With the proliferation of Windows XP systems, we are seeing more and
more people with this type of problem. The problem is the proprietary
NTFS filesystem. Most open source software has trouble with NTFS. Linux
should be able to read it, but writing it is another story. So most
likely you will not find an open source utility that can resize an NTFS
partition. However all is not lost. You can install Windows XP on a
FAT32 partition, and you should be able to find a utility that can work
with FAT32 no problem. Check to see what type of partition you are
using. If you are using NTFS, the easiest way to to just format your
hard drive and start from scratch. First delete all the partitions on
your drive, then create a new one that only uses part of your drive.
Then format it as NTFS or FAT32. When you install Windows XP it should
find the partition that you made for it, and install to it. You can then
pop in your Linux disks and the installer will take care of the rest. If
you don't want to delete your current install of Windows XP, then I
would suggest getting Partition Magic or something like it (you should
be able to find them at any computer store such as Staples or Future
Shop) and use that to resize your NTFS partition and then install Linux.
However you decide to go, it's best to back up all your data first just
in case ;-)

Good luck,

Jesse

On Fri, 2002-12-27 at 23:06, Pat Roche wrote:
> Does anyone know whether a hard drive can be partitioned in XP using FIPS? (I 
>apparently have 
> this open-source utility on CD, if I can figure out how to copy it onto a floppy in 
>MS-DOS.) Or 
> do most people use Partition Magic instead? If so, where's the cheapest place to get 
>that?
> 
> Pat

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