[SOFwhitewolf]

i have a 160Gb hard disk with around 60Gs free space, i would like to shrink it it so i have a 40G partition to install xp, when i go to shrink it says i only have 9G space available. Why is it not showing the 60 thats free?

[Elvandil]

You may have files in the partition below that point. Try defragging. An offline defragger would be the best idea to move all the files to the front of the partition.

[SOFwhitewolf]

off line? as in windows defragger?

[Elvandil]

No. I meant a defragger that runs outside of Windows, like Paragon Total Defrag, or a defragger running from a boot CD. Some will show you what files are near the partition boundary and it may help if you knew which ones needed moving.

But you may be able to accomplish it with the Windows defragger and some other that has a boot time defrag to move the "unmoveable" files.

IObit Smart Defrag (Schedule and boot defrag.)
DefragMentor Lite (Boot-time and command-line.)

Or commercial ones, like O&O, Diskeeper, or Raxco.