A bigger HD?

[Submeg]

Ok the thing is, my HD is partitioned now - with like 200 MB or something (I might be wrong on the numbers, but it is small) used for storing the info that help on the install of windows. Windows itself is installed on the other, main partition. That's the one I'm talking about. Confused much??

[Harrison]

Some PC builders do such strange things with their HD partitions and setups. Don't worry about that. It isn't important or needed. They sometimes create a small partition that holds the contents of the original Windows install CD. The system can then use that if needed instead of needing to request that you insert the Windows install CD. The number of times I've needed to reuse the Windows CD on my main system is probably 3 times in the last 2 years, so it is just a waste of HD space.

Laptop makers also have a habit of splitting HDs in half and using the second half as a backup partition for system restoring. Again that is pointless and not worth the bother. In my experience it is quicker to just format the HD and do a fresh reinstall of Windows than to try and rebuild the existing one from the backup partition.

So just partition your new drive into a main Windows C: partition and install Windows and all your applications onto that. And a second files/games D: partition, using the rest of the space on the disk.

Don't worry about any small system or backup partitions. They are just a waste of HD space.

BTW, do you have an original Windows install CD? I just thought that if they have included a partition on the HD with the files they might have done that to cut costs and not bother including a proper install disk with the laptop.

If you don't have an install CD, but you do have a legal Windows XP serial number then I could send you a copy of the install disk to use.

[Submeg]

Ok well that's ok then I get it. Yes I do have the cd, I still have all my cds for my laptop. I don't need partitions, I guess I could install my uni programs on another partition, but meh