Solved: Partition not visible/accessible

Hi everyone,

I partitioned my 40GB Seagate hard disk 10GB/30GB using the WinXP Professional install CD.

In the 10GB I installed WinXP with SP3.

After WinXP was installed and booted, I now notice I cannot see the 30GB partition anywhere. I even tried booting my PC with another WinXP drive, but same - the 30GB partition cannot be seen.

 

You need to format it.

 

How do I format it? - I can't even see it anywhere

 

What does it say in disk management about the partition? Goto start > Run, type compmgmt.msc and press enter. Disk Management will be under Storage in the list on the left. If it says it is free space, then right-click and click format.

 

here's a snapshot of the "Computer Management"

 

Same for unallocated space.

 

There is no option to format. When I right-click, I just get the following options:
New Partition
Properties
Help

When I go to New Partition, it looks as if it's asking me whether I want to se up a new partition WITHIN this partition.

 

It may do that.

I'd say then you have a couple of options, but not limited to:
a) Create new one within the old making it as large as possible (which will probably be all or less 8 MB)

b) Get a third party partitioner to format it. Something like GPARTED-LiveCD
http://gparted-livecd.tuxfamily.org/

 

it worked OK.

Thanks everyone

 

Good going.

You are welcome.

Have a great day!