User Accounts in XP PRO away from C: drive

[AT and HMB]

My daughter and family share the family computer and each member of the
family has his/her own account. this makes for a very big C: partition and I
am concerned about security of their data in case of fault requiring
re-instal of operating system for whatever reason.
Is there a way of directing their individual accounts to another partition
of their choosing, or any other way round the problem.
Ideally, I would like them each to have own partition, for all
data/accounts.
Please help.
Thanks.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

My daughter and family share the family computer and each member of the
family has his/her own account. this makes for a very big C: partition and I
am concerned about security of their data in case of fault requiring
re-instal of operating system for whatever reason.
Is there a way of directing their individual accounts to another partition
of their choosing, or any other way round the problem.
Ideally, I would like them each to have own partition, for all
data/accounts.
Please help.
Thanks.

Right-click "My Documents" on the desktop, select
"Properties", then specify a drive/folder of your choice.
You will get the option of moving your existing files to
the new location. Do this for each family member.

 

[Guest]

Since all new systems use the entire C Drive, you only choice is to buy a
third party partitioning tool and create a new partition(s). You can then
move the data over using something like TweakUI whihc will change the
Registry Settings for the new default location.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

You write "Since all new systems use the entire C Drive".
I assume you wanted to say "Since drive C: consumes the
whole hard disk space". If so then this is not necessarily
correct. When you purchase a Dell system then you get
the option of having WinXP on a 20 GByte partition (drive C
and the rest of the disk on a data partition. An excellent idea!

 

[Guest]

And when did they start this? I have been researching new machines for about
two months now and not one has made mention of this. And yes, I did mean to
that the OS and Programs are all on one partition and outside of a restore
partition, there is only one.
Can you provide a link to where Dell says they will custome configure your
partitions?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Just go to www.dell.com, select any PC or laptop, then
pretend that you want to customise it. One of the options
lets you ask for a split disk. Here is a typical descriptive
line:
Hard Drive Partition, Primary Size 40GB in C Drive, Remainder in D Drive
(even though I think that 40 GBytes is too large. 20 GBytes
would suffice very nicely)

 

[Alias~-]

Just go to www.dell.com, select any PC or laptop, then
pretend that you want to customise it. One of the options
lets you ask for a split disk. Here is a typical descriptive
line:
Hard Drive Partition, Primary Size 40GB in C Drive, Remainder in D Drive
(even though I think that 40 GBytes is too large. 20 GBytes
would suffice very nicely)

Depends. I just installed Tombraider The Legend on my child's computer
and it takes up 7GB!

Alias

 

[Guest]

Something about forest and trees comes to mind. Completely missed that one.
I agree that 20 gigs is a gracious plenty for 99% of the population.

 

[AT and HMB]

I started this, but I don't know what Dell has to do with it. My family's
disk is already split into a number of partitions using PartitionMagic. I
just want to know if the User Accounts can be held on a partition other than
C:. For example, although I use Outlook Express I have moved the message
folder to a different partition, thus safeguarding it if I have to re-instal
the operating system.
Thanks

 

[Guest]

The "User Account" must stay must stay with the OS, however the Data for that
user can be placed anywhere.

 

[Rock]

I started this, but I don't know what Dell has to do with it. My family's
disk is already split into a number of partitions using PartitionMagic. I
just want to know if the User Accounts can be held on a partition other
than C:. For example, although I use Outlook Express I have moved the
message folder to a different partition, thus safeguarding it if I have to
re-instal the operating system.
Thanks

Pegasus in his first post told you how to redirect some of the user folders
to another drive. No you cannot put the whole user account folder structure
for each user in its own partition. They have to remain on the C: drive
but, again, some of the sub folders can be moved.

 

[Guest]

Why not keep it simple and do backups of all data on the pc, these days a
dual layer DVD burner is not that expensive, nor the software to do the
backup,
the Dual layer can hold 8 GIG uncompressed, and a bit more when compressed,
I just backed up my entire OS partition/data and all one Dual layer DVD, get
a RW dual layer disc and you can make differential backups, keeping the data
up to date.

 

[AT and HMB]

Remember I raised this on behalf of my family: it is not that easy to
discipline use among young children.
I would never think of using DVD as backup, when hard disks are so cheap and
all computers will support additional hard disks.
For my own security I run a RAID mirror, and still copy over photos etc to
another computer on my LAN as a belt and braces approach. I would think a
DVD option is NOT the solution for most peole.
Many thanks to all who have replied and the essential point has been
confirmed, i.e. Data files can be moved.

 

[Frank]

To me; these partitioning schemes are all a disaster waiting
to happen. The solution to the original poster would be a
good back up solution. For example external HDD and
enclosure with Ghost or whatever.