Question about partitioned drive

[Mrvile]

I have a 160GB hard drive that, while installing Windows, I partitioned into two sections: one 40GB partition for backup, and one 120GB partition for programs and everything else. When I go to disk management, my 40GB partition, C:, shows up as the system partition while the 120GB one, D:, shows up as the boot partition. However, everything that was ever installed on this comp went to D:, and C: remains empty unless I put things onto it. Is this right? The "system" and "boot" part confuses me, and the drives letters don't make anything easier (isn't C: the standard name for the main drive?). Hopefully everything is how it should be...

 

[Yanagi]

You would need to partition again. Unless You can somehow ghost the drive using Norton Ghost and then ra partition the drives using partition magic.

If that would be nogo, repartition again using fdisk and make sure you make the first volume bootable.

 

[imported_rod]

Weird.

My computer has a C:\ drive (system), and then a few partitions. All my system/programs are on C:, except for my games on D: I thought that the system had to boot off the C: drive.

When you look at it in disk management, is the C: drive to the left of the D: drive?

Also, do you have a program like Partition Magic?

RoD

 

[Mrvile]

Yes, C: is to the left of D: in Disk Manager. The thing is, I just used Windows XP installation CD to partition the drives (since I was reformatting anyway). There is currently absolutely nothing on C:, everything is on D: (including My documents, etc.). I put a few files onto C: to see what would happen and it looks like they stayed and didn't change anything, so I guess it works. I don't want to reformat and partition again (I don't have a partitioning program), would it be safe to use it like this?

 

[casper114]

You should right click on my computer and go to manage you can change your drive letters in there if they really bother you. No it shouldn't hurt anything to leave it as is.

 

[Mrvile]

It says that I can't change the drive letters of my System and Boot drives, so I'll have to leave them as they are, hopefully nothing breaks. Oh well, thanks anyways guys.

 

[JDCentral]

I beleive that window's boots off of the first partition, by default... so if the first partition is the 40 GB one, it'll boot off that.

I'm not really sure how windows handles a 'boot' partition vs. a 'system' partition - it's obviously not the same as linux does it .

 

[frankgomez75]

You can't change the letter of the boot drive. Any other partition, yes you can change no problem. Personally I would back up everything and reinstall XP. During the reinstall process delete both partitions and then create your OS partition. Install your OS. Than under Disk Management in WinXP format the remaining space.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Yes, C: is to the left of D: in Disk Manager. The thing is, I just used Windows XP installation CD to partition the drives (since I was reformatting anyway). There is currently absolutely nothing on C:, everything is on D: (including My documents, etc.). I put a few files onto C: to see what would happen and it looks like they stayed and didn't change anything, so I guess it works. I don't want to reformat and partition again (I don't have a partitioning program), would it be safe to use it like this?

I think you'll be fine. The only OS that I know which needs to be installed on the "C" drive is 98se (and perhaps earlier variants).

I have a triple boot system (98se, win2kpro & XP) and primarily use win2k which is on the "D" drive (partition) and XP is on the "E" drive.

Some sites actually promote installing winXP on the "D" drive (actually anywhere but the "C" drive) as a security precaution. I think it's the "Radified Guide" sites which promote this.

Fern

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: Fern

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Yes, C: is to the left of D: in Disk Manager. The thing is, I just used Windows XP installation CD to partition the drives (since I was reformatting anyway). There is currently absolutely nothing on C:, everything is on D: (including My documents, etc.). I put a few files onto C: to see what would happen and it looks like they stayed and didn't change anything, so I guess it works. I don't want to reformat and partition again (I don't have a partitioning program), would it be safe to use it like this?

I think you'll be fine. The only OS that I know which needs to be installed on the "C" drive is 98se (and perhaps earlier variants).

I have a triple boot system (98se, win2kpro & XP) and primarily use win2k which is on the "D" drive (partition) and XP is on the "E" drive.

Some sites actually promote installing winXP on the "D" drive (actually anywhere but the "C" drive) as a security precaution. I think it's the "Radified Guide" sites which promote this.

Fern

Thanks that's what I wanted to hear :thumbsup:

 

[Fern]

You are most Welcome!