2 partitions

[Teri]

Recently I had a virus on my computer and regardless of what I did I couldn't
get rid of it. I couldn't even run virus scans because all of my files were
locked. Eventually I decided to format and re-install. My computer is a
Gateway E4610 and it came with XP Home pre-installed. When I rebooted with
the XP disk I deleted the main partition, recreated the partition and
formatted and I re-installed XP on that partition. There is another
partition (very small) and I assumed it was the "Vendor's" so I didn't do
anything with it. Now that small partition is my C drive and what used to be
my C drive is now the D drive. Would it be a problem if I deleted both
partitions, created just 1 and installed XP on that?

 

[!ngeniuos]

Check & verify the contents of the small partition..
if its got nothing in it or its worthless . then yes delete it.
else just make the new partition the 'primary' partition so you see it as
the C: drive

You could make one large partition, or multi partitions of diffent sizes...
Make the new partition that you install XP to the 'primary' partition so
that it becomes the primary C: drive.. ..

but please check the contents of the smaller partition first before
deleting...

 

[Teri]

Before I reinstalled I couldn't even view most of the files in what was then
the D drive. It has the I386 folder, the PRELOAD folder, a System Restore
folder, System Volume Information folder and a UPDGOI folder. I know these
contain my drivers and system files and etc... Now I can view all of them. I
have backed up everything on an external hard drive. Would these folders
not be recreated during a re-install?

 

[Teri]

Yes, I do have the Operating System disk and the driver and application disk
that came with my computer. Actually my computer is still under warranty but
Gateway is liquidating and no longer handles support. I was defered to a MPC
site that is supposed to be handling Gateway's customers but they don't offer
support either. If I delete both partitions and create only one using the
disks that came with my pc will that reinstall the files that was originally

 

[!ngeniuos]

Agree with bijoy

Rather leave your system folders on the small partitions - as is ,

Clisck start > run then enter 'compmgmt.msc'
Use the utility > Disk Management; and change to whatever drive letter you
want, you'll notice that the 'system' drive is you boot drive....

you could always hunt there for your drives and other PC resources, you
could add future utilities ther as well!

Hope this sorts you!

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Before I reinstalled I couldn't even view most of the files in what was
then
the D drive. It has the I386 folder, the PRELOAD folder, a System Restore
folder, System Volume Information folder and a UPDGOI folder. I know
these
contain my drivers and system files and etc... Now I can view all of them.
I
have backed up everything on an external hard drive. Would these folders
not be recreated during a re-install?

The original D drive was your recovery partition which you may well have
screwed up.

If you are sure that your XP CD will install properly, follow these
directions..

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

At the point where you are asked which partition to install, delete all of
them first..

After the install has finished, you may not have all of the correct drivers
for your computer. Install SIW which will tell you all about the various
components in your computer. You will then be able to go to each
manufacturer website as necessary and get the right drivers..

 

[Gerry]

Teri

I cannot locate the Gateway model number you quoted on the Gateway web site.

You need to take care before deleting partitions. In addition to the restore
disks provided by Gateway they also, for some models, provide the same files
in a restore partition. If the restore disk become damaged or lost you can
restore your computer using the files in the restore partition. You can also
have 8 mb boot partitions, which should not be deleted. A restore partition
would be much larger than 8 mb.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Teri]

I tried to search for that model also and couldn't find it until I entered
the SN. I'll leave the small partition as is because Gateway claims they do
not even have access to my file any longer. It's all been sent to MPC, thank
you for your help

 

[Teri]

I tried to change the drive letters using the Disk Management utility but it
said " Windows cannot modify the drive letter of your system volume or boot
volume"

 

[Gerry]

Teri

That's as it should be.


--


Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Twayne]

Recently I had a virus on my computer and regardless of what I did I
couldn't get rid of it. I couldn't even run virus scans because all
of my files were locked. Eventually I decided to format and
re-install. My computer is a Gateway E4610 and it came with XP Home
pre-installed. When I rebooted with the XP disk I deleted the main
partition, recreated the partition and formatted and I re-installed
XP on that partition. There is another partition (very small) and I
assumed it was the "Vendor's" so I didn't do anything with it. Now
that small partition is my C drive and what used to be my C drive is
now the D drive. Would it be a problem if I deleted both partitions,
created just 1 and installed XP on that?

No problem at all, as long as you have the CDs and copies of all the
files you want to reinstall. It's probably the remnants of an ondisk
restore package that apparently you no longer need.

If you haven't installed any software yet or don't mind reinstalling it,
you might just be able to use Disk Management to reverse the drive
letters of your system. but then again, that partition, if you don't
need it, is space you might be able to use to better purposes by getting
rid of it and create one larger partition on the disk.

HTH,

Twayne

 

[Teri]

Because I agreed with Mr. Hall, that I had screwed up my recovery partition
I did a complete System Restore using my recovery disks and because I had
backed up everything to an external hard drive all I lost was the time it
took to reinstall. My recovery partition has been restored as drive D and my
local drive is again C.