How do I create partition in windows 7home premium without formatting?

[gregrocker]

If you only want to shrink C to add another partition then there's no reason to use Partition Wizard. Use Disk Mgmt which is always safest. I gave you the steps in Post #6 over two weeks ago. I would not have given you specific steps if there was any risk involved.

 

[cyclic]

Use Disk Mgmt which is always safest.

I agree fwiw safest and not entirely slow, certainly not when you've waited for an atapi device to boot the DVD\CD.

 

[lyeetan]

If you only want to shrink C to add another partition then there's no reason to use Partition Wizard. Use Disk Mgmt which is always safest. I gave you the steps in Post #6 over two weeks ago. I would not have given you specific steps if there was any risk involved.

Hi. I had finished go through the ways that you suggested. As I know, the recovery partition in Dell Inspiron N5110 is a hidden partition on our hard drive that contains an exact copy of your computer's original factory software. Then, will be any error (such as factory restore can't be functioned for next time, etc) when I try to install another OS (such as Linux) for the new primary partition that just create?

 

[gregrocker]

The Recovery partition on Dell is volatile when it's hotlinked to the F8 Advanced Boot Tools menu and doesn't re-appear after a Clean Reinstall, so trying to impose GRUB on the HD might affect it. Save a Win7 backup image of the entire HD if you're concerned about it and make your Recovery disks if available: Dell Windows 7 PC Restore
Dell Recovery Partition - restoring F8 link

I do not see the standard Dell OEM bootable diagnostics partition. Did you delete it? Try booting it now to see: Dell Diagnostics Utility - How to Run the

To minimize the impact use these steps to Dual Boot - Windows 7 and Linux - Windows 7 Forums

But most tech enthusiasts wouldn't run the Dell factory preisntall of Win7 anyway, since it's loaded with bloatware and duplicate utilties with better versions built into Win7, which throttle and corrupt the best OS ever. So I would consider first doing a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 during which you delete all partitions, then after setup save a Win7 backup image to use in place of Recovery.

or at the minimum I'd Clean Up Factory Bloatware.

 

[lyeetan]

The Recovery partition on Dell is volatile when it's hotlinked to the F8 Advanced Boot Tools menu and doesn't re-appear after a Clean Reinstall, so trying to impose GRUB on the HD might affect it. Save a Win7 backup image of the entire HD if you're concerned about it and make your Recovery disks if available: Dell Windows 7 PC Restore
Dell Recovery Partition - restoring F8 link

I do not see the standard Dell OEM bootable diagnostics partition. Did you delete it? Try booting it now to see: Dell Diagnostics Utility - How to Run the

To minimize the impact use these steps to Dual Boot - Windows 7 and Linux - Windows 7 Forums

But most tech enthusiasts wouldn't run the Dell factory preisntall of Win7 anyway, since it's loaded with bloatware and duplicate utilties with better versions built into Win7, which throttle and corrupt the best OS ever. So I would consider first doing a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 during which you delete all partitions, then after setup save a Win7 backup image to use in place of Recovery.

or at the minimum I'd Clean Up Factory Bloatware.

Thanks a lot. Luckily I had go through your reply (advices) before I do any changes on my laptop. I'm really appreciate with your reply.

 

[gregrocker]

Let us know how it goes, or any questions you have as you go along.