Can i partition a drive without actually splitting the drive in two parts?

By definition a partition is a division of the whole, so the answer to your original post is No, you can not make a partition without dividing (splitting) something.


With reference to your Additional Details posting -


You do know that the file structure for Vista and XP are different, both are NTFS but different types of file structure is used for data storage. This means you have to put XP and Vista on different Partitions, you can not boot 2 operating systems that are in one single partition (or Drive without partition) if the file structure is different.


You are also aware that you can not install XP as a bootable option if you already have Vista installed. You will have to delete Vista, load XP and get it functioning, then load Vista afterwards so that you can dual boot. Also do you realise that you will need to load ALL the programs you use twice, once in Vista and once in the XP. The registry entries will not be shared between the OS, they need there own exclusive copy.


Can i partition a drive without actually splitting the drive in two parts?
Hello,





(ANS) NOP!! in short the very process of creating a partition already splits the physical magnetic media into two or more. Even if you try to make the largest partition on a disk to use the maximum disk space there is always a tiny amount of disk space which is left over or which is unusable. It may only be 8 or 10megs but this is always the case.





**Alternative to partitioning: But you can create a folder on the partitioned disk %26amp; then assign it a separate logical drive letter.





for example:- you main hard disk might be hard disk 0, partition 0 i.e. drive C:\ which contains windows %26amp; is your system %26amp; boot drive. And in addition you might have drive 1 with drive letter D:\ but a folder called drive E:\





IvanCan i partition a drive without actually splitting the drive in two parts?
To dual boot as you say you have to partition your existing drive into two (or more partitions). I use Bootitng partition manager which will do what you want Contrary to what one answerer has said it is perfectly possible to have vista installed first then add XP to the setup,


here are some links
you can make new partitons by using the partition manager on the disk of the operating system you install
no not really if u are afraid just set up a temp partition or back your hard rive on to another disk.

tend skin