partitioning and restore

[Guest]

Inquiry: I currently have a Dell 4600 running XP SP2. If I partition my HDD
for backup purposes, format the main partition, and then restore using the
restore disk included with the PC, will it overwrite and destroy my new
partition with all my backup data? And on a related note, is there any good
FREE partitioning software out there?
Thanks,

Chuck

 

[Guest]

Inquiry: I currently have a Dell 4600 running XP SP2. If I partition my HDD
for backup purposes, format the main partition, and then restore using the
restore disk included with the PC, will it overwrite and destroy my new
partition with all my backup data? And on a related note, is there any good
FREE partitioning software out there?
Thanks,

I don't know of any free partitioning software, and certainly none that I
would trust. You can get Partition Magic 8.0 for about $69, maybe less, and
it will enable you to partition your HDD without also wiping your data.

For only slightly more than $69, you can get yourself an external USB hard
drive that you can then use as your backup drive -- a much better option,
IMO, than messing around with partitioning, even with Partition Magic.

Ken

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Q. "If I partition my HDD for backup purposes, format the main partition,
and then restore using the restore disk included with the PC, will it overwrite
and destroy my new partition with all my backup data?"

A. Yes. I would suggest installing a second hard drive, or using an
external hard drive for backing up safely. What would happen if your
only hard drive failed?

Suggestion:

Maxtor OneTouch External Hard Drive
http://maxtor.com/portal/site/Maxto...II Family/Maxtor OneTouch II FireWire and USB

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

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:

| Inquiry: I currently have a Dell 4600 running XP SP2. If I partition my HDD
| for backup purposes, format the main partition, and then restore using the
| restore disk included with the PC, will it overwrite and destroy my new
| partition with all my backup data? And on a related note, is there any good
| FREE partitioning software out there?
| Thanks,
|
| Chuck

 

[Guest]

Excellent suggestions both. I'll look into it. Anybody know off the top of
their head what the average capacity of said drives is?

 

[Guest]

Additional inquiry: are you guys referring to the USB "key" drives? I also
generally back up downloads, apps, etc. to CD fairly frequently. The OS
itself should be OK due to the Restore disk Dell provides with the machine.
Right? {:-]