Shot in the dart?

[Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>]

Poor dart!

Craig Cardimon wondered: <<I need a hand in removing the partition  
from a second-hand computer. [WinXP] Does anyone know of freeware or  
shareware that could help me do this?>>

Nowadays, there's little reason to partion a desktop PC's hard disk  
unless you're running multiple operating systems or need partitions  
with different access rights to support different users. There are  
some minor efficiencies to be gained from using partitions instead of  
directories under other circumstances, but they're largely minor, and  
they increase the complexity of recovering from a disk crash.

So: use the Windows installation disk to reformat the hard disk any  
way you like, and reinstall everything. I do this as standard  
practice for any used computer I buy for a few reasons: it maps out  
any developing trouble spots on the drive, it eliminates spyware and  
other crap that has found its way onto the computer, it repairs any  
of the occasional glitches that happen when someone upgrades from  
previous versions of an operating system (particularly registry  
problems), it removes reams of cache files and other temporary  
garbage that never quite seems to be cleaned out, and it gives you a  
spanking new system to play with.

You could easily find various programs that remove partitions without  
having to reformat the drive. The one I've heard of most often is  
Norton PartionMagic (http://www.symantec.com/norton/products/ 
overview.jsp?pcid=sp&pvid=pm80), and I believe they offer a free  
demo, but there are others with good reputations.


----------------------------------------------------
-- Geoff Hart
ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
www.geoff-hart.com
--------------------------------------------------
***Now available***  _Effective onscreen editing_
(http://www.geoff-hart.com/home/onscreen-book.htm)


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.