Have laptop Acer aspire 5050. model ZR3. windows xp media center edition 2005.windows set up c:\"windows xp media center edition.Installed xp pro disk. Existing partitions. -artition1 <eisa ultilities>4997mb(336mb free) cartition2<acer>[fat32]54486mb<35714mbfree> Dartition3<acerdata>[fat32]54988mb<50911mbfree> Which partition do i install xp pro? or delete partion-then install windows where? Should i use c: partition since media center is located there. What is on partiton C,D? Thanks
well as is usually with relatavely new Acer machines, the first partition contains a preconfiguered recovery system. and this partition can't be reconfigured to be visible even by using 3rd party partitioners like the excelent Gparted (linux based LiveCD) well deleting the recovery partition would be much easier to understand, to delete the partitions i personally would use the Gparted LiveCD assuming you don't need the recovery partition & is therefor a waste of space the easiest thing to do would be to delete the recovery partition & c drive & install Win as usual but using NTFS instead of Fat32 as NTFS is a much more secure filesystem & isn't limited to 2GB filesize
Personally, I would start afresh. Unless you have data which you wish to keep like music, video etc, blast all to kingdom come and start with a clean slate. I favour two partitions - C: for system and programs and D: for data which is always kept... Donkey, I did not understand your point regarding the recovery partition. Are you saying that the recovery partition cannot be deleted or reclaimed if not needed?
no, the recovery partition is a very good idea but as you suggest for some users[ot]really reading between the lines[/ot] (most with an OS CD/DVD) it is uneccesary and just a waste of usable space, as i suggested i would delete the recovery partition & c drive & install Win in the customary fashion (boot Win CD/DVD) using all free space & install to NTFS[ot]thankies Saba, i need people like you to ensure i'm correct, please continue to query my answers[/ot]
