partitioning HDD without reinstalling windows xp?

[fael097]

hi, i have 1 hdd unpartitioned, with win xp (32bit), and i want to partition this hdd to instal win7, but i dont want to have to format it, or reinstall windows, or lose/backup any files. how do i do that?
thanks in advance

 

[Ghostman 1]

So , what you want is a dual boot system right ? this can All be done with Partition magic, You will need to shrink down the first partition and make another one for windows 7....
First of all, HOW big is your hard drive ????

 

[donkey42]

So , what you want is a dual boot system right ? this can All be done with Partition magic

wash your mouth out with soap & water,
personally I'd either use something from Acronis or i'd use the excellent G parted by downloading either the LiveCD or make a Live USB pen drive

BTW: after resizing C drive run

chkdsk /f

which will test the drive for some errors and fix them accordingly

Note: many users of HWF have suffered data loss while using PM, including myself, which is why i can't recommend it

 

[Ghostman 1]

I guess you have had some BAD memories using PM, I have had NO problems with it ...

 

[donkey42]

I guess you have had some BAD memories using PM

that's a lot of an understatement

fortunately i also had luck with testdisk (also on gparted LiveCD), i even used testdisk to recover a partition on a HDD i accidentally wiped using DBAN

[ot]not a good day[/ot]

I have had NO problems with it ...

well you've being very lucky