That is exactly what I do and how I set up all PCs with multiple drives.
When I set up a PC, I install the OS, and all device drivers on to C-drive (just the drivers, all the other stuff (control panels, etc.) the makers throw in the Retail version go on D-drive) - Immediately install SP2 if not on OS disk - have the SP2 upgrade file (or CD) handy as it is better to not be connected to the Internet when installing an OS.
Note this C drive boot disk can be 10G and even a slow (but quiet) 5400RPM - who cares if it takes a couple more seconds to boot - if it runs good thereafter? I do recommend 8 Mb buffers and not the 2 Mb models - and a well setup Page File (see below)
On my main system here, I have a small 40G as my boot drive, and a RAID1 array as my second drive.
On the second drive (in my case, the RAID), I have it partitioned into 2 drives, D: and E:
E: is 5 GB and Labeled "Swap" - the first thing I do after formatting F: with NTFS is "set" my Page File to use F: (and remove the default from C-drive)
D: is the rest of the drive. The first thing I do after formating D: is I right-click on My Documents, and move it to D:. Then I create a few folders to start me off on the right track installing all my applications and tools - this is important if your computer becomes a major "tool" in your life as it has for me - In my case, this file structure has evolved over 13 years of upgrades and I have found it easy for me to "migrate" to new or upgraded hardware (as my budget allows) but keeping all my data, email, custom toolbards, and applications organized where I can find them.
So I start by creating the folders "My Documents" (the moving step earlier only changed pointers), "My Downloads", "Utilities", "Security", and "Applications".
ANY data file that I, or a program I am running, creates goes somewhere under My Documents - under sub folders for Work, Health and Fitness, My Music, My Pictures, Legal Papers, School, Taxes, Backups, Registry Backups, Friends, Family, Banking, Shopping, Email, yadda yadda - I have a lot there. But all I have to do is drag "My Documents" to a backup disk and my life is in tact.
I NEVER install from the Internet. I download and save everything first, maybe scan it with my AV, then I install from my HD. So, to keep track of all downloads, ALL downloads are saved somewhere under "My Downloads". Under there, I have several sub-folders with labels defining the type of program or file it is.
I "
install" from "My Downloads" onto my D: drive. This creates more work for me because this forces me to choose "Custom" install every time - else the application will try to install under c:\Program Files - and I want all apps installed somewhere under D: - somewhere under those Folders I created earlier. You also might have to go into an application's Options menu and change the default file safe locations to your D: instead of under your user name on C:/Documents and Settings - Office, log files and Outlook .pst files come to mine.
This does several things
- It gives the OS free range for its Page File - moving it off a slower boot drive, but free from crowding and/or creating fragmentation problems.
It allows the OS to access the OS files and the Page File simultaneously.
It keeps the OS and drivers isolated from all your valuable data - so if the boot drive becomes corrupt - all your data is still safe
It keeps all your Data and downloads under two files for super easy copying (backing up) to a NAS or RW optical disk.
It keeps you more in control of your own computer and with a better understanding of how it is set up.
Then I install ZoneAlarm (and disable Windows Firewall) and AVG from a CD that I had previously burned with the latest versions. (under D:\Security\ZoneAlarm and D:\Security\AVG)
Finally, and only now is the computer ready to connect to Internet for the first time - immediately go out to Windows Update and get fully patched
Create a Restore Point - then start installing all your other applications on D:.
Note that it does require more work to set up initially, and every time you download and install new programs, but the pay off is I have a huge digital file cabinet with 13 years of letters, Turbo-Tax, and old (and still free) downloads that I am still able to go to and find what I am looking for
very quickly.
Note too that if you have to reinstall Windows or replace your boot drive - most of your major application will have to be reinstalled, even though they are still intact on D:. This is because the Registry has be reset back to defaults and is not aware of what is on D:. The good news is that most programs, such as Office and other applications will find a previous installation on D: and simply update the Registry - most often keeping all your customizations. And since you saved all your downloads instead of installing from the Internet, you have the installation program on disk. Many programs will run without reinstalling, you just need to add the Icon to your desktop, startmenu, quicklaunch.
I keep my start menu tidy too, doing necessary housekeeping after programs mess it up after installs - the nicer programs allow you to choose where in the start menu to place their shortcuts so you can bunch like programs together.
if ur o/s is hosed..or if u have to use drive imaging software like norton ghost to backup/restore os
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