partitioning HDD into several disks ??

[Beladi Nasralla]

Hi there,

I built a gaming PC. Someone told me that I should partition the 160
GB hard drive into several disks. They said I should install
operational system (OS) into the first disk, and install the games in
to the second disk. In doing this way, I would be able to format the
first disk and reinstall the OS, while keeping all the game programs
on the second disk. I would not need to reinstall them. Is this
correct ?

I decided to partition the hard drive into two disks. I installed the
OS into the first disk, and also installed all the games into the
first disk. If I want to re-format the first disk (e.g. so that I
could reinstall the OS), I could always move the game files onto the
second disk, and after the OS reinstalling, move the files back. Is
this correct ?

Maybe there is a better way to partition the hard drive and install
the programs ? Thanks.

 

[Ed Medlin]

Hi there,

I built a gaming PC. Someone told me that I should partition the 160
GB hard drive into several disks. They said I should install
operational system (OS) into the first disk, and install the games in
to the second disk. In doing this way, I would be able to format the
first disk and reinstall the OS, while keeping all the game programs
on the second disk. I would not need to reinstall them. Is this
correct ?

No. When you format and reinstall the OS you lose the registry entries
for the games and would still have to reinstall them. Many games store
all your settings and saved games so when you reinstall them you will
still have those, but that is iffy too.

I decided to partition the hard drive into two disks. I installed the
OS into the first disk, and also installed all the games into the
first disk. If I want to re-format the first disk (e.g. so that I
could reinstall the OS), I could always move the game files onto the
second disk, and after the OS reinstalling, move the files back. Is
this correct ?

Same as above.........

Maybe there is a better way to partition the hard drive and install
the programs ? Thanks.

Partitioning is useful as an organizing tool just to keep things orderly
IMO. If you have music or video that you want to keep, you can keep
those without losing them with a format and reinstall. Just remember
that it is NOT a backup if it is on the same physical drive. Drive
failure takes out all partitions. Critical files should be backed up in
at least two other places to be safe. I back up to my home file server
and to CD/DVD.

Ed

 

[DK]

No. When you format and reinstall the OS you lose the registry entries
for the games and would still have to reinstall them. Many games store
all your settings and saved games so when you reinstall them you will
still have those, but that is iffy too.

Yes and no. To begin with, some games don't depend on the stupid
abomination called Windows registry.

Second, the most compelling reason to have a small separate
partition for OS only is an ease of system repair/recovery/maintanence
via disk imaging. I have a 5 Gb partition I called SYSTEM, 20 Gb
partition called APPS with the rest taking a partition called DATA.
The second disk is BACKUP holding images and incremental backups
from logical disks of physical disk 1.

I use Acronis True Image to occasionally make disk images.
Image of 5 Gb system partition fits on DVD and, unlike a full image
of the entire 120 Gb disk is very quick and easy to make and
restore. Any time any stupid program or MS upgrade screws up
something, or does not uninstall properly, the solution is easy -
5 min to restore the previous system image - without affecting any
of my previous programs and data.

*That* is the greatest advantage of dedicated OS partition.

DK

 

[John Doe]

Hi there,

Lo there,

I built a gaming PC. Someone told me that I should partition the 160
GB hard drive into several disks. They said I should install
operational system (OS) into the first disk, and install the games
in to the second disk. In doing this way, I would be able to format
the first disk and reinstall the OS, while keeping all the game
programs on the second disk. I would not need to reinstall them. Is
this correct ?

Not exactly. Nowadays some games keep lots of information in your
Windows area. There are other potential problems too.

I decided to partition the hard drive into two disks. I installed
the OS into the first disk, and also installed all the games into
the first disk. If I want to re-format the first disk (e.g. so that
I could reinstall the OS), I could always move the game files onto
the second disk, and after the OS reinstalling, move the files back.
Is this correct ?

The only thing I use an Outland partitioned for is for keeping data,
my personal files, the stuff that is copied to removable media for
safekeeping.

Maybe there is a better way to partition the hard drive and install
the programs ? Thanks.

I'm a gamer using a 37 GB 10,000 rpm Raptor.

If you can handle using only 80 GB, the best way is to make a copy of
the whole thing, or even make two copies. Reinstalling Windows
nowadays is a hassle. Having a hidden backup copy of Windows is a
marvelous tool. It's not beginner stuff, but if you can learn it, it
makes a world of difference when installing Windows, and for
troubleshooting software and hardware. Skillfully using Partition
Manager or PartitionMagic, you can make a complete copy of your
Windows partition (including Windows and programs/games). And usually
you can shrink those copies after you get stuffed the way you want it,
to make more room for your visible/working partition.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[mjlwaimea]

Lo there,


Not exactly. Nowadays some games keep lots of information in your
Windows area. There are other potential problems too.


The only thing I use an Outland partitioned for is for keeping data,
my personal files, the stuff that is copied to removable media for
safekeeping.


I'm a gamer using a 37 GB 10,000 rpm Raptor.

If you can handle using only 80 GB, the best way is to make a copy of
the whole thing, or even make two copies. Reinstalling Windows
nowadays is a hassle. Having a hidden backup copy of Windows is a
marvelous tool. It's not beginner stuff, but if you can learn it, it
makes a world of difference when installing Windows, and for
troubleshooting software and hardware. Skillfully using Partition
Manager or PartitionMagic, you can make a complete copy of your
Windows partition (including Windows and programs/games). And usually
you can shrink those copies after you get stuffed the way you want it,
to make more room for your visible/working partition.

Good luck and have fun.

Very good advice indeed. However, I would suggest using Acronis True
Image software. I'm not inferring that PartitionMagic or Manager is
bad software, it's just that I happen to really love Acronis and
haven't used the aforementioned. Unlike what the previous advice
suggests, it is relatively easy to use even for an advanced
beginner.

I have used this program about 10 times to back-up and restore both XP
and Vista. Everytime I used this product, it ran seemlessly.
Concerning where to put your games, I think that is more a personal
preference. It only makes sense to me that they are thrown in the
first partition with your OS. If anything goes haywire, then just re-
install your back-up image instead of the hassle of a full OS re-
install. Of course, you would have to keep up-to-date images of your
partition to keep all your game settings, but a weekly image recording
is a small price to pay considering the alternative. Literally takes
minutes. I would suggest having a separate drive for back-ups that
isn't running everytime you boot-up. I keep mine in a protective box,
in its anti-static bag, sealed zip-lock and tucked away in my dresser
drawer of my relatively constantly air conditioned room (live in the
tropics).

Furthermore, I would strongly discourage you from using Norton Ghost,
at least the 10.0 version. I have a raided system as well, and tried
to restore my Norton image back-up with no success at all. It was a
long time ago, but I think it was a RAID issue. Believe me, I had the
latest drivers, so that wasn't the problem.

Good-luck and let us know how it goes,

Michael J. Lederer

 

[mjlwaimea]

Very good advice indeed. However, I would suggest using Acronis True
Image software. I'm not inferring that PartitionMagic or Manager is
bad software, it's just that I happen to really love Acronis and
haven't used the aforementioned. Unlike what the previous advice
suggests, it is relatively easy to use even for an advanced
beginner.

I have used this program about 10 times to back-up and restore both XP
and Vista. Everytime I used this product, it ran seemlessly.
Concerning where to put your games, I think that is more a personal
preference. It only makes sense to me that they are thrown in the
first partition with your OS. If anything goes haywire, then just re-
install your back-up image instead of the hassle of a full OS re-
install. Of course, you would have to keep up-to-date images of your
partition to keep all your game settings, but a weekly image recording
is a small price to pay considering the alternative. Literally takes
minutes. I would suggest having a separate drive for back-ups that
isn't running everytime you boot-up. I keep mine in a protective box,
in its anti-static bag, sealed zip-lock and tucked away in my dresser
drawer of my relatively constantly air conditioned room (live in the
tropics).

Furthermore, I would strongly discourage you from using Norton Ghost,
at least the 10.0 version. I have a raided system as well, and tried
to restore my Norton image back-up with no success at all. It was a
long time ago, but I think it was a RAID issue. Believe me, I had the
latest drivers, so that wasn't the problem.

Good-luck and let us know how it goes,

Michael J. Lederer

Sorry DK, I hadn't noticed that you mentioned Acronis in your post.
Acronis True Image rocks!!!

 

[Beladi Nasralla]

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. I have one more question. If I
go to the Device Manager, then I see that the hard drive (Seagate
ST3160815AS) and the DVD/CD-RW (Samsung) drive have the generic
Windows drivers installed. Should I install the drivers specific for
those drives from the manufacturer ? I made a search on the Internet,
and I could not find any relevant drivers for downloading. I became
doubting that they exist (or people just do not need them), hence is
my question. Thanks.

 

[Ed Medlin]

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. I have one more question. If I
go to the Device Manager, then I see that the hard drive (Seagate
ST3160815AS) and the DVD/CD-RW (Samsung) drive have the generic
Windows drivers installed. Should I install the drivers specific for
those drives from the manufacturer ? I made a search on the Internet,
and I could not find any relevant drivers for downloading. I became
doubting that they exist (or people just do not need them), hence is
my question. Thanks.

The important drivers to install are those for your chipset. Optical
drives and properly formatted HDDs are recognized by Windows from the
bios without the need for any special drivers.

Ed

 

[DK]

Very good advice indeed. However, I would suggest using Acronis True
Image software. I'm not inferring that PartitionMagic or Manager is
bad software, it's just that I happen to really love Acronis and
haven't used the aforementioned.

I was a long time user of PowerQuest Disk Image (and still use
PowerQuest Partition Magic, which is rebranded as "Norton" now).
Ended up switching to True Image for all imaging because it is
simply a better product: images are smaller and done faster,
much better work from within Windows, infinitely better USB
support, and incremental backups are implemented.

Plus other nifty options in TI totally absent in DI - Universal
Restore, Save to FTP, Acronis Protected Space, etc.

DK

 

[John Doe]

(e-mail address removed) wrote:

....

Very good advice indeed. However, I would suggest using Acronis
True Image software. I'm not inferring that PartitionMagic or
Manager is bad software, it's just that I happen to really love
Acronis and haven't used the aforementioned. Unlike what the
previous advice suggests, it is relatively easy to use even for an
advanced beginner.

I tried using Acronis one time and then tried restoring the copy.
Unfortunately it didn't work. I probably overlooked something. It
should be easier because the disk managers I mentioned PartitionMagic
and Partition Manager are not so easy to use for the purpose of making
hidden Windows XP copies. The only reason I don't get into Acronis is
because I'm familiar with the others and they work just fine for me. I
use both of their boot CDs in times of trouble. Yes, I'm sure you can
make a boot CD with Acronis too.