Partitioning...

[Guest]

I've read e-mails about partinoning when 'upgrading' from, say, ME to XP PRO. Is there an actual need for this if I only have C drive? Where can I find info about this 'Partition' subject?

 

[Ramesh [MVP]]

You can install XP in another partition as well, and have a dual-boot method. As for partitions, please see MVP Jim Eshelman's note "Planning Your Partitions": http://aumha.org/a/parts.php. Not specifically made for WinXP, but a good resource to read at.

For Windows XP installation guides, you may visit www.michaelstevenstech.com

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

ExportZone - for Internet Explorer:
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/ExportZone.htm

I've read e-mails about partinoning when 'upgrading' from, say, ME to XP PRO. Is there an actual need for this if I only have C drive? Where can I find info about this 'Partition' subject?

 

[Papa]

It is normally not necessary to do a partition when upgrading to a new OS.
However, every new hard drive MUST be partitioned and formatted before it
can be used, even if the partition encompasses the entire physical drive.
The common utilities to do these two tasks are FDISK and FORMAT.

For technical details on FDISK, FORMAT, FAT32, and NTFS, do a Google search.
You will find tons of info on the subject.

I've read e-mails about partinoning when 'upgrading' from, say, ME to XP

PRO. Is there an actual need for this if I only have C drive? Where can I
find info about this 'Partition' subject?

 

[Sharon F]

I've read e-mails about partinoning when 'upgrading' from, say, ME to XP
PRO. Is there an actual need for this if I only have C drive? Where can
I find info about this 'Partition' subject?

Your hard drive is already partitioned and formatted. The "need" depends on
how you plan to upgrade. If you are going to upgrade ME (keep your programs
and files in place), you won't want to partition or format.

If you are going to do a clean install and switch to the NTFS file system,
deleting the existing partition, recreating it and then formatting it is
the most efficient way to accomplish this.

 

[Dr. Phil]

What size is your drive....

 

[Guest]

I have always partitioned my drives, usually 75/25. By this I mean my active partition, which would be my C: drive, would be 75% of my total HDD space, and a back-up partition of 25%, which would end up being your D: drive. One major benefit of this is the fact that you can store copies of your documents, pictures, e-mails, etc. and in the event of a operating system conflict/failure/crash, if you do have to re-install windows, you only have to format your C: drive. All your documents remain intact on your back-up drive. For example, my primary partition is 60GB, and my back-up is 20GB. Third party software, such as Powerquest's Partition Magic will do this once your OS is installed, but I prefer to format and partition with a Windows98 boot disk, and re-install from there. If you have any problems related to your file system or hard drive, PM might cause more problems, and you would end up re-installing anyway
I am not an IT guy, just a hobbyist that likes to build computers on a never-ending quest to learn more. Just my two cents, take it for what it is worth. Hope it helps.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I have always partitioned my drives, usually 75/25. By this I mean my
active partition, which would be my C: drive, would be 75% of my
total HDD space, and a back-up partition of 25%, which would end up
being your D: drive. One major benefit of this is the fact that you
can store copies of your documents, pictures, e-mails, etc. and in
the event of a operating system conflict/failure/crash, if you do
have to re-install windows, you only have to format your C: drive.
All your documents remain intact on your back-up drive.

If I were you, I would rethink this backup strategy. Backup to a
second partition on the same drive is better than no backup at
all, but just barely. I don't recommend this because it leaves
you susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and backup
to many of the most common dangers: hard disk crashes, severe
power glitches, nearby lightning strikes, virus attacks, even
theft of the computer.

In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not
kept in the computer. For *really* secure backup (needed, for
example, if the life of your business depends on your data) you
should have multiple generations of backup, and at least one of
those generations should be stored off-site.

My computer isn't used for business, but my personal backup
scheme uses two identical removable hard drives, which fit into a
sleeve installed in the computer. I alternate between the two,
and use Drive Image to make a complete copy of the primary drive.

 

[Rick Hanson]

Ken,
What version of Drive Image do you use with Windows XP? I have Drive
Image 7 and 2002 but I'm not comfortable with Drive Image 7 doing the backup
within the GUI while system files are still in use.
Thanks,
Rick

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

What version of Drive Image do you use with Windows XP? I
have Drive Image 7 and 2002 but I'm not comfortable with Drive Image
7 doing the backup within the GUI while system files are still

in use.


It's Drive Image 5. It doesn't run from within the GUI, but in
its own "DOS" environment (where it *can* use NTFS).

By the way, I just got a copy of PowerQuest's V2i protector,
which does run within the GUI. I've installed it, but haven't
tried it yet.

 

[Rick Hanson]

I would most appreciative about your opinion of V2i.
Rick

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I would most appreciative about your opinion of V2i.

E-mail on its way to you.