Partition Big trouble [added]

[WaiWai]

I got 2 hard disk drives(HDD), ie:
160GB Western Digital 7200rpm 8MB Cache
- clean new disk (it is empty now)
- I am going to install Wins XP in the future
20GB Maxtor 5400rpm 2MB Cache
- old disk (some data are inside)
- the operating system is Wins 98 now
And one CD-RW:
- Ricoh CD-RW


I would like to partition HDDs as follows:
160GB Western Digital:
- drive C-40GB: for program files, installing software and games
- drive D-10GB: for windows itself. Drivers and some software which needed to be with the same drive
- drive E-110GB: for backup, storage of programs, downloads, multimedia stuff etc.

20GB Maxtor:
- drive F-20GB: for BT, FTP, downloading

I don't know much about computer.
Problems:
1. Since the 20GB Maxtor is for storage only, actually do I need to install Windows on 160GB HDD only, or both?

2. If so, do you think which is better, keep the 20GB Maxtor as Wins 98, or upgrade to Wins XP?

3. Since when only one primary partition was set when I first used it, that means it would be set as active too. Do I need to do anything when I add a new HDD? I'm afraid it might cause some problems.

4. What is the use of keeping more than 1 primary partition? (I think multi-operating system is the only reason, right?)

5. Should I set Maxtor as the logical partition (the primary partition would be Western Digital), or keep it as another primary partition? Which is better? And "why"?

6. Finally do you think my partition is good? Any suggestion to my partition strategy? *Why*?

 

[So]

1. Just once. Put it on the D partition.

 

[So]

2. Can't answer until we know the rest of your system specs.

3. As long as you remove windows from the old drive you'll be fine.

4. yes

5. leave it like it is.

6. Personally, I'd have the following w/ your drives:

Disk 1 160 GB:
C: 10 gb OS
D: 10 GB my documents
E: 140 GB apps/data
Disk 2 20 GB:
F: MP3/Video (assuming you can fit them in 20 gigs)

 

[WaiWai]

1. Just once. Put it on the D partition

Some problems arise.
How can I copy files from Maxtor HDD to new HDD (since quite many to backup. The best is to put it in a new HDD.)
How could I uninstall Wins in Maxtor HDD?


Now I put it to my new computer set. The old one is disposed. I think I have to go through the partition process before doing the above.
And if I wish to put files to the new HDD. I have to partition the new HDD first. Then setup windows XP.
Could you tihnk of any good suggestion?

Thanks a lot.

 

[harrkev]

Install the new dive as the master, old one as the slave. Do a fresh partition/install on the new one without touching the old one. Once you are running, copy from old to new, re-format old, and you are good to go.

I had a similar situation, and I got a $30 "ByteCC" external USB 2.0 enclosure for my old hard drive. Now I use it strictly for backups. If a virus wipes my drive, I have all of my important data backed up to a drive which spends 99% of its time on a shelf in a closet.

 

[So]

harrkev pretty much got it

 

[0roo0roo]

few partitions as possible. else itsa mess. 10gb o/s (do not install games) 150gb d: e: the whole other disc
this way you can format c: and not lose so much. or make an o/s image and restore easily.

 

[WaiWai]

Originally posted by: harrkev
Install the new dive as the master, old one as the slave. Do a fresh partition/install on the new one without touching the old one. Once you are running, copy from old to new, re-format old, and you are good to go.

I had a similar situation, and I got a $30 "ByteCC" external USB 2.0 enclosure for my old hard drive. Now I use it strictly for backups. If a virus wipes my drive, I have all of my important data backed up to a drive which spends 99% of its time on a shelf in a closet.

Just wonder when I boot from the primary master (ie 160GB HDD), after I installed Wins and enter into Wins. Can I simply copy all data from 20GB to 160GB?

To verify, so the step might be:
1. Partition the 160GB first (including primary, extended, logical)
2. Install Wins in drive C in 160GB.
3. Boot from 160GB and enter into Wins XP.
4. In the Wins XP, copy files from 20GB Maxtor to 160GB (Problems occurs!!! Is it possible to transfer files from 20GB HDD [Wins XP] to 160GB [Wins XP]?)
5. Still in the Wins XP, delete and format 20GB.
Problems occurs!!! After formatting, do I need to re-partition this drive? If so, should I set it as primary partition or logical partition.
And in order to share the Wins to this drive, what do I need to do?

 

[WaiWai]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
few partitions as possible. else itsa mess. 10gb o/s (do not install games) 150gb d: e: the whole other disc
this way you can format c: and not lose so much. or make an o/s image and restore easily.

I would like to ask:
1. You are separating program files from windows. But I wonder how to separate program files(PF) from windows. I think simply cut and paste might cause problems. How to do it indeed?

2. And why separate programs files from windows? But does anyone know the reasons/benefits?

3. It seems when you install a program/game, if you don't follow the installation path, problems will arise. Eg: If the default path is: D:\Program files\xx company\xx program, you change as D:\Program files\xx program. Problems will occur. But I don't whether it will cause problems if we simply change nothing except the drive no (eg E:\Program files\xx program). What do you think?

4. Assuming:
-Drive D contains Wins
-Drive E contains PF
When I reinstall my windows, do I need to delete PF as well? Since PF has links with Wins, if wins is reinstalled, the links between them should be broken. That implies we need to delete PF (since it become faulty). And in this regard, I need to reinstall all programs/games. What do you think?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: WaiWai

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
few partitions as possible. else itsa mess. 10gb o/s (do not install games) 150gb d: e: the whole other disc
this way you can format c: and not lose so much. or make an o/s image and restore easily.

4. Assuming:
-Drive D contains Wins
-Drive E contains PF
When I reinstall my windows, do I need to delete PF as well? Since PF has links with Wins, if wins is reinstalled, the links between them should be broken. That implies we need to delete PF (since it become faulty). And in this regard, I need to reinstall all programs/games. What do you think?

I agree, modern versions of Windows and applications written for them, are too tightly integrated. I would keep program files along with the OS in the same partition (C🙂. Make it at least ~16GB.

Games may be a little different, they tend not so much to require many registry entries, not install lots of .DLLs in the system. (Assuming that you already have the newest DirectX installed, etc.) They also do tend to install lots of data. So for games alone, you might consider installing them into another partition, possible the same larger partition that you keep the rest of your bulk data in. Also, games do not (generally) have to be backed up/restored alone with the critical OS and main apps partition.