partitioning HDD into several disks ??

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 >> Stay informed about: partitioning HDD into several disks ?? 

Beladi Nasralla <nasra11a RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hi there,

Lo there,

> I built a gaming PC. Someone told me that I should partition the 160
> GB hard drive into several disks. They said I should install
> operational system (OS) into the first disk, and install the games
> in to the second disk. In doing this way, I would be able to format
> the first disk and reinstall the OS, while keeping all the game
> programs on the second disk. I would not need to reinstall them. Is
> this correct ?

Not exactly. Nowadays some games keep lots of information in your
Windows area. There are other potential problems too.

> I decided to partition the hard drive into two disks. I installed
> the OS into the first disk, and also installed all the games into
> the first disk. If I want to re-format the first disk (e.g. so that
> I could reinstall the OS), I could always move the game files onto
> the second disk, and after the OS reinstalling, move the files back.
> Is this correct ?

The only thing I use an Outland partitioned for is for keeping data,
my personal files, the stuff that is copied to removable media for
safekeeping.

> Maybe there is a better way to partition the hard drive and install
> the programs ? Thanks.

I'm a gamer using a 37 GB 10,000 rpm Raptor.

If you can handle using only 80 GB, the best way is to make a copy of
the whole thing, or even make two copies. Reinstalling Windows
nowadays is a hassle. Having a hidden backup copy of Windows is a
marvelous tool. It's not beginner stuff, but if you can learn it, it
makes a world of difference when installing Windows, and for
troubleshooting software and hardware. Skillfully using Partition
Manager or PartitionMagic, you can make a complete copy of your
Windows partition (including Windows and programs/games). And usually
you can shrink those copies after you get stuffed the way you want it,
to make more room for your visible/working partition.

Good luck and have fun.
 >> Stay informed about: partitioning HDD into several disks ?? 

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. I have one more question. If I
go to the Device Manager, then I see that the hard drive (Seagate
ST3160815AS) and the DVD/CD-RW (Samsung) drive have the generic
Windows drivers installed. Should I install the drivers specific for
those drives from the manufacturer ? I made a search on the Internet,
and I could not find any relevant drivers for downloading. I became
doubting that they exist (or people just do not need them), hence is
my question. Thanks.
 >> Stay informed about: partitioning HDD into several disks ?? 

On Jul 15, 10:08 am, John Doe <j....DeleteThis@usenetlove.invalid> wrote:
> Beladi Nasralla <nasra....DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > Hi there,
>
> Lo there,
>
> > I built a gaming PC. Someone told me that I should partition the 160
> > GB hard drive into several disks. They said I should install
> > operational system (OS) into the first disk, and install the games
> > in to the second disk. In doing this way, I would be able to format
> > the first disk and reinstall the OS, while keeping all the game
> > programs on the second disk. I would not need to reinstall them. Is
> > this correct ?
>
> Not exactly. Nowadays some games keep lots of information in your
> Windows area. There are other potential problems too.
>
> > I decided to partition the hard drive into two disks. I installed
> > the OS into the first disk, and also installed all the games into
> > the first disk. If I want to re-format the first disk (e.g. so that
> > I could reinstall the OS), I could always move the game files onto
> > the second disk, and after the OS reinstalling, move the files back.
> > Is this correct ?
>
> The only thing I use an Outland partitioned for is for keeping data,
> my personal files, the stuff that is copied to removable media for
> safekeeping.
>
> > Maybe there is a better way to partition the hard drive and install
> > the programs ? Thanks.
>
> I'm a gamer using a 37 GB 10,000 rpm Raptor.
>
> If you can handle using only 80 GB, the best way is to make a copy of
> the whole thing, or even make two copies. Reinstalling Windows
> nowadays is a hassle. Having a hidden backup copy of Windows is a
> marvelous tool. It's not beginner stuff, but if you can learn it, it
> makes a world of difference when installing Windows, and for
> troubleshooting software and hardware. Skillfully using Partition
> Manager or PartitionMagic, you can make a complete copy of your
> Windows partition (including Windows and programs/games). And usually
> you can shrink those copies after you get stuffed the way you want it,
> to make more room for your visible/working partition.
>
> Good luck and have fun.

Very good advice indeed. However, I would suggest using Acronis True
Image software. I'm not inferring that PartitionMagic or Manager is
bad software, it's just that I happen to really love Acronis and
haven't used the aforementioned. Unlike what the previous advice
suggests, it is relatively easy to use even for an advanced
beginner.

I have used this program about 10 times to back-up and restore both XP
and Vista. Everytime I used this product, it ran seemlessly.
Concerning where to put your games, I think that is more a personal
preference. It only makes sense to me that they are thrown in the
first partition with your OS. If anything goes haywire, then just re-
install your back-up image instead of the hassle of a full OS re-
install. Of course, you would have to keep up-to-date images of your
partition to keep all your game settings, but a weekly image recording
is a small price to pay considering the alternative. Literally takes
minutes. I would suggest having a separate drive for back-ups that
isn't running everytime you boot-up. I keep mine in a protective box,
in its anti-static bag, sealed zip-lock and tucked away in my dresser
drawer of my relatively constantly air conditioned room (live in the
tropics).

Furthermore, I would strongly discourage you from using Norton Ghost,
at least the 10.0 version. I have a raided system as well, and tried
to restore my Norton image back-up with no success at all. It was a
long time ago, but I think it was a RAID issue. Believe me, I had the
latest drivers, so that wasn't the problem.

Good-luck and let us know how it goes,

Michael J. Lederer
 >> Stay informed about: partitioning HDD into several disks ?? 

On Jul 15, 7:07 pm, mjlwai....RemoveThis@gmail.com wrote:
> On Jul 15, 10:08 am, John Doe <j....RemoveThis@usenetlove.invalid> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Beladi Nasralla <nasra....RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > Hi there,
>
> > Lo there,
>
> > > I built a gaming PC. Someone told me that I should partition the 160
> > > GB hard drive into several disks. They said I should install
> > > operational system (OS) into the first disk, and install the games
> > > in to the second disk. In doing this way, I would be able to format
> > > the first disk and reinstall the OS, while keeping all the game
> > > programs on the second disk. I would not need to reinstall them. Is
> > > this correct ?
>
> > Not exactly. Nowadays some games keep lots of information in your
> > Windows area. There are other potential problems too.
>
> > > I decided to partition the hard drive into two disks. I installed
> > > the OS into the first disk, and also installed all the games into
> > > the first disk. If I want to re-format the first disk (e.g. so that
> > > I could reinstall the OS), I could always move the game files onto
> > > the second disk, and after the OS reinstalling, move the files back.
> > > Is this correct ?
>
> > The only thing I use an Outland partitioned for is for keeping data,
> > my personal files, the stuff that is copied to removable media for
> > safekeeping.
>
> > > Maybe there is a better way to partition the hard drive and install
> > > the programs ? Thanks.
>
> > I'm a gamer using a 37 GB 10,000 rpm Raptor.
>
> > If you can handle using only 80 GB, the best way is to make a copy of
> > the whole thing, or even make two copies. Reinstalling Windows
> > nowadays is a hassle. Having a hidden backup copy of Windows is a
> > marvelous tool. It's not beginner stuff, but if you can learn it, it
> > makes a world of difference when installing Windows, and for
> > troubleshooting software and hardware. Skillfully using Partition
> > Manager or PartitionMagic, you can make a complete copy of your
> > Windows partition (including Windows and programs/games). And usually
> > you can shrink those copies after you get stuffed the way you want it,
> > to make more room for your visible/working partition.
>
> > Good luck and have fun.
>
> Very good advice indeed. However, I would suggest using Acronis True
> Image software. I'm not inferring that PartitionMagic or Manager is
> bad software, it's just that I happen to really love Acronis and
> haven't used the aforementioned. Unlike what the previous advice
> suggests, it is relatively easy to use even for an advanced
> beginner.
>
> I have used this program about 10 times to back-up and restore both XP
> and Vista. Everytime I used this product, it ran seemlessly.
> Concerning where to put your games, I think that is more a personal
> preference. It only makes sense to me that they are thrown in the
> first partition with your OS. If anything goes haywire, then just re-
> install your back-up image instead of the hassle of a full OS re-
> install. Of course, you would have to keep up-to-date images of your
> partition to keep all your game settings, but a weekly image recording
> is a small price to pay considering the alternative. Literally takes
> minutes. I would suggest having a separate drive for back-ups that
> isn't running everytime you boot-up. I keep mine in a protective box,
> in its anti-static bag, sealed zip-lock and tucked away in my dresser
> drawer of my relatively constantly air conditioned room (live in the
> tropics).
>
> Furthermore, I would strongly discourage you from using Norton Ghost,
> at least the 10.0 version. I have a raided system as well, and tried
> to restore my Norton image back-up with no success at all. It was a
> long time ago, but I think it was a RAID issue. Believe me, I had the
> latest drivers, so that wasn't the problem.
>
> Good-luck and let us know how it goes,
>
> Michael J. Lederer

Sorry DK, I hadn't noticed that you mentioned Acronis in your post.
Acronis True Image rocks!!!
 >> Stay informed about: partitioning HDD into several disks ?? 

"Beladi Nasralla" <nasra11a DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1184505800.685570.16730@g37g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. I have one more question. If I
> go to the Device Manager, then I see that the hard drive (Seagate
> ST3160815AS) and the DVD/CD-RW (Samsung) drive have the generic
> Windows drivers installed. Should I install the drivers specific for
> those drives from the manufacturer ? I made a search on the Internet,
> and I could not find any relevant drivers for downloading. I became
> doubting that they exist (or people just do not need them), hence is
> my question. Thanks.
>
The important drivers to install are those for your chipset. Optical
drives and properly formatted HDDs are recognized by Windows from the
bios without the need for any special drivers.

Ed
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: partitioning HDD into several disks ?? 

This message is not archived
 >> Stay informed about: partitioning HDD into several disks ?? 

mjlwaimea RemoveThis @gmail.com wrote:

....

> Very good advice indeed. However, I would suggest using Acronis
> True Image software. I'm not inferring that PartitionMagic or
> Manager is bad software, it's just that I happen to really love
> Acronis and haven't used the aforementioned. Unlike what the
> previous advice suggests, it is relatively easy to use even for an
> advanced beginner.

I tried using Acronis one time and then tried restoring the copy.
Unfortunately it didn't work. I probably overlooked something. It
should be easier because the disk managers I mentioned PartitionMagic
and Partition Manager are not so easy to use for the purpose of making
hidden Windows XP copies. The only reason I don't get into Acronis is
because I'm familiar with the others and they work just fine for me. I
use both of their boot CDs in times of trouble. Yes, I'm sure you can
make a boot CD with Acronis too.












> Michael J. Lederer
>
 >> Stay informed about: partitioning HDD into several disks ??