Q: Windows XP Reinstall & Dynamic Disk

[Soul]

Hi,

I have my hard disks setup as follow:

* Disk 0 [20Gb] - Drive "C": System drive (contain OS) - Dynamic/NTFS
* Disk 1 [40Gb] - Drive "D": Application drive (contain all applications) -
Dynamic/NTFS
* Disk 2 [40Gb] / Disk 3 [6Gb] - Drive "E" : Data drive (contain all data) -
Dynamic/Spanned/NTFS

The only disk related software tool I have installed was Diskeeper v8.0.

After running Windows XP Pro for around two years without much problems; for
some reason, I am now planning to reinstall Windows XP and all application I
had. I will also convert disk 0 and 1 back to basic disk; but remain disk 2
and 3 be as dynamic since I want them to be seen as one drive (any other
alternative?).

But before all this, I would like to conform that will I be able to see my
drive "E" (disk 2 and 3) after reinstallation? I prefer not to burn all my
data into CD as it will take quite some time and CDs.

Any recommendation, advise or good practise before I go ahead to reinstall
the system?

Thank you.

 

[CZ]

I have my hard disks setup as follow:

* Disk 0 [20Gb] - Drive "C": System drive (contain OS) - Dynamic/NTFS
* Disk 1 [40Gb] - Drive "D": Application drive (contain all applications) -
Dynamic/NTFS
* Disk 2 [40Gb] / Disk 3 [6Gb] - Drive "E" : Data drive (contain all data) -
Dynamic/Spanned/NTFS

The only disk related software tool I have installed was Diskeeper v8.0.

After running Windows XP Pro for around two years without much problems; for
some reason, I am now planning to reinstall Windows XP and all application I
had. I will also convert disk 0 and 1 back to basic disk; but remain disk 2
and 3 be as dynamic since I want them to be seen as one drive (any other
alternative?).

But before all this, I would like to conform that will I be able to see my
drive "E" (disk 2 and 3) after reinstallation? I prefer not to burn all my
data into CD as it will take quite some time and CDs.

Any recommendation, advise or good practise before I go ahead to reinstall
the system?

Soul:

I have worked with disk 0 as basic and disk 1 as dynamic w/o problems.

IMO, basic vs dynamic is an aspect of the disk, whereas a spanned vol may be
an aspect of the op system, therefore, you may encounter a problem.

Good practice: backup first

 

[Soul]

Too late!!! Yesterday night after Mcafee catch a virus (backdoor-ach) and
"automatically" delete two files plus some spyware registry, I have the
feeling that I may need to reinstall my system. Now prove that I am right,
my system wouldn't start-up after last night shutdown.

Strange thing is all the while I have got no virus and spyware warning with
Norton (I always had up to date virus definition data and schedule weekly
full system scan). But after I tried Mcafee last night, it warn me the virus
and auto delete things for me even I didn't check the checkbox for deleting
those files and registry.

I shouldn't be so itchy to try this and that all the time on production PC!
Luckily, I still have my notebook working and some important date do sync a
copy in this notebook.

Now hopefully I am able to see my "Data" drive after reinstall.

By the way, what do you suggest for backup for a home system without backup
device. Burning 20Gb++ of data into CDRs really not feasible right?

Thank you.

--
Soul


| >> I have my hard disks setup as follow:
|
| * Disk 0 [20Gb] - Drive "C": System drive (contain OS) - Dynamic/NTFS
| * Disk 1 [40Gb] - Drive "D": Application drive (contain all
applications) -
| Dynamic/NTFS
| * Disk 2 [40Gb] / Disk 3 [6Gb] - Drive "E" : Data drive (contain all
data) -
| Dynamic/Spanned/NTFS
|
| The only disk related software tool I have installed was Diskeeper v8.0.
|
| After running Windows XP Pro for around two years without much problems;
for
| some reason, I am now planning to reinstall Windows XP and all application
I
| had. I will also convert disk 0 and 1 back to basic disk; but remain disk
2
| and 3 be as dynamic since I want them to be seen as one drive (any other
| alternative?).
|
| But before all this, I would like to conform that will I be able to see my
| drive "E" (disk 2 and 3) after reinstallation? I prefer not to burn all my
| data into CD as it will take quite some time and CDs.
|
| Any recommendation, advise or good practise before I go ahead to reinstall
| the system?
|
| Soul:
|
| I have worked with disk 0 as basic and disk 1 as dynamic w/o problems.
|
| IMO, basic vs dynamic is an aspect of the disk, whereas a spanned vol may
be
| an aspect of the op system, therefore, you may encounter a problem.
|
| Good practice: backup first
|
|
|
|

 

[CZ]

By the way, what do you suggest for backup for a home system without
backup
device. Burning 20Gb++ of data into CDRs really not feasible right?

Soul:

If your portable supports easily changing the hard disk, buy a 2nd hard disk
for the portable and only use it to copy files over the network to it.

 

[lastcall]

yes, you will be able to see your E drive. basic/dynamic are
compatilble. if your drives were FAT/NTFS, they would not be able to
see each other.

of course a good practice is to backup beforehand but as long as you
don't format or repartition those drives, you'll be fine. just put
windows back on the c drive. done it at home and my boss is waiting
for his licenses and we've had to do it at the shop, too.