I do them before... Don't know why

Don't know why...but his right!

If you decide to partition after installing software, be sure to DeFrag a couple of times before you do it. It helps to keep the "seek time" down for the read/write head.

I'd do it before, that way you avoid any drive letter change issues that can come up.

Well, if Windows XP was installed before doing the partitions , what is the procedures to follow to do three partitions using Windows XP ?

You can use OEM partitioning programs, for example the Norton Partition Magic

Actually during the setup portion of XP install you're given the opportunity to partition the disc(s)

You can do it before or after using proprietary software, I like Partition Magic and usually install the OS, then partition immediately afterwards.....

The "before" method needs a running PC that you can attach each drive to and the Partition Software is already installed on.

Do what you want......your choice.

I always partition before os installation. I have a stash of W98 bootable floppies loaded with fdisk. I also have a stash of floppy drives and cables for those PCs without an installed floppy drive.

I have not loaded an os in almost a year, but isn't there an option to partition the drive during os installation?

I always used NTFS as I believe it is far better that FAT32.

Win98 can only use FAT....

Using XP to partition is possible, but slow.....but 3 partitions are not possible using XP I believe, only 2.

I have never partitioned it before and have never had a problem. I have 3 different OS on one drive and always intalled one at a time. I use the Grub boot loader for my OS boot choice.

Steve

You can do before or after, before is simpler for some but since changing drive letters is simple in XP why it's simpler is a personal issue

If you do before be alert when installing XP and insure XP assigns the correct drive to boot to.

Go here for info.

What i do is when installing XP on a large disk, I create & format a small partition 20G using XP installation. Then i make & format the remainder of the disk. after i know what i will be storing (mp3, avi etc.) i re-partition the large on to my best estimate.

Nothing worse than having 48 movies on 1 part. and 6 on the other!

On the 20G section i use only for the operating system. If you need to re-install it you have very little to lose.

You can partition it after with GParted, a free partitioner from Sourceforge.net. If XP has been in use for awhile, you may need to un-fragment. Even then, the files may be scattered. I would do it before if at all possible.

I already installed Windows xp on my hard drive .

How I can remove windows Xp and re-format the drive?

Go to start / computer / right click the drive to be formatted and select format

Just do a format on another PC with the drive connected temporarily....but the logic of "why?" escapes me.......

May I also suggest that you use NTFS format, its supposedly "safer" than any FAT format.....

You don't have to remove anything. Set the parameter in the Cmos to boot of the CDrom. Boot with the XP cd. Don't choose repair. Choose new installation. Follow instructions untill you get to the stage where you can delete partition. Then you can delete the partition and re-setup the partitions. XP will also format the drive for you and it will re-install. That should be about the easiest way.

The hard way would be is to Fdisk the hard drive and create partitions by using a boot stiffy with fdisk.exe. In Fdisk you would choose how to setup and delete the partitions. You will then still boot with a XP cd and setup from there. Formatting the drive and install XP.

I have a question regarding "computer name" :

When Windows installed into a computer, after installation it gives it a name " computer name".

Is that name based on the processor code number or on Windows key number ?

You can call it anything you want, as long as it isn't too long

How can i change the computer name ?

In XP, click Start, Control Panel, System and then look for the Computer Name tab at the top. Click it. Change the name.

Or, if it is the Login name you are talking about, then Start, Control Panel, User Accounts, now edit your account or create a new user account.