Need help installing new HD

[DJFury]

OK, I'm about to get a WD Raptor as my primary boot drive and do a fresh install of XP Pro w/ SP2 on it. Problem is the following:

Current setup:
One 160gb SATA partitioned into two drives: C: has my OS and all my programs, and D: has all my music, videos, and storage, backup files (used Partition Magic)

How can I do the following:

1) format the old C: drive
2) "de-partition" and combine old C: and D: drives together on the 160gb so that the entire HD is now the D: drive
3) install the OS on the new Raptor as a C:\ drive

without losing ANY of the files/storage I currently have on the D: partition? How do I "de-partition" AND format the old C: without losing D:'s data?

If someone can help me out w/ this step-by-step, I would truly appreciate it.

thanks!

 

[ColKurtz]

Hopefully this will help

The "correct" method: Essentially, reformat C: as NTFS, copy as much data from the existing D: to your C: (or some other backup location) then delete your D: partition. Upgrade both to dynamic disks, then right click on C: in disk management and choose Extend Volume (or just go through the wizard) and let it use your former D: to extend C:.

Alternatively: You say you have Partition Magic. I haven't used it much, but I though this kind of thing was exactly what it was designed for. Reinstall C:, then move your space on D: over to C:. Again, I've used Partition Magic only occasionally, and never done this, but I would bet a small amount of money that it could do this (but back up your D: data regardless, obviously).

Good luck.

 

[DJFury]

Can i format the "old" C: drive (without losing data on the "old" D after I install the Raptor and windows XP on it? If so how?

 

[ColKurtz]

Originally posted by: DJFury
Can i format the "old" C: drive (without losing data on the "old" D after I install the Raptor and windows XP on it? If so how?

Yes. After you install XP on your new drive your old drive, you'll just go into disk manager and format your old C: partition from there (it should be obvious in disk manager how to format). The new drive letter of your old C: partition depends on a couple of factors , but it should be obvious as it will show up in disk manager as the first partition of the 2nd hard disk.

Hope that's what you were asking.

 

[DJFury]

Thanks Col, by disk manager I assume you mean Window's Explorer? When I format C: which housed all my programs and OS, will it also clear out my registry of everything old that was there prior to the new installation of XP on the Raptor?

 

[membreya]

Originally posted by: DJFury
Thanks Col, by disk manager I assume you mean Window's Explorer? When I format C: which housed all my programs and OS, will it also clear out my registry of everything old that was there prior to the new installation of XP on the Raptor?

Click on your start button, go to run and type "diskmgmt.msc"

In re to your registry question, when you install the new drive and have it set to master, none of your old registry settings are carried across....

 

[DJFury]

Awesome! just what i needed to hear, thanks guys

 

[DJFury]

If i choose to delete a partition using disk management, will the data on the other partition (of the same hard drive) maintain all data? Will the two partitions combine back into one without losing data from the 2nd partition of the harddrive?