Hi folks,
I need to make a new partition on a hard drive running windows 2000. The new partition needs to be the first one on the disk (Crazy Compaq weirdness). Can this be done and still save the data that will be on the Windows partition?
I am running Ubuntu 6.06 live disc to try and partition this drive. The computer is a Compaq Armada 7400. What program works best for a non-programmer? Any things to watch out for, be aware of?

Thanks,
Crimsonkil

I typically use Gparted Live CD. It's a nice gui like Partition Magic and has the ability to move and resize NTFS partitions.

A couple of tips:
1) Backup any important data (which you should do on a regular basis anyway) since Murphy always seems to poke his head in.
2) Defragment the windows partition -- you might have to turn off "Virtual Memory" and "Hibernate" functions as these result in "Unmovable Files".
3) When you're done, you might have to edit the boot.ini file in Windows to adjust for the fact that you just moved it to a different partition.
4) After resizing/moving whatever you're going to do, the first thing you should do is boot into windows and make sure it all works. Then you can carry on with whatever you're trying to do.

So far I've not had a Windows install mess up by resizing it. It just checks the disk the first time you boot it up. But I've never tried moving one either...

Just out of curiosity, what are you trying to do and why do you think the new partition needs to be at the front?

Compaq had software that interfaces with the BIOS that has to be in the first partition and the partition has to be called "Diags". Cannot get the computer to recognize a new HD without it. Hate compaq, but got this laptop for $50. The old hard drive is dying and I want to put a new one in. I run Ubuntu on my laptop, but the person I am giving this one to needs windows.

-crimsonkil

I would just get a new replacement 2.5" hdd having some number of sectors or bigger than the dying hard disk, put it in an enclosure, hook it up to the laptop as a USB hard disk, boot up Ubuntu, execute the terminal command
When it is done I swap the hard disk.

Done this a few time on several laptops.

Worked like a charm! Thank you so much!

-Crimsonkil

Thanks for letting us know the solution worked for you.