Format New HD Before XP Clean Install..

[JD]

I getting ready to do my very first clean install of Windows XP Home
Edition on a new 80 GB Western Digital Hard Drive. I've never installed
an Operating System on a HD.

I would like to partition the new HD into four partitions, C, D, E & F.
I install the OS on C, install my programs on D and use E and F for
temporary picture storage.

Western Digital includes a CD that I can boot to and partition the HD
but I also understand the XP install will allow me to partition the HD.

Should I partition the HD with the WD software or just let XP partition
the HD?

 

[peter]

Partition the HD with the Western Digital Software....then Install XP onto
the partition of your choice

peter

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I getting ready to do my very first clean install of Windows XP Home
Edition on a new 80 GB Western Digital Hard Drive. I've never installed
an Operating System on a HD.

I would like to partition the new HD into four partitions, C, D, E & F.
I install the OS on C, install my programs on D and use E and F for
temporary picture storage.

Western Digital includes a CD that I can boot to and partition the HD
but I also understand the XP install will allow me to partition the HD.

Should I partition the HD with the WD software or just let XP partition
the HD?

Keep it simple. Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be
offered the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part
of the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of
boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

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

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Something to bear in mind:

Placing data files on a partition or physical hard drive separate
from the operating system and applications can greatly simplify system
repairs/recoveries and data back-up.

There's very little point, however, in having a separate partition
for just applications and/or games. Should you have to reinstall the
OS, you'll also have to reinstall each and every application and game
anyway, in order to recreate the hundreds (possibly thousands) of
registry entries and to replace the dozens (possibly hundreds) of
essential system files back into the appropriate Windows folders and
sub-folders.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[DL]

Let XP prepare the disk, why introduce a third party tool when its not
neccessary.
PS Not much point in using a seperate partition for Programs, you would
still have to reinstall them if you wiped your XP drive.

 

[JD]

Two other replies say to let XP partition but I thought WD software
would do a better job? Why do you think I should partition the HD with
the WD software?

 

[JD]

Keep it simple. Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll
be offered the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as
part of the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order
of boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

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

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Something to bear in mind:

Placing data files on a partition or physical hard drive separate
from the operating system and applications can greatly simplify system
repairs/recoveries and data back-up.

There's very little point, however, in having a separate partition
for just applications and/or games. Should you have to reinstall the
OS, you'll also have to reinstall each and every application and game
anyway, in order to recreate the hundreds (possibly thousands) of
registry entries and to replace the dozens (possibly hundreds) of
essential system files back into the appropriate Windows folders and
sub-folders.

I install the applications to a separate partition so the data files
would remain untouched if I had to reinstall the OS. Yes, I would have
to reinstall the applications after a reinstall of the OS, but the data
files would still be there for things like MS Office.

Your idea is interesting. Store the data files but not the apps on a
different partition? Don't I achieve the same result?

 

[JD]

If I store my programs on a separate partition then their data files
would also be on a separate partition so I would have to reinstall the
Programs but the data files would be saved?

 

[Jonny]

The retail installation CD and OEM generic CD will allow installation of the
initial partition (C, and, any further partitions. However, its suggested
you make any further partitions in XP environment after its installed to
save you time. Its much faster in the XP installed windows environment.

Suggest using NTFS. Do not install 3rd party applications in an alternate
partition. Serves no purpose. All the registry settings are in the C:
partition. for the 3rd party software. Make the partition adequate in size
to serve both XP, its swapfile growth, hiberfil.sys growth, and any 3rd
party applications.

One extended partition with enclosed logical drives may serve you for other
things. At least that's the way I've had it setup for 2 years. Same
identical hard drive.

 

[Jonny]

I install the applications to a separate partition so the data files would
remain untouched if I had to reinstall the OS. Yes, I would have to
reinstall the applications after a reinstall of the OS, but the data files
would still be there for things like MS Office.

Your idea is interesting. Store the data files but not the apps on a
different partition? Don't I achieve the same result?

Specific individual user files can be saved to an alternate partition.
Word/Excel for instance.

Outlook 2K has a optional update for saving all your settings etc including
all in your Outlook personal folder as a file to a location of your choice,
including an alternate partition. A reminder set to your time interval of
choice will remind you to save same, and allow you to change that location.
Guessing Outlook 2003 is similar.

Reinstalling Office new, over a preexisting location, may be a problem
regarding Outlook. Its much easier to restore from a .pst backup file in an
alternate location instead, and install Outlook in its default location.

 

[NewScience]

JD:

Your idea is sound. My setup is almost identical to yours:

C: OS only
D: Games
E: Software ... Applications (non-Microsoft not needed at boot-time), and
Data Files
F: Backup
Unassigned - Acronis Secure Zone (FAT remained hidden for backups)

The main difference with yours and mine is C is a complete hard drive
(Master) and the others are on another Drive.

I do this for many reasons:

1. Shorter times for backups (smaller partitions done at different
intervals)
2. Separate Data from OS (moved C:\Documents and Settings to E:, inclusive
of E-Mail, and user support)
3. Separate area for MS Backup (I also use Acronis TrueImage which goes on
Acronis Secure Zone)
4. Easy to move folders if using single hard drive and later wish to move
to 2 hard drives - no registry and re-install to do on software)
5. Allows for OS growth (Windows XP keeps getting bigger and bigger as
updates installed, system data files are updated, ...). Started out as 2GB
.... now 7GB and getting bigger with System Restore

There are many advantages to go your route, and I haven't come across any
MAJOR disadvantages.

 

[Rock]

I getting ready to do my very first clean install of Windows XP Home
Edition on a new 80 GB Western Digital Hard Drive. I've never installed an
Operating System on a HD.

I would like to partition the new HD into four partitions, C, D, E & F. I
install the OS on C, install my programs on D and use E and F for
temporary picture storage.

Western Digital includes a CD that I can boot to and partition the HD but
I also understand the XP install will allow me to partition the HD.

Should I partition the HD with the WD software or just let XP partition
the HD?

It can be done either way, but since XP's installation CD provides the tools
to partition the drive at set up why not do it there in one step.

There is no advantage to having the programs installed on a separate
partition other than allowing for a smaller C: partition, because with a
reinstall of the OS the programs will need to be reinstalled as well. Even
with a separate partition for program files, some programs will insist on
installing to C:. The data files can be redirected to any partition of your
choosing.

 

[DL]

Data Files are often not stored with the App
eg You use My Documents?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I install the applications to a separate partition so the data files
would remain untouched if I had to reinstall the OS.

Why would placing the applications on a separate partition have any
bearing on the location of data files? It's only the most poorly of
designed applications that place data files within their application
folders.

Yes, I would have
to reinstall the applications after a reinstall of the OS, but the data
files would still be there for things like MS Office.

No, Office data is, unless you've intentionally messed things up,
stored under the user profile, in the My Documents folder.

Your idea is interesting. Store the data files but not the apps on a
different partition? Don't I achieve the same result?

Not even close.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Jonny]

It can be done either way, but since XP's installation CD provides the
tools to partition the drive at set up why not do it there in one step.

There is no advantage to having the programs installed on a separate
partition other than allowing for a smaller C: partition, because with a
reinstall of the OS the programs will need to be reinstalled as well.
Even with a separate partition for program files, some programs will
insist on installing to C:. The data files can be redirected to any
partition of your choosing.

All can be data can redirected to another location except those internal to
Outlook itself. Personal folder and those junior to that folder all go to
the same installed assigned location. Similar to OE.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

All can be data can redirected to another location except those internal to
Outlook itself. Personal folder and those junior to that folder all go to
the same installed assigned location. Similar to OE.

That's not true. Both Outlook and Outlook Express offer the option to
store messages in any location specified by the user.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Jonny]

That's not true. Both Outlook and Outlook Express offer the option to
store messages in any location specified by the user.

What about the remaining fixtures of Outlook?
Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Drafts, Journals, Notes, Outbox...
The subject is restoration of Outlook, not user settings of same.