how do i partition my drive in half?

If Windows is already running on your Dell, google for Partition Magic 8 (PM8) by Symantec. With PM8 it will give you the opportunity to partition the HD without disturbing the OS. i_XpUser

Or the more traditional approach. Use admin tools > disk management. If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

Here are the steps for a 250GB one hard drive system: 1. Use Partition Magic to shrink the existing C: Primary Partition from about 240GB down to 120GB 2. Create a 120GB Extended Partition in the free space created 3. Create a 120GB Logical Drive in the Extended Partition and assign it to D: 4. Select NTFS and format it With this all done you may have something like this: 1st hard drive: C: and D: CD drive: E: DVD drive: F: ================================================= Here are the steps for a two hard drive system with the second drive being 250GB In Disk Management: * 1. Create a 120GB Primary Partition and assign it D: 2. Select NTFS and format it 3. Create a 120GB Extended Partition 4. Create a 120GB Logical Drive in the Extended Partition and assign it to E: 5. Select NTFS and format it * Note: if D: is already assigned to the CD drive then change it to something else first if desired. Then the drive letter is free to be used with the logical drive. With this all done you may have something like this: 1st hard drive: C: 2nd hard drive: D: and E: CD drive: F: DVD drive: G: