Windows directory on 2 drives.. where is ACTIVE windows?

[Guest]

I just installed a new system with an 80GB C drive; DVD/CD for D and 250GB
for E. After installing WINXP (including SP2) I've noticed that I have the
Windows directory on BOTH drives. The user I logged in as is listed under
the Documents and Settings on DRIVE E (250GB). I need ALL the space on E for
some projects and I don't need dual Windows OS, if such an animal exists.
1) How can determine WHICH drive is the ACTIVE Windows drive?
2) Can I remove ALL of the directories on E?
3) IF my E drive is the active Windows drive, how do I move it to C.. or can
I?
If necessary, I could reinstall SP2. I'm not too far along with the setup
of the new system... 'yet'!!!
TIA,
Tom

 

[Thorsten Matzner]

I just installed a new system with an 80GB C drive; DVD/CD for D and 250GB
for E. After installing WINXP (including SP2) I've noticed that I have the
Windows directory on BOTH drives. The user I logged in as is listed under
the Documents and Settings on DRIVE E (250GB). I need ALL the space on E for
some projects and I don't need dual Windows OS, if such an animal exists.
1) How can determine WHICH drive is the ACTIVE Windows drive?

Type
cd %windir%
at a DOS prompt to change to the home folder of the current OS.

2) Can I remove ALL of the directories on E?

No. See "Cannot Move or Rename the Documents and Settings Folder"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=236621).

3) IF my E drive is the active Windows drive, how do I move it to C.. or can
I?

Not possible. You have to reinstall Windows on C to move the OS.

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Thorsten, for the info. Couple of more ?s:
1) How do I determine the active Windows drive? The "cd %windir%" only
changes it, doesn't it?
2) What happens to my installed software and users? Do I have to redo them,
including Windows and re-register?
3) Once I put things on drive C, can I fully delete ALL folders on E, since
I haven't used E yet for any application? I've just installed Windows XP and
SP2 with a user or two (admin rights only for each).
TIA,
Tom

 

[Thorsten Matzner]

Thanks, Thorsten, for the info. Couple of more ?s:
1) How do I determine the active Windows drive? The "cd %windir%" only
changes it, doesn't it?

No. It changes to the Windows install folder, it does not change the
variable. You can use any other DOS command to find out the true name
of the variable. Type
SET
to get all variables in a list.

2) What happens to my installed software and users? Do I have to redo them,
including Windows and re-register?

The software, users and hardware that is not installed in the
remaining Windows version will have to be re-setup/reinstalled. See
"How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811151) also.

3) Once I put things on drive C, can I fully delete ALL folders on E, since
I haven't used E yet for any application? I've just installed Windows XP and
SP2 with a user or two (admin rights only for each).

In this case: yes.