Partitioning a HDD with data on it

[surreal1221]

Well, seems my prior issues have revisited me.

In the end, my 50 or so gb HDD has taken a dump. It was my primary HDD, and housed the OS.

As such, my computer will not boot. Before I rush into ripping it out (which will occur), and formating my 320gb backup I have a quick question.

Is it possible through MSDOS to partition a drive without losing the data that is currently stored on said drive?

The 320gb drive was my storage drive for music, etc. Before I go and install Windows XP on it though I want to partition it out so that the OS is only stored on a small portion of the drive (say 25-30gb). But, I don't know if I can partition the drive through DOS or the Windows XP setup disk without losing my 70-80gb of data already on the drive.

Thanks guys, any advice you have would be spectacular. Just remember I can't get into Windows XP, and if I could - considering my attempts last night - it'd take days on end to do what I could easily do in a few moments through DOS

 

[RebateMonger]

Making partition modifications on drives with data is always risky. I would never do it without backups. It sounds like you are going to be needing a new drive for backups anyway. Consider just picking up a new 320 GB (or larger) drive (they are only $60 or so) and using that for the new system. That way, you'll still have a backup drive and zero risk of losing your data in the transition.

 

[surreal1221]

Appreciate it. I just pulled out the 60gb drive that is dead. I'm going to just end up installing XP onto the 320 once I move the jumpers around and get it going. Once I have the desktop operating again I'll attack the partitions then after I make backups of my data.

 

[surreal1221]

And now. . .

- The 320gb drive is set up as the single drive now.
- Windows XP setup disk is placed into the computer
- Press Any Key to boot from CD prompt. . .
- I press any key. . .

Moments later. . .

NTLDR is missing.

I've tried the suggestions here: http://tinyempire.com/notes/ntldrismissing.htm, but I still can't get the XP cd to load.

Suggestions so I can just install XP onto the damn drive?

 

[redbeard1]

Was the 320 used previously, even as just a data drive? While normally you should not have to, you may need to delete the partition(s) on that drive before you install XP on it. If you have a way to download and burn a gparted cd, you could use it to delete the partiton.

 

[surreal1221]

Yes, it was a data drive. Stores all my music, videos, photos, etc.

I ended up tossing the old HDD back into the system to get around the NTLDR fault. But now, when running the XP setup the Setup tells me that it can not access the disk.

*banghead*

I've got a feeling I'm going to have to simply format and lose my data. Won't be the end of the world of course, just a huge pain in the ass.

 

[surreal1221]

Nevermind, after running the setup a couple times it finally noticed it.

Going to give an installation a shot.