar · 21 Oct 2009

Is this partition visible in Windows, and does it have any real disadvantages?

SIW2 · 21 Oct 2009

Yes, it;'s visible.

The main advantage is if you are using bitlocker.

The disavantages - it uses up 1 of your allowed 4 partitions. It is the Active partition and can cause problems e.g. if running an upgrade/repair install on Vista. It can be tricky if using a bcd editor to add entries for other o/s.

Dickstar · 21 Oct 2009

I'm not going to use bitlocker.

Thanks for the info. I'll keep this in mind. For now, I'm going to do an in-place install of 7 over my Vista. In the coming months I'm planning on buying an SSD and do a clean install on that one.

Nosmo · 31 Oct 2009

Is there any way to avoid the 100 mb partition if one runs setup from within XP and the only drive is C: and it is a single partition with no unallocated space?

nate42nd · 31 Oct 2009

If you run setup from within XP you will just get an error. I don't think it can be done.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

ignatzatsonic · 31 Oct 2009

Nosmo:

I would assume the instructions at the top of this thread would work. I used those instructions, although I had Vista, not XP.

Any particular reason you would start the install from within XP rather than booting from the Win 7 install CD? I don't know that it makes any difference, but I chose to boot from the disc and then dropped into the diskpart command.