2 HD's + 5 partitions

[Dave Neve]

Hi

I have 2 HD's with 5 partitions

HD1 (C:, D; E)

HD2 (F; I

G and H were assigned by Windows to my CD reader and CD burner.

This 'mess ' come about over time as I added on a second HD.

Anyway , I desperately need to re format and reinstall Windows onto the
first HD where the double boot .inf lives.

I would like to know if Windows will automatically recognize the second copy
on HD2 and do the necessary (rewrite a double boot .inf file).

Will HD 1 still be HD1 after it is reformated and reinstalled or will it
become HD2?

Also, am I likely to run into any other problems?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Dave,

If there are two existing installations of Windows (any version), then a
repair install should maintain the double boot. It should not "switch" the
hard drives unless you physically change their positioning within the
system.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Windows
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Dave Neve]

Hi

Don't want to split hairs, but won't be a repair install but a complete
reinstall.

Will this also be ok?

Thanks

 

[Ron Sommer]

Save the boot.ini file to another drive.
Do the reinstall.
Replace the boot.ini file with the saved file.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Don't want to split hairs, but won't be a repair install but a complete
reinstall.

First point is that the drive identities as HD1, HD2 are the way it is
connected in the hardware. The first is the one on Primary master and
where the BIOS is booting, and will stay put.

If you format and reinstall to the partition that is active that one
will be C: and have all your booting files on it. Now it is not clear
*at all* what system's windows folder is on which partition. My *guess*
is that it is a dual boot with Win9x which is actually on C, with XP in
D, but we would have to know, and know what drive letter the XP sees as
its x:\WINDOWS before being able to advise

 

[Dave Neve]

Hi

I think you are right.

The boot is on Cartition and Windows is definately on D.

I was thinking of merging these partitions as well as i have less need for
so many partitions now that I have a second HD.

So , what's the score please?

Thanks

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Partition Magic (www.powerquest.com) is the only software I know of that can
merge partitions, and it's not 100% guaranteed to work. Better to copy the
data off one partition, then delete it and resize the remaining one to
encompass the free space. This too has dangers, as does all partition work,
but is a little less hazardous.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Windows
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Yes, but it will conserve the existing user accounts, permissions, and
settings. A "reinstall" will cause you to lose the old users and need to
create new ones, plus you may need to learn how to take ownership of the
pre-existing files. For Pro users, this can also lead to the loss of access
to encrypted files. A "reinstall" is rarely a good idea, and a repair
install will accomplish the same thing without risk.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Windows
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Alex Nichol]

I think you are right.

The boot is on Cartition and Windows is definately on D.

I was thinking of merging these partitions as well as i have less need for
so many partitions now that I have a second HD.

If you want to retain the dual boot and still have the previous system
available in C:, you must keep the XP in D: - two different systems in
the same partition do not mix. The safest way for that would be to
backup your data and then format the D: in the process of doing a new
install, running the XP CD from the old system on C: just as you did
before, and setting up things over again.

Or you can abandon the earlier system and have just an XP installation -
again starting over with programs and having all data on C and D backed
up. For that, do it as part of a reinstall of the system after booting
the XP CD direct. Enter Setup, and after the license agreement take New
Install. When it asks you to confirm where, hit ESC; select and delete
those two current partitions and make a new RAW one to be formatted at
the next stage

The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead
and make a new install over the top of the old one and things will get
dreadfully muddled.

That will come out with the new larger partition as C: and then install
software again.

Or you can confine yourself to running a repair reinstall after booting
the CD, instead of New Install. that will leave drive letters as hey
are, and give the system an essentially fresh start without affecting
programs, data or drive letters (though you should still have a data
backup, just in case0