There are several good Open Source free partition software programs available. One of the best that I frequently
GParted
use is GParted. GParted is a popular Linux utility that is very similar to Partition Magic. You can find this utility bundled with several other valuable computer maintenance utilities on Linux Live CDs which can be booted on start-up. When you use a Live CD to boot your computer you are operating the computer from the CD and not the hard drive. This gives you the ability to perform any operation on the hard drive. You could partition the hard drive or even re-size the current partitions and also create new ones without destroying the contents of the drive. Some of the bundled utilities will allow you to correct MBR and partition tables and also recover deleted or lost file files.
I use GParted to setup hard drives with extended partitions that I use for storing data, files, and backup images. This allows me to quickly recover from a failed, corrupted, or infected hard drive quickly. When I first install the operating system and get it configured with all my need applications, service packs, and security patches I create a backup image and store it on my second partition. Now when Windows decides to go south, either form a virus or other corruption, I can use the image to restore my primary partition where just the Windows operating system resides. My data, files, and backups are safely stored on the extended partition. Viruses usual target operating systems and not data or files. By having the image on a second partition you can quickly and easily restore your computer in a few minutes. This saves huge amounts of time when you have no other recourse but reinstall the operating system.
The Fdisk MBR website has additional information that you might find useful.
a bootable USB flash drive. This can be accomplished using the HP flash drive tool that you can find on the Internet using a Google search: HP bootable flash drive tool. Once you have created a bootable flash drive you can install DOS and the DOS utilities along with fdisk. This bootable flash drive makes a great technician tool to be able to retrieve NTFS files on Windows XP drives.