How to make a partition invisible to Windows?

[eco2geek]

Just got a second hard drive, partitioned it into two primary partitions and formatted them using QTParted (ext2 and FAT32 -- I dual-boot Win2K with Linux), and then installed Kanotix BH7a (which reformatted the ext2 partition to ext3).

Problem is, hdb1 (the ext3 partition) isn't hidden, and Windows can "see" it. Not a huge deal, but more than a little annoying. If I accidentally click on it, Windows asks if I want to format it. (Uh, no.)

I haven't rerun QTParted yet, but PartitionMagic doesn't give me the option of hiding it. (Greyed out.)

Is there any way of hiding it from Windows without destroying the data on it?

Is there any way of hiding it from Windows, period?

[metavoid]

Hmm. Not tried this but should not cause any harm:

Right click My computer,
Select "Manage"

Select Disk manager

Right Click on the partition

Choose Assign Drive letter

Delete the drive letter.

That should prevents it from showing up in My comouter and hence you cannot click on it.

[mzilikazi]

IIRC Ranish (http://www.ranish.com/part/) can do that. I think Ranish is even included on System Rescue cd.

[eco2geek]

Thanks, metavoid, using the Disk Management part of the Computer Management MMC, and deleting the drive letter, did the trick.