Partitions
 

Does creating another partition on a drive delete existing data?

There must be unpartitioned space in order to create a partition on a drive at all. If that doesn't exist, you won't be able to allocate any space to a partition.

Of course, you can resize existing partitions in order to have space to make new partitions.
To more directly answer your question: no. Again, you'll need unpartitioned space.

You can buy partitionmagic to partition a drive without losing data. I don't know of any freeware nondestructive format tools for windows, but you can create a linux boot cd with qtpart or gparted to nondestructively alter a drives partitions as well. Good luck

since there's no way im shelling out that kind of dough for partitionmagic.....please nudeninja, explain to me your ways

Here are some great video tutorials on how to use the Gnome Partition Editor to resize your partitions without losing.

However, even with software such as this or Partition Magic, there's always the chance that the process with messup and destroy your data, so if you have important data, be sure to make a backup of it.

Th partitioning program galador recommended also comes on a live CD, which should be about the securest way to get the job done.