Partitioning--"Catastrophic Error"

BlindAssassin · Aug 2, 2008

Ok,
First of all, I would like to say I do know a good deal about computers.
I've tried at least 5 different partioning devices for vista, all of which come up with errors. The first 4, I thought, meh, maybe its just not working with my vista. Then, I use the tool ON VISTA, and it says "Catastrophic Error, Cannot Partition".
Any Ideas?
Im trying to set 40gb to use as a different Operating System, Windows XP, as I like both of them, and to use them both would be amazing. I do have both of their discs, just it won't partition correctly.
I have 90gb free of my 140gb harddrive, but I can not even GET to the window to select how much I want to partition before it says "Catastrophic Error".
Right now, I am trying a Disk Defragmentation, whether that will help me or not, I don't believe so. Im getting sort of desperate.
Its sort of rediculous how long I have been working on this...It should not be this hard.

All updates installed.
Windows Vista 32 Bit Home
HP Pavillion dv9000.

Please help me,
Thanks for all replies,
Austin.

CreepinJesus · Aug 3, 2008

Sorry to laugh, but "Catastrophic Error" just makes me chuckle

Anyway, do you have any partitions on your hard drive at the moment?

Fumz · Aug 3, 2008

Did you try the disk management tools within the OS?

Right click on Computer, select manage, select Disk Management. From there you should be able to see your partition. It's just a single 140GB partition now, right? If so, then highlight the partition and choose to shrink it. After you shrink the current partition by 40GB's, then select the free 40GB space and create a partition, then format it. Btw, this format will not take a few seconds like the initial Vista format.

From there you can then install XP normally, here's a guide that spells out how to dual boot with Vista already installed: How to dual boot Vista and XP (with Vista installed first) -- the step-by-step guide with screenshots The only thing you have to not freak out about is after you install XP, it will trash Vista's bootloader, so you have to restore it. This is easy and spelled out in the guide.

I'm doing what you're about to, dual booting XP and Vista. To be honest, I'm kicking myself for doing it. I have not seen XP since I loaded Vista. That partition is just a waste of hard drive space. Everything I thought I needed XP for can be done in Vista. There are alternatives, many posted here in the stickies: Software - Vista Forums

Some older games took a bit longer to get running right, but nothing that wasn't easily resolved, and overall, after doing some OS tuning, 64-bit Vista just cranks... much better than XP imho.

Bare Foot Kid · Aug 3, 2008

Hello all.

I just wanted to make sure this gets mentioned ...

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/127417-system-restore-points-stop-xp-dual-boot-delete.html

Later :shock:

Ted

BlindAssassin · Aug 3, 2008

@ CreepinJesus: I actually did laugh, as it was a weird named error. But then once I realized it was MY error, I sort of stopped..Meh..No problems caused by it, just can't go any further. As of now, I have 2 Partitions. One for Recovery, the other is my main.

@Fumz: I've tried that disk management thing on the vista as well. Thats where the "Catastrophic Error" come from. When I clicked "Shrink Volume" thats when the error occurred. I had no choice but to cancel it. BUT, when I inserted the Vista restore disc (As one of my friends told me I could partition that way...) I was able to see a drive that had 32gb on it, with the label X. It wasn't used at all. Whenever I enter normal bootup mode, however, you are unable to see it. I also can not see it in disc management either. I did try to create an "X" partition using a program, but if I can only see it with a Vista restore disc, and nothing else, then I am wondering where it came from.
I need Windows Xp for several programs that I use, such as Autocad 6 (Not the newest one...Doesn't work with Vista) and several games that I also like to play on my computer. Otherwise, I would stick with Vista ALL the way. Dualing with XP would be a lot better for me.

@Bare Foot Kid: I definitely knew to back up everything when I started =-D. I have a 500gb external, so I just threw everything I wanted to make sure was safe, there.

CreepinJesus · Aug 3, 2008

BlindAssassin said:
@Fumz: I was able to see a drive that had 32gb on it, with the label X.

I smell FAT32

Bare Foot Kid · Aug 3, 2008

Hello.

File Allocation Table - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Later :shock:

Ted

SCSIraidGURU · Aug 3, 2008

Was it on another computer? Does it show unallocated space? If it has partitions, remove them.

BlindAssassin · Aug 3, 2008

What do you mean by was it on another computer?
As of now, I deleted one partition that had 8gb of extra space. Tried to create another partition, and yet still a "Catastrophic Error".
I don't believe it is FAT32, as the program I used to create it, I was sure to check the NTFS, option.

EDIT: Merged the extra 8gb with my C drive using the Vista Tool on Disk Management. Everything went really smoothly. Still, unable to partition my C drive though. Does my computer have to be in Safe mode to do this?

EDIT: I followed the step by step instructions on how to do it that was given a couple posts above^. But during the command prompt part, when I typed "SHRINK". It said an unexpected error has occured. No shut down, just won't follow through.

BlindAssassin · Aug 3, 2008

Sorry for the double post, but instead of editing, I would also like to ask another quesiton in this Topic.
Would it be easier for me to run Windows XP on this computer, AND THEN partition the drive to include Vista? What would I lose in the process? Everything? Somethings?
Thanks.
Austin.

LeeTutor · Aug 3, 2008

Have you tried running chkdsk on the drive? Or running drive diagnostic programs (most manufacturers provide these for free)? And example of the latter:

Seagate Technology - SeaTools

LeeTutor · Aug 3, 2008

And as to your second question: Microsoft Virtual Pc 2007 is a free download available from Microsoft; it is the first version of this program that is compatible with Windows Vista. An overview of its features is presented here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/overview.mspx
Microsoft Virtual Pc 2007 Product Information
MS Virtual PC 2007 is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, and works with Windows Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions, as well as Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Professional, and Windows XP Tablet Edition. (When you try to install VPC 2007 on a Vista Home Premium pc, it will give you a warning about not being compatible, but I have seen pages on the internet from people who have said it works perfectly well with that version of Vista, and I also have a friend who has done it successfully.)

With Virtual PC 2007, you have the program installed in your main OS (Operating System), called the "host OS", and as many virtual machines (each with possibly a different OS) as you can comfortably handle with your amount of memory and disk storage. Each virtual machine is called a "guest OS." You can pause any guest OS virtual machine so that it doesn't use CPU cycles, and you can save and restore the configuration file at any time. With the Virtual Machine Additions installed, you can copy and paste, and drag and drop between the host and guest OS. Each guest OS will be able to handle any CD or DVD drive on the computer, and you can set it up to be able to access hard drive partitions. The guest OS can also access the internet through a web browser. With the current version of VPC, the guest unfortunately cannot access any USB devices.

TheShadow · Aug 3, 2008

Why not just make life a whole lot simpler for yourself,.....and install a second HD for your second OS and let the BIOS be your boot manager?

That's what I do, and I NEVER have any problem with the two OS's on my one PC.

I also use each drive as a backup to the other, where I store Ghost Images of one drive on the other drive. If one drive crashes (actually WHEN, not IF ) then I don't loose everything. In fact I loose nothing.

Think about it.......

The Shadow :cool:

SCSIraidGURU · Aug 3, 2008

8GB or 8MB? Was it an 8MB partition left at the end of a drive. Can you post a picture of the disk management screen?

kruger · Aug 4, 2008

I would venture to say, if you have everyting important backed up already, the quickest and easiest way to get your system to dual boot would be to just install XP first. Create both partitiions during the XP install and then once XP is up and running, install your flavor of Vista.

or...... Acronis Disk Director works very well with Vista

HyperL · Aug 5, 2008

Wow...first of all, I want to say that this is the funniest named error I have ever seen.
Secondly, if you say that you have an 500gigs backup drive, then my friend, just save EVERYTHING that you might want from you internal hdd and then just delete from win xp installation the partition and recreate it as you want. As I know, there are some partitioning tools that are incompatible with vista and even if they seem to work fine, they don't, so for every partitioning problem you should stick with System Management Tool from vista. Unfortunately it doesn;t have advanced partitoning option but with the basiscs you can do everything you need.
So, get to work and start installing...Good luck!

johngalt · Aug 5, 2008

You do realize that you might have just deleted a Windows Recovery partition set up by your OEM? the reason it is not accessible is so you won't do something like this....

Partitioning--"Catastrophic Error"

New Member

My Computer

My Computer

Buggin

My Computer

R.I.P. August 13th 2014

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

My Computer

R.I.P. August 13th 2014

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

Vista Expert - MVP

My Computer

Vista Expert - MVP

My Computer

Retired PC Builder

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

Antidisestablishmentarianist

My Computers