Dual HD XP install

[Guest]

Question - I'm setting up a new machine with a 10k RPM Raptor HDD (C: drive)
and a RAID 1 array (D: drive). I'd like to install the OS on the "C:" drive
and the "/Program Files" and "/Documents & Settings" folders on the "D:"
drive. I have a lot of other programs I'll be installing on the "D:" drive.
Is this possible?

 

[Frankster]

It's possible, it works, but I would not recommend it. I've done it.
Invariably some programs will auto-create a programs/<programname> directory
on your C drive no matter where you've installed "most" of your apps.
They'll also place various "system" files into your c:\windwos\system32
directory, no matter where you tell them to install. Bottom line, very
confusing. Even though, generally, it does work. After having done this, and
lived to tell, I now install all my apps on the C drive. And plan ahead to
make sure I don't run out of space on the C drive.

My opinion.

-Frank

 

[Guest]

For this you will have to empty the "Program Files" folder first on the Win
HDD (C .Both drives must have NTFS file system

Go to "administrative tool"->"computer managment"->"storage"->"disk managment"

Now choose the second HDD (D and rigth click then ->"change drive letters
and paths..."
Now click "add"->"mount in the following empty ntfs folder" and select the
"program files" folder on the C: drive.This way the "Program Files" rather
than being on the C: will be like a "shortcut" to D:


NOTE:In my external HDD , once, the pathc specified from the administrative
tools got deleted without a reason so i had to redo everything from the start

 

[Ken Blake]

It's possible, it works, but I would not recommend it. I've done it.
Invariably some programs will auto-create a programs/<programname>
directory on your C drive no matter where you've installed "most" of
your apps. They'll also place various "system" files into your
c:\windwos\system32 directory, no matter where you tell them to
install. Bottom line, very confusing. Even though, generally, it does
work. After having done this, and lived to tell, I now install all my
apps on the C drive. And plan ahead to make sure I don't run out of
space on the C drive.

Over and above everything you say above, most people who install programs on
a drive other than the one Windows is on do it because they think that if
they ever have to reinstall Windows, they won't have to reinstall their
programs. But since that is false, it's generally a useless thing to do.

If you reinstall Windows, you'll also have to reinstall your programs.