set up os/apps on separate partition from data

[4petrol]

I am using XP Pro and want to set up the single physical drive (80 GB) with
one partition that has Xp on it along with the applications and the other for
data. I would appreciate any info. on how to do this and also how to set it
up to automatically have data stored on the data partition.

 

[Gerry]

4petrol

Is the computer a desktop or a laptop?

Is the second hard drive in the computer? Has the second hard drive been
formatted?

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Lil' Dave]

I am using XP Pro and want to set up the single physical drive (80 GB) with
one partition that has Xp on it along with the applications and the other
for
data. I would appreciate any info. on how to do this and also how to set
it
up to automatically have data stored on the data partition.

From the git-go, in windows setup, you can do this. Initially partition
part of the hard drive for XP and apps. Leave the rest of the hard drive
alone. When done installing XP, partition/format the remaining part of the
hard drive with disk manager. You can't do it this way if XP is already
installed. Then you need a 3rd party partitioning software.

Things are different if you use factory recovery software for XP install.
Things are a bit different if XP is already installed. If you mean you are
referring to 2 physical hard drives, things are different somewhat as well.
Give some details if so.

 

[LVTravel]

Gerry, he said a single 80 GB drive. No second hard drive and it doesn't
matter whether laptop or desktop to do what OP wants.

 

[LVTravel]

From the git-go, in windows setup, you can do this. Initially partition
part of the hard drive for XP and apps. Leave the rest of the hard drive
alone. When done installing XP, partition/format the remaining part of
the hard drive with disk manager. You can't do it this way if XP is
already installed. Then you need a 3rd party partitioning software.

Things are different if you use factory recovery software for XP install.
Things are a bit different if XP is already installed. If you mean you
are referring to 2 physical hard drives, things are different somewhat as
well. Give some details if so.

And to continue Lil' Dave's remarks once you have set up the second logical
drive (partition and format the remaining...) make sure you set My
Documents, the system temp location and any other default data locations to
the second drive. If you don't the hidden files and temporary files that
are used will bloat the OS/Programs drive and could later cause issues with
no room for the OS. Depending on the number of programs to be installed, I
would recommend a minimum 30 GB OS partition and 50 GB data partition. If a
lot of programs are to be installed you might consider increasing the OS
partition size.

To change the location of My Computer to the second drive follow these
simple instructions:

1) Open My Computer.
2) Right click on My Documents and from the sub-menu select properties.
3) Change the target folder path and Apply.

For all the other defaults you will either need to do a search (Google) or
from within a program's help files to determine how to change the default
path to the data files they create.

 

[Gerry]

LVTravel

Yes I realised when I read the response by Dave that I had misread the
post.


--


Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Gerry]

4petrol

You cannot do what you want to do without a third party partitioning
tool. The alternative is to back up your data files and reinstall
Windows XP and Programmes. This will give you opportunity to partition
the drive before you install Windows XP. It will require you having to
reinstall all third party drivers.


--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I am using XP Pro and want to set up the single physical drive (80 GB) with
one partition that has Xp on it along with the applications and the other for
data. I would appreciate any info. on how to do this and also how to set it
up to automatically have data stored on the data partition.

You've already gotten answers to how to do this. I just wanted to add
that doing what you propose may or may not be a great idea. You might
want to read this article I wrote on partitioning:
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=326

 

[LVTravel]

LVTravel

Yes I realised when I read the response by Dave that I had misread the
post.


--


Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Won't be the first time someone has misread the post, I know I have in the
past, and this wasn't meant to be mean or to criticize.

 

[4petrol]

I appreciate all of the responses.
Presently I have the use of only one physical drive to do this. My second
drive is being used for other operating systems etc...
I plan on buying another drive toward the end of this year to use for backup
along with using my Norton Ghost software.

My main concern was on how to set up sending all data to the second
partition (logical) from the first one whenever I created docs with the apps
on it.

When I read what LVTravel posted:
"For all the other defaults you will either need to do a search (Google) or
from within a program's help files to determine how to change the default
path to the data files they create."
I realized that it may be beyond my abilities and/or what I'm willing to do.
;-O

 

[Gerry]

4petrol

My Documents is one of a number of system created Special Folders
including My Pictures and My Music. These can more easily be relocated
using Tweak Ui. Download TweakUI, one of the MS powertoys, from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

In TweakUi select My Computer, Special Folders. You can scroll down to
see the full list of Special Folders to the left of the Change
Location button.

In Word select Tools, Options, File Locations, Modify.

In Excel select Tools, Options, General and you can change the Default
File Location.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Lil' Dave]

After you've created the logical partition and formatted it, most apps have
in addition a "save" option. But also, a "save as" option. In that dialog
box you can assign both location and name of file. It pretty consistent
across apps how to do this manually. And get's easier as you do it as a
habit. You have to be wary when you add storage hardware externally or
internally as these may alter the drive letter designations. This will
affect the automatic savings in an alternate location as well. Stick with
the manual method, most users are aware when such happens.

 

[Lil' Dave]

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, I make that mistake myself. Usually I do
this because I scan instead of reading. Overlooking important details in
the question.

Sometimes, on the other hand, I may demand pertinent information as the
question is too broad in my opinion. Others have answered based on
assumptions on their part. The OP may never reply, so we don't know if the
question was answered or not. Get's kinda goofy in that respect in this
newsgroup.

 

[Gerry]

Dave

I agree with your comments about external drives but that situation does
not apply here. Manual methods are unnecessary. See my post.

--


Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Gerry]

Dave

I have been making thousands of posts every year for some years. Only a
few individuals delight in pointing out situations where they think I
have misread a post. Sometimes I do but sometimes they do not understand
the investigative methods I employ. A handful are just a PITA but you
have to live with them just like wasps when you try to eat sandwiches
etc outdoors on a hot day.

--


Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Lil' Dave]

Yes, true.

If a physical hard drive is added onboard, and made a primary partition, the
extended partition's logical drive on the first hard drive will take a
backseat. Changing drive letters. Just a head's up to the OP.