Can't partition hard dive, XP

My OS: Windows XP Home Edition SP3.

I'm trying to make a partition on my second hard drive by this method: Computer Management>Disk Management>Disk D (my second hard drive).

According to Microsoft help: "To create a partition or logical drive, using the Windows interface Open Computer Management, In the console tree, click Disk Management." (which I did, no problem)

Microsoft help also says, "Right-click an unallocated region of a basic disk and then click New Partition, or right-click free space in an extended partition, and then click New Logical Drive. In the New Partition Wizard, click Next, click Primary partition, Extended partition, or Logical drive, and then follow the instructions on your screen."

I can not find 'unallocated region' to right click. I tried right clicking everything but no menu came up for 'New Partition and I'm logged on as the administrator.

I also tried to format drive D but got an error message, 'Window cannot format this drive. Quit any disk utilities or other programs......etc.' I made sure nothing was running or open except my Sygate firewall and AVG anti virus.

What am I doing wrong?

 

I have never used Windows Disk Management tool for partitioning. Instead I have happily used PowerQuest's Partition Magic for many years. But since the tool has been acquired by Symantec, I can honestly no longer recommend it.

I hear good things about Gparted (http://majorgeeks.com/GParted_Live_d5757.html); maybe you should give it a try?

 

If this is a new disk, it'll need to be initialised before you can create a partition.