kevkap

I am in the process of re-building one of my pc's and wanted to know how to create separate partitions for the operating system and data, and how this works exactly? I have a pc with two hd's and was thinking about also installing a version of linux to toy around with. What would be the best way to go about this?


Thanks, Kevin

linderman

Kevin:

when you hear computer fellas speaking of installing the OS and programs on diff partitions; this is a very common approach. The good aspect of such a move is when the OS gets buggy (and soemday it will for sure) and you want to clean install your OS because its flaky you can and not lose all program applications. Now you must listen well part: this does not mean that when you clean install the OS (win xp say for example) onto your C drive that the minute you click on a program Icon in your D drive that the application will run.

It wont just yet; becasue in order to operate a program must be installed in the windows OS registry. A clean install of windows will also give you a clean registry.

But the benefit to having all your programs installed into the D drive: is once you install all your applications with the program install disks or from a downloaded location (yup>>> your D drive) then at that point with no further fuss your ready to fly and your applications will have all their "content & personal tweaks" because the programs application folder content has not been altered.

To apply this configuration: you only need to partition your drive at the tiem of install into two chunks. Yep you guessed it C & D

I strongly advise you install the Linux OS to a diff drive and keep them independant although its not a MUST it has better overall protections of keeping them free of each others gltiches !

dont heistate to ask more questions

kevkap

Thanks so much for your reply. That is along my logic, (oh, that is scary), anyhow can you maybe explain in a bit more detail how you install the other applications tothe "d" drive and the os to?

Thanks, Kevin

linderman

the OS gets installed to the C-drive partition and all programs when you install them >>>> you change their automatic C drive default location to the D drive location by replacing the letter "C" from the default directory location with the letter "D" thats it then you installed program will be installed in the D drive

simply try it >>>> download a program like Adobe Acrobat reader >>>> we all need to read PDF files and intall it to your D drive

linderman

if during your system rebuild I highly reccomend wiping and erasing your drives prior to a new system install.

Many fellas think formatting a drive completely over writes all data and file fragments on the drive; this is not true! formatting only re-writes the section of the drive needed to re-install an OS and kill off old MBR enteries

use a free utility like boot & nuke (free in my sig) to wipe & erase all old data off a drive prior to clean install
when you boot the computer with the boot n nuke floppy choose auto nuke
for easy and simplicity erase one drive at a time >>> after the first drive is done remove the power plug from the drive then wipe the other

here is another such program called Kill Disk some folks thing this one is easier to use ???? you be the judge and let us know!
http://www.download.com/3000-2092-10188745.html

after you have both drives wiped or the main drive you are going to use wiped (doesnt matter two drives or one) when you use the Win XP install CD to install the new OS a menu or option will arrive to give you the option to assign your drive a partition >>>> simply input the size you want the C drive to be >>> then proceed with the OS install

once you have windows up and running (nasa party is then needed) then you can use disk mangement from within windows to format the remaining section of your drive and label it as D drive

this is alot of info to digest; so proceed slowly and ask questions when you get stumped

a little reading never hurts :
http://winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

dont hesitate to ask more questions

kevkap

If the drives are new do I still need to wipe them? How much disk space do I need to allocate for the os?

linderman

dont need to wipe new drive


disk space for OS = 15gig to 30 gig depends on your preference you can modify that size later with partition sliding programs so dont sweat that one >>> start with 15gig OS partition


some programs will insist to be sent to c drive with windows but not too many i.e. anti virus comes to mind

kevkap

Thanks for all your help! I have installed a new 160gig hd, I have partitioned 25 for the os, now when formating the second partition do I do it as a primary or extended partition? sorry for having to hold my hand btw.

linderman

Kevin:

thats what we are here for >>>> helping you



I prefer primary partition myself >>>> each hard drive can have up to four primary partitions

kevkap

Thanks again for your help. Ihave officially been deflowered and have sucessfully replaced my hd and partitioned it and have itup and running.

linderman

Kev:



awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! job well done

now on to bigger and better challenges for you !!!!


kudos to you !!