This step-by-step article describes how to use the Windows XP Disk Management snap-in to configure a basic disk and prepare it for use. I got it from Microsoft KB article Q309000 .This simple information but it requires yours careful observation and Microsoft has written one very simple article on it. A basic disk is a physical disk that contains primary partitions, extended partitions, or logical drives. Partitions and logical drives on basic disks are also known as basic volumes. If you are running Windows XP Professional you must use basic volumes, because the operating system cannot access data that is stored on dynamic volumes.You create a full back up of your disk contents before you make any changes to your disks or volumes.
To start Disk Management:
- Log on as administrator or as a member of the Administrators group.
- Click Start, click Run, type compmgmt.msc, and then click OK.
- In the console tree, click Disk Management. The Disk Management window appears.
To create a new partition or logical drive on a basic disk:
- In the Disk Management window, complete one of the following procedures, and then continue to step 2:
- To create a new partition, right-click unallocated space on the basic disk where you want to create the partition, and then click New Partition.
- To create a new logical drive in an extended partition, right-click free space on an extended partition where you want to create the logical drive, and then click New Logical Drive.
- In the New Partition Wizard, click Next.
- Click the type of partition that you want to create (either Primary partition, Extended partition, or Logical drive), and then click Next.
- Specify the size of the partition in the Partition size in MB box, and then click Next.
- Decide whether to manually assign a drive letter, let the system automatically enumerate the drive, or do not assign a drive letter to the new partition or logical drive, and then click Next.
- Specify the formatting options you want to use .
- Confirm that the options that selected are correct, and then click Finish.
The new partition or logical drive is created and appears in the appropriate basic disk in the Disk Management window.
