Partitioning

Page updated: 18 March 2006

Contents List - Click on one or just scroll down

The Benefits of Partitioning

Summary of How to Setup a New Machine with Partitions

Creating a Ranish Partition Manager (RPM) Floppy

Creating a CD-ROM DOS Disk

Ranish Partition Manager (RPM) User Guide

How to install RPM onto a new machine

My 2x Disk Partition Tables

Possible Configurations of my Computer

How to create a new Windows XP Partition

How to reinstate RPM after installing an 'unfriendly' operating system

Management of your partitions

How to copy a partition

Once you've built you computer, you need to load some software onto it.
Until you do, all that will run when you switch it on is the
Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), which runs from a chip on the motherboard
and performs the basic board level operations.
This section describes your options and my recommendation.

This page explains how partition tables work: http://www.ata-atapi.com/hiwtab.htm
This is a brilliant page for answers most questions: http://www.computercraft.com/docs/evsterms.shtml#Partition

Don't forget my other pages which contain info and software for partitioning: Freesoftware Page & Links Page

The Benefits of Partitioning

Most people buy a ready made machine with software already installed.
Often they get one partition on their disk. This means the disk looks like one place,
normally C:, to store the operating system, applications and their data. Each place
like this on a disk is called a partition.
Now, it is possible to create more than one partition on a disk. This has many advantages.
You can separate the operating system & applications from your data. And, you can then
make copies of these partitions in other partitions, so that should disaster strike, such as
a virus which you can't get rid of, or deleting some data that you want back, you have a
quick way to recover. You can copy an old version of the operating system partition
over the corrupted one, or copy data from a backup partition onto your normal data
partition.
The worst setup, in my opinion, is one partition and an operating system recovery disk.
When disaster strikes, you may have to start from scratch.
With multiple partitions, you have many recovery options available. And all relatively
quick to implement. Usually in less than 10 minutes.

Summary of How to Setup a New Machine with Partitions

Assuming you have a new machine, with no software loaded, this section describes what
you can do. You can also do this if you add a new disk as the master disk. This may well
be the easiest method if you have software already loaded. For as little as £43, you can buy
a 60GB Excelstor disk drive, make it the master disk, partition it, then copy data from
your original disk.
So, here's what you need to do, starting with a new disk drive.

1. Download Ranish Partition Manager (RPM)
2. Extract the .zip file.
3. Make an RPM bootable floppy or CD-ROM
4. Setup RPM on your disk
5. Install your operating system
6. Reinstate RPM after installing an 'unfriendly' operating system.
7. Set up your operating system

The following sections explain how to achieve the above.

Creating a Ranish Partition Manager (RPM) Floppy

First download the latest version (currently v2.43 by Mathu) from: www.ranish.com/part

This will create a compressed folder called something like partbeta.
Double-click on this to create an uncompressed folder called partbeta.
You also need to download the DRDOS floppy bootup software.
This can be found via the XOSL link at www.xosl.org in the download area.
Look for DRDOS 7.03 159k zip file.
As before double-click on DRDOS.zip to create DRDOS.

You need real mode DOS. I don't yet know how to do it in a DOS window.
I originally did this on an old computer with Windows 3.1, which boots into real DOS first.
If you've set the computer up the way I have you have a DRDOS partition from which to boot.
If so put the relevant files somewhere accessible from there.
With a floppy in A: do the following:

rawrite drdos.img a:
copy part243.exe a:\rpm.exe
copy part241_cmd.exe a:\rpm_cmd.exe
copy cws1dpmi.exe a:
copy *.txt a:

This will give you two commands when you boot with the floppy:

rpm – the window version of RPM
rpm_cmd – the command line version

Creating a CD-ROM DOS Disk

This is what you need if you want a CD with RPM on it.

Bart's Method Resources

BCD v1.1.1 download page
http://www.nu2.nu/download.php?sFile=bcd111.zip

Nero wnaspi32.dll file download page
http://www.nero.com/nero6/en/WNASPI32.DLL.html

BFD v1.0.7 download page
http://www.nu2.nu/download.php?sFile=bfd107.zip

CDRomSi download page
http://www.nu2.nu/download.php?sFile=cdromsi.zip

I've followed Bart's instructions for "Bootable Dos CD-Rom (single boot image)".
You do not need to do anything with the .CAB files.
I added files from the RPM folder eg part243.exe
It booted into DOS on the laptop, but I got "CPU is running in protected mode, but DPMI is not available" when trying to run RPM.
I need to run CWSDPMI.EXE before running RPM each time, so I'm adding that to the CDROM.
That all works fine :)
 

DOS

Bart's way to create bootable CD-Roms (for Windows/Dos). Lots here.
http://www.nu2.nu/bootcd/
 

Windows Install Disk

If you have been given a recovery disk for Windows, you will need to make your own install CD.
Here's some info. Search for "bootable cd".

BootDisk - Simple descriptions of simple ways to create bootable CDs from bootable floppies
http://www.bootdisk.com/nero.htm

ComputerHope
How to create a bootable diskette
http://www.computerhope.com/boot.htm
How to make a bootable CD
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000669.htm

Microsoft - How to Create an El Torito Bootable CD-ROM
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/167685/EN-US/

nu2 - This also includes information on how to create a Bootable Windows XP Installation CD-Rom
http://www.nu2.nu/bootcd/

Ultimate Boot CD - A huge list of stuff on here - including a long list of useful free programs
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

BurnOnce
http://www.burnatonce.com/index.htm?downloads

WinImage
http://www.winimage.com/download.htm

WinISO
http://www.winiso.com/download.htm
 

Resizing an NTFS partition

The Ntfsresize Frequently Asked Questions
http://mlf.linux.rulez.org/mlf/ezaz/ntfsresize.html
 

Ranish Partition Manager (RPM) User Guide

This is my recommended tool for partitioning your disk drive(s) and controlling bootup.
If you haven't used it before, get to know it without the chance of corrupting your disk by
running the simulator in Windows eg part244sim.exe.

RPM Keys

A

Make floppy disk that boot RPM ????

B

Toggle boot flag on a partition

C

Copy partition

D

Copy entire disk

E

Erase partition

F

Format FAT16/FAT32 partition

H

Hide/unhide partition

V

Verify partition's surface

F1

Help

F2

Save partition infomation into MBR & Boot Manager

F3

Undo

F4

Switch between partition numbernig systems

F5

Display next disk

F6

?

F7

Save location of boot manager only.
This allows recovery of partition information.

F8

?

F9

?

F10

Simulate boot manager

Insert

1st press -> Display list of partition types
2nd press -> Allows entry of partition type number

Delete

Deletes partition

Cursor keys

To move around the display

Enter

If on “Master Boot Record” -> Allows editing of MBR
If on “Unused” partition -> Start partition wizard

Spacebar

Will rub out a row number if in the row column
Will toggle the options while editing the MBR

The thing that may throw you at first is that RPM alters the screen to be helpful.
This includes moving the partition you are editing up/down to it's correct position.
Just be prepared for this & watch the screen !

How to install RPM onto a new machine

Switch on and press 'DEL' to get into the CMOS setup.
Set the boot sequence to start with the floppy, then hard disk.
Put the RPM floppy in and reboot.
Enter all the partition information you've already worked out roughly on paper (or copied mine).
Set the partition you want to install onto as #1 and '>' to make it bootable.
Also number the partitions to be used by that OS eg with Linux the swap and common data
partitions.
Save it with F2.
Remove the RPM floppy, and put the appropriate install CD/floppy in.
Reboot and if necessary change the boot sequence again.
Install the OS into the selected partition.
Note: Always put it into the existing partition you want it it – not in 'free' space which really
has other things in it !
With some installs you will have reinstate the RPM.
Repeat for each OS you want to install.
After a few failures you'll get used to changing the boot sequence and changing the
partition table with RPM.

My 2x Disk Partition Tables

Master Boot Record

0/0/1

0/0/1

Unused

0/0/2

0/254/63

Caldera DRDOS 7.03

0x04

FAT16 (<32MB)

0/1/1

12

100MB

Free

Windows Swap

0x0C

Windows FAT32 LBA

1335

1537

1.6GB

Windows XP 5

0x07

Windows NT NTFS

1538

2403

6,956,145

Windows XP 4

0x07

Windows NT NTFS

2404

3269

6,956,145

Redhat Linux

0x83

Linux Native Ext2fs

3270

4149

7GB

Mandrake Linux

0x83

Linux Native Ext2fs

4150

4899

6GB

Linux Swap

0x82

Linux Swap

4900

5201

1GB

Windows XP 3

0x07

Windows NT NTFS

5202

6067

6,956,145

Windows XP 2

0x07

Windows NT NTFS

6068

6933

6,956,145

Windows XP 1

0x07

Windows NT NTFS

6934

7799

6,956,145

Common Data

0x0C

Windows FAT32 LBA

7800

14944

57,392,212

Boot Manager

0xF0

Boot Manager

14945

14945

Disk 2

Master Boot Record

0/0/1

0/0/1

Unused

0/0/2

0/254/63

Free

1

3915

Windows XP 6

0x07

Windows NT NTFS

3916

4781

6,956,145

Common Data

0x0C

Windows FAT32 LBA

4782

7271

20,000,925

Windows Swap

0x0C

Windows FAT32 LBA

7272

7474

1,630,597

Boot Manager

0xF0

Boot Manager

7475

7475

Possible Configurations of my Computer

Disk 1: >1 Windows NT NTFS

6934

C: Windows XP 1

Disk 1: 2 Windows FAT32 LBA

7800

D: Common Data

Disk 1: 3 Windows FAT32 LBA

1335

E: Windows Swap

Disk 2: >1 Windows FAT32 LBA

4782

F: Common Data Backup

Disk 1: >1 Linux Ext2fs

4150

Mandrake Linux

Disk 1: 2 Windows FAT32 LBA

7800

Common Data

Disk 1: 3 Linux Swap

4900

Linux Swap

Disk 1: >1 Linux Ext2fs

3270

Redhat Linux

Disk 1: 2 Windows FAT32 LBA

7800

Common Data

Disk 1: 3 Linux Swap

4900

Linux Swap

If running Windows XP it is important to set the XP partition as #1, and the common data
partition, which contains data and applications as #2. That way XP will be C: and the
data/applications will be on D:.

To run a different XP move the '1' and the boot pointer.

#3 & #4 are free for accessing another 2x partitions. This is useful for repairing or transferring
data to the DOS partition for example.

To run Linux, put #1 against the OS and #2 against the common data. Put #3 against the linux
swap partition.

That leaves #4 for other things.

The disk can be configured for different tasks. For each task the disk has a specific 'image'.

How to create a new Windows XP Partition

You should really backup your data just in case !!!!
This takes about 55 minutes on a Athlon 2400+

First to create the partition in RPM:

Reboot and go into RPM with 0.
Find the unused area
Move to the 'File System Type' column.
Press INS twice and type '7' = Windows NT NTFS, enter.
Your are now on the start column. Change the 'Starting Cyl' number to give the
right size partition.
You can use the number pad +/- keys to increment/decrement when you're close.
Now update you paper partition table.
Move to the 'row' column, moving up/down with the cursor keys.
Press 'b' on the current booting partition to inactivate it.
Press 'space' on the numbers to make them unavailable.
Put '1' and press 'b' on the new partition.
F2 to save that.
Reboot.

Now to install Windows XP:

Press DEL to go into BIOS.
Cursor down & enter to enter the 'Advanced BIOS Features'.
Change boot order to boot from CD first (enter, cursor, enter).
Put Windows XP CD in.
'Esc' back to main menu & F10 to save.
Press 'space' when it says "Boot from CD ?"
When it says 'setup windows XP' press 'enter'.
Agree to terms with F8.
Install XP INTO THE C: PARTITION (NOT ANYWHERE ELSE !!!!!!!).
Select NTFS Quick format (this is normally OK).
Don't touch the keyboard from now while it's rebooting – just answer questions.
When XP is installed reboot.

Now to reinstate RPM:

Go into BIOS and set it to boot from floppy (as above).
Put RPM floppy in.
'Esc' & F10 from BIOS.
When floppy booted.
Type 'rpm' enter.
At 'Master Boot Record' press enter.
Press space on 'MBR Executable Code' to select boot manager.
Cursor down one to 'Boot Interface Type'
Press 'space' to get Text 25x80.
Press esc.
Move to bottom empty partition with cursor down.
Press INS and select boot manager using cursor & 'enter'.
Change 'Starting Cyl' to same as 'End Cyl' (14945 on my 120GB Maxtor drive).
This should be the last whole cylinder.
Change number by using 'backspace' and typing number.
Press F7
Answer ok.
Remove floppy & reboot (DO NOT PRESS F2)
Go back into RPM with 0 and check it's all back OK.
Reboot, and set BIOS to boot from HD0.

Now you have a new Windows XP partition

How to reinstate RPM after installing an 'unfriendly' operating system

Go into BIOS and set it to boot from floppy (as above).
Put RPM floppy in.
'Esc' & F10 from BIOS.
When floppy booted.
Type 'rpm' enter.
At 'Master Boot Record' press enter.
Press space on 'MBR Executable Code' to select boot manager.
Cursor down one to 'Boot Interface Type'
Press 'space' to get Text 25x80.
Press esc.
Move to bottom empty partition with cursor down.
Press INS and select boot manager using cursor & 'enter'.
Change 'Starting Cyl' to same as 'End Cyl' (14945 on my 120GB Maxtor drive).
This should be the last whole cylinder.
Change number by using 'backspace' and typing number.
Press F7
Answer ok.
Remove floppy & reboot (DO NOT PRESS F2)
Go back into RPM with 0 and check it's all back OK.
Reboot, and set BIOS to boot from HD0.

Management of your partitions

The most important rule is KEEP THE PARTITION TABLE ON A PIECE OF PAPER.
The second one is KEEP IT UP TO DATE !
With that you can always reinstate RPM if you muck up.

I suggest to keep a log of when you backup your main XP partition to another.
It will also help if you keep a log of what installs etc to do in date & time order.
That way you can overwrite a mucked up XP with an older one of a known state, knowing
what needs to be done to get it back the way you like it.

To avoid booting into the wrong version of XP I suggest changing the username of your copies.

How to copy a partition

So far I've only done this with partitions the same size.
So first check that the two partitions you want to use are the same size.
Take care – don't overwrite a good partition !
To do it, use RPM, so reboot and press '0' at the RPM bootup menu:

Move up/down to highlight the source partition
Press 'c'
Move up/down to select the destination partition.
CHECK that you've got it right !!!!
Press Enter
Think again, and press confirm

This copies a 7Gbyte partition in about 4 minutes with an XP2400+ processor
The partition table has not been changed. Only data has been copied between partitions.
So, you can now just leave RPM with 'esc', and boot as normal.

©2004 https://www.angelfire.com/hi5/neuralnetwriter/

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