windows re-installation

  • Thread starter Thread starter Alex
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A

Alex

Hi all,

I'd like to know if I install windows 2k in one logical drive, say C, while installing all other non-MS applications in another logical drive, say D, do I need to re-install everything when I've messed up my OS and needed to re-install it?

Thanks for advise.
Alex
 
Yes, you will. Installation of programs (typically) involves more than just
putting files on a hard drive. The OS needs to be aware of where the files
reside, what controls are registered during the installation, what file
associations there are, etc. The only think you'll save by installing your
applications on your D drive is space on your C drive.

--

Ray at work
Microsoft ASP/ASP.NET MVP


Hi all,

I'd like to know if I install windows 2k in one logical drive, say C, while
installing all other non-MS applications in another logical drive, say D, do
I need to re-install everything when I've messed up my OS and needed to
re-install it?

Thanks for advise.
Alex
 
Alex said:
Hi all,

I'd like to know if I install windows 2k in one logical drive, say C,
while installing all other non-MS applications in another logical drive,
say D, do I need to re-install everything when I've messed up my OS and
needed to re-install it?

Thanks for advise.
Alex
Click to expand...

Do you have two or more hard drives? I have 3 and could use more if they
could be mapped.
Here is how I did it.
First drive;
2GB C: IBM DOS 2000, plus windows 3.1 for nostalgia.
20GB W2K Internet but slow because of virus protection.
18GB W2K no internet or virus protection, runs good.
Second drive;
Linux, 10GB, Windows sees it as unformatted space so ignores it.
Third drive;
Fat 16, 1.6 GB just a scratch pad or swap drive for the windows.

Here is how I did it.
1. Install the DOS stuff with a first pass fdisk.
2. Partition the rest of the drive with W2K and install it with NTFS
file system.
3. Add Linux on the second drive.

Result;
Cold boot goes into the Linux screen and the choices are 1. Linux, 2. DOS.
Select DOS and go to the boot.ini screen. Pick one of the windows
installations or DOS.
Note: DOS screams with a GHz class CPU. Windows 3.1 too.

It works for me but you don't want to put anything valuable on there
until you see if you can get things installed and working.

Bill Baka
 
Hi Alex,

I test a LOT of software and quite frequently my install gets all screwed
up. Here's how I handle it. I create multiple partitions, C for the primary
OS, D for a secondary OS, E for software and F for data. I install Windows
to the C partition. As soon as the install is complete and I've loaded the
necessary drivers, I edit the registry and point "ProgramFilesDir" to
"E:\Program Files" instead of "C:\Program Files". That way, from that point
on, all programs will install by default in E:. After I've installed all my
applications, the I'll install a second copy of Win2K on the D partition.
This copy is booted only to do a backup of C. When I'm ready to begin
testing some new software, I'll boot to the D partition and, using NTBackup,
I'll backup C. When testing is complete or my computer gets all screwed up
from testing, I'll boot back to the D partitiion, format C (thereby removing
ALL traces of the program under test) and reload C from the backup.
Typically this only takes 2-3 minutes to accomplish. Whilst booted to the D
partitiion I'll also delete the tested programs folder from E. When I boot
back to my "Primary" OS, it's as if the program under test had never
existed. The dual boot is necessary so when you do your backup no files from
the primary OS are "in use".


Hi all,

I'd like to know if I install windows 2k in one logical drive, say C, while
installing all other non-MS applications in another logical drive, say D, do
I need to re-install everything when I've messed up my OS and needed to
re-install it?

Thanks for advise.
Alex
 
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