I need help partitioning External HD for Windows XP.
 

I am trying to partition my external hard drive (Western Digital My Book) so I can install Windows XP on it. I tried several times with my standard Ubuntu Partition Editor,but it either cannot or refuses to partition it in NTFS format which is required for Windows XP. If possible, what is the best way to format the My Book to NTFS format?

Thank You for any advice

Welcome to LQ
Try gparted
You need to unmount the drive in gparted in order to format.

I tried partitioning it with gparted, but I am unable to set it up as NTFS. I am able to set it up as FAT 32 and other various formats, but this does not allow me to install Windows XP on it.

The latest verson of gparted should be able to format to NTFS
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/features.php
You can download the latest lice cd.

BTW, when you boot the XP CD, it will format the drive to NTFS, or did I missed something ?

I just tried that after I read your message and it is very strange.
The Windows CD asks if I want to create a partition by pressing C. I press C and tell it to set up a 150,000 MB hard drive partition. However, when I try to install Windows on the new partition, it tells me the section is not a Windows Compatible partition.

You could try cfdisk.
http://manual.sidux.com/en/part-cfdisk-en.htm

I have GParted 0.4.3. Is this version new enough to partition in NTFS format?

The latest version is 0.4.6.1
I would suggest to download the iso, and burn to CD

I prefer not to deal with ISO files. Can I use install GParted Live 0.4.6 with the Zip version?

Probably

I finally formated my External Hard Drive to NTFS format.:hattip::D;)
This hard drive format is not compatible with Windows Partition.:banghead::doh::cry:

Are you sure you are installing to the correct drive ?

Yes, but always a good question to ask. While in a computer lab one of the computers was not being used and everyone told the person walking in the door it was broken. After I plugged the monitor back not the electrical socket, the computer worked just fine.:D

I am moving to plan B. Do what ever it takes to unmount my current main hard drive and dual boot with Windows. I will first attempt this without deleting everything off of the hard drive. If that fails, I will have to delete everything and then install Windows, followed by Ubuntu.

Seems to me Microsoft has yet to offer an install to USB or Firewire drives.
Windows will refuse to install on external Drives.

If you guys have find a way to install a OEM MS Windows in an USB drive and able to boot it, let me know as this will be a ground breaking discovery.