Something of a newbie question.

I just got a new Dell XPS desktop that came installed with just a C:\ drive.

I'd kinda prefer to have separate drives for my programs and data.

I understand that Windows 7 has a disk management tool to create this.

BIG question is: If I shrink the C:\ drive in order to free up space for a new
partition, is that going to screw anything?

Experienced advice appreciated.

No. It has not done any harm to my laptop. Anyway, I would advise you to take a backup before you do this.

Check http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...n-my-hard-disk

I'm kindly recommend to run defragmentation few times before you are going to make shrink.

With Windows 7 do not shrink C: below 50 -60Gb UNLESS you move the "Users" folder and the "swap file" off C: onto larger available partitions.

I have my drives split into three partitions C: is the system (Windows) drive (50Gb) with a 10Gb partition (E for a fixed size swap file with the rest of the drive for data (and the "Users" folders).

I think no problem, you must leave enough space on C:
If the space on C: too small so application progress will slow and your computer speed will decline

Originally Posted by agusnew

I think no problem, you must leave enough space on C:
If the space on C: too small so application progress will slow and your computer speed will decline

With Windows 95 & 98 that would have been correct but as the question is about windows 7 .... ....

Windows makes it so hard to partition anything. Why can't they take the same approach Apple did with Mac? Disk Utility does the partitioning so elegantly.

I don't suggest shrinking your C drive to create another partition. Make sure that you have enough free space on your C drive for the OS and other programs load properly.