How to Resize Partitions in Windows XP with Partition Management Software

Want to resize partitions in Windows XP? For resizing partitions in Windows XP, Disk Management is not a good choice because it may lead to data loss. Don't worry, you can use a free partition manager for Windows XP.

The原始方法 of hard disk partitioning prior to Windows XP

Back in the old DOS days, there was a utility called “Fdisk” that you ran before installing an operating system to create, delete, activate, and format partitions. Fdisk was excruciatingly slow when creating new partitions on a hard drive. It typically took at least 20 minutes to partition a 40 GB drive into four partitions, not counting do-overs for mistakes.

It was the only tool I had for partitioning disks when I started using computers a few years ago, before installing Windows XP.

Partitioning a hard drive using the Disk Management tool in Windows XP

After installing the Windows XP operating system, I used its built-in Disk Management tool to partition the Windows XP hard drive. This tool includes basic partition functions such as formatting, creating, and deleting partitions, making it faster and easier to partition a Windows XP hard drive than using Fdisk.

However, if you want to resize partitions in Windows XP without third-party software, you need to delete both partitions and create new ones (or just one), and then format the new partition. This is very complicated, and most importantly, you have to copy all the files from the source partition elsewhere, because resizing a partition in XP will cause data loss.

In other words, if you want more advanced features to maximize your Windows XP performance, you need a third-party XP partition manager.

You're also interested in backup tools to prevent data loss:

Free Backup Software & Tools for Windows XP in 2022

How to back up your Windows XP system, disk partitions, or files? The best backup software for Windows XP in 2022 can help you back up your XP system, disks, partitions, and data easily.

A Safer, Easier Way to Partition a Windows XP Hard Drive

I once searched for a reliable Windows XP partitioning solution on Google.com and Download.com, and finally found the partition manager software Partition Master.

MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition is, as the name suggests, totally free. My elders always told me that there's no such thing as a free lunch. But that saying doesn't apply to this software. It worked great when I needed to reinstall Windows XP.

Step 1: Locate and select the target drive/partition

Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, enter "Partition Management" interface, select the hard drive/partition you need to resize, right-click and choose "Resize/Move".

< b >Step 2: Resize or move the partition</b>

1. To shrink it, simply drag one of the endpoints into the unallocated free space. Click “OK” when you're done.

2. To expand the partition, you must have unallocated space next to it (if not, create some by following the steps above). Drag the mouse over the unallocated space. Click “OK.”

3. To move a partition, unallocated space must be present next to the partition you wish to move. If there isn't any, free some up first.

Right-click on the partition you want to move, and select “Resize/Move.” Drag the entire partition to the left or right to adjust its position. Click “OK” to confirm.

Step 3: Review the results and apply the changes

Here, you will see the new disk partition information and图表.

Resized disk partition information

To save the changes, click the Run Task button and then click Apply.

This free partition manager is perfectly suitable for hardware RAID and 32/64-bit Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7 and Windows 8 operating systems. It provides a convenient user interface to facilitate tasks, as well as allowing configuration and management of hard disk drive partitions.

Yes, I have tried some other Windows XP partition software. Some of them are too complicated and I don't dare to resize my partitions with them. Some even cause data/partition loss. AOMEI Partition Assistant has all the advantages of other partition software, at least I haven't found its disadvantages yet, except that its interface is not so cool.

This Windows XP partition software is a tool that you should not miss.