Partition??

[DPalmz]

I was wondering...i already have windows XP installed and running.  Theres 37 gigs left on my 80 gig drive.  Can i partition say 25 gigs of that free space and install the same version of my XP?? i would like to try tweaking and stuff and see how it affects my gaming??  I just dont want to tweak and mess up my current system settings.  If i deleted certain registry files in the "new" installed xp would it delete it from both? Just things like these i would like know?
Thanks

[Allan]

Yes you can do that and no, registry changes in one installation will not effect the other.

[DPalmz]

so if i partition the drive when i reboot my computer will it give me the option or something to pick what one i startup??  And if i end up liking how the new installed one works...can i format the old one and add that space to my new one??  I'm also doing this because i would like to learn how to format and install Windows XP properly from a blank drive...and this would be the easiest way to not mess my current system up?? Testing my installation skills before and see if things work properly before i do it to the entire drive.  So each partition will be completely different? i can install different video card drivers and sound drivers?? or will this create problems?

[Allan]

so if i partition the drive when i reboot my computer will it give me the option or something to pick what one i startup??

Yes

 And if i end up liking how the new installed one works...can i format the old one and add that space to my new one??

I wouldn't. I would backup all critical data, format the entire hard drive, and create a new installation on c: drive. It is always best when c: is your system partition.

 I'm also doing this because i would like to learn how to format and install Windows XP properly from a blank drive...and this would be the easiest way to not mess my current system up??

Is that a question? If so, it's A way - the easiest way? I don't know.

Testing my installation skills before and see if things work properly before i do it to the entire drive.  So each partition will be completely different? i can install different video card drivers and sound drivers?? or will this create problems?

You HAVE to install new drivers in the new installation (starting with the chipset driver)

[DPalmz]

aweseome!!  Thanks Allan!!  yeah im gonna install xp on the partition and make sure i do it correctly and once its good...ill do a complete format or everything and copy cat exactly what i did!
if i have an Asus A7N8X-X Mobo i would need the nVidia nForce 2 or something??

[DPalmz]

I'm looking at my specs of my motherboard and under chipsets they have this...Northbridge: NVIDIA nForce2 400 and Southbridge: NVIDIA nForce2 MCP
do i need to install both of those??

[Allan]

Go to the website of your computer manufacturer and download and install the chipset driver from there.

[Computer_Commando]

Why not create an image with Macrium Reflect?  If you mess up the WinXP, you can restore the image.  You should be doing this, anyway.
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

[Allan]

I agree completely. I always suggest creating an image before performing any disk level operation.

[patio]

Also consider since it's XP just setting up a new Hardware Profile...
It's selectable at bootup and if your fiddling around goes South it will not affect your original profile and can be deleted to start over...

Just a thought...