Fed up with Windows

**Mc Brain** · Jan 10th, 2002, 02:57 PM

Are you fed up of having to backup all your documents and stuff every time you have to format your HD because of the f*** Windows.

I've an idea, and would love to read your opinions. What do you think about creating 2 partitions (at least) in the HD. One for just the system (and "not important" files). And the other one for all your files -"Documents And Settings" included in this partition-.

I know that this would mean to play with the registry so that the path to those folders points to the D: drive (instead of C:) but I guess it's quite easy -I've done this more than once-

So, if your Windows got corrupted... or it's not working as you'd like.... Format the partition, re-install the system, and re-path the Documents And Settings paths. DONE! You're system is back to life.

Obviously you should re-installed all the soft, but I guess you have the CD or disks to do so (and didn't have to backup all your files, because you didn't erased them).

So, here's the poll. First, post all the pros and cons you can imagine of this "solution". And second how would be the size of the primary partition?

**vbgladiator** · Jan 10th, 2002, 03:05 PM

This is exactly how my computer is set up.

**Mc Brain** · Jan 10th, 2002, 03:07 PM

Ok, and how much (GB) did you "save" for the system?

**mxnmx** · Jan 10th, 2002, 03:09 PM

Your idea would have been awesome if it were 1998....I guess most computers these days are with atleast 2-3 partitions...I know it saves a lot of hassles....anyways, good mind alywas creates good thoughts....

**cbond** · Jan 10th, 2002, 03:09 PM

That's standard operation proc. for all computers in our office as well.

**MrGTI** · Jan 10th, 2002, 03:10 PM

4 partitions:

C: 6GB System files ONLY. Never install anything on this drive.
D: 12GB VB code and all related software installed here.
E: 12GB ASP code and all related software installed here
F: 12GB Games and assorted other software installed here.

My system runs like a dream. And i have lots of free space to work with.

**vbgladiator** · Jan 10th, 2002, 03:10 PM

I have 3 partitions. The system partition is about 12 GB since I install all my programs, office and visual studio on that partition. The other 2 partitions are for games, mp3s, files etc.

**mxnmx** · Jan 10th, 2002, 03:12 PM

Your idea would have been an awesome one if you'd posted it around 1997-98....but now most computers are with atleast 2-3 partitions...But anyways, it has always been recommended to have 2 partitions atleast one with just OS+software installed and the other with Data....

**filburt1** · Jan 10th, 2002, 03:12 PM

I used to have 5 or 6 partitions but when Windows became Windows

I restarted with:
1. ~2 GB System and Drivers partition
2. ~18 GB Programs and everything else partition

Windows 2000 so far hasn't completely killed itself, so when I know when I'm ready to format, I copy all my documents off the computer onto other computers on my network, reformat and reinstall my stuff, and recopy the files back on. Home networks are cool.

**Mc Brain** · Jan 10th, 2002, 03:12 PM

Originally posted by mxnmx
Your idea would have been awesome if it were 1998....I guess most computers these days are with atleast 2-3 partitions...I know it saves a lot of hassles....anyways, good mind alywas creates good thoughts....

I know that... but I got the computer with only one partition (and the system preinstalled) and I was too lazy to create a new one (with Partition Magic) Now I have more GB (with my files) than within the system. So it's a pain in the a*** to backup all that stuff just to get the system working again.

**Mc Brain** · Jan 10th, 2002, 03:15 PM

Originally posted by filburt1
I used to have 5 or 6 partitions but when Windows became Windows I restarted with:
1. ~2 GB System and Drivers partition
2. ~18 GB Programs and everything else partition

Windows 2000 so far hasn't completely killed itself, so when I know when I'm ready to format, I copy all my documents off the computer onto other computers on my network, reformat and reinstall my stuff, and recopy the files back on. Home networks are cool.

That's the way I'm doing it... but backing GB and GB of files is not instantly. You could miss up to an hour of "work" backing files up, before you can start formatting and re-installing everything.

**filburt1** · Jan 10th, 2002, 03:20 PM

Originally posted by Mc Brain
That's the way I'm doing it... but backing GB and GB of files is not instantly. You could miss up to an hour of "work" backing files up, before you can start formatting and re-installing everything.

It took about an hour; my router is 100BaseT but the hub it's connected to is 10BaseT.

Besides, I do it when I'm watching TV or overnight. Much better than burning them to CDs though.

**Admiral Michael** · Sep 2nd, 2003, 02:06 AM

I have many partitions for backup.

My Desktop Config

My Laptop Config

There not actually Hard Drives, just one 60 GB Partitioned many times. In both my laptop and desktop. THey both havea 60GB Harddrive.

**Grimfort** · Sep 2nd, 2003, 03:28 AM

Me being a smart ass, went for a 20 gig HD for windows only, a 60 for installed apps and general crap, and a few SCSIs to hold everything else. Its complete preference but most people in the know go for a seperate OS drive/partition as its the most logical thing to do.

As to what size should it be, the answer is, how much space have you got available ?

A 10 gig will be enough easily, but 2 gig can handle win2k, with about 4 gig for XP. Also seperate physical drives are useful, if you have the space in your case, but 6 HD's a 2 CDs make a lot of noise

.

**Spajeoly** · Sep 2nd, 2003, 06:30 AM

I have my OS and on one 60 gig HD, back ups and misc. are on a slaved 60 gig.

Works excellent.

**<ABX** · Sep 2nd, 2003, 08:33 AM

I have a 120gig hard drive (really only 111gigs

) and i just have one partiton on it because i got fed up of having to resize my partiton all the time (Kept running outta space on my system and then when i gave my system too much i ran out on my important stuff partiton)

I think its just me because i have way too much stuff (i need another HD)

**jeroenh** · Sep 2nd, 2003, 09:04 AM

It took about an hour; my router is 100BaseT but the hub it's connected to is 10BaseT. Besides, I do it when I'm watching TV or overnight. Much better than burning them to CDs though.

I now it takes a long time to back this data up, but then you should set the backup process at the background.

Also when using SourceSafe, you only have to backup 1 directory. While this is done in the background, you can just keep working during the backup.

Using SourceSafe is also a good solution when you have one drive. All the data is in one directory and easy to backup.

**frigginjerk** · Sep 2nd, 2003, 10:18 AM

I pretty much do what you want to do already. I use Norton Ghost a lot. I have three partitions on my laptop.

C is 3 gigs - system and apps
D is 3 gigs - The D drive holds misc files, mp3s, mpegs, etc.
E is 4 gigs - Ghost Image files and vb projects.

First:
I install win2k. I Ghost my C drive to my E drive. I call this file system0.gho

Second:
I copy most folders to the E partition and point windows to these folders. An example is the "My Documents" folder I have on my E drive, I just used tweakui to point windows in the right direction.

Third:
A) Install vb and source safe
B) Install apps like mozilla Firebird and Filezilla that don't require registry access, I move the install directories from the program files to my E drive. Then I make folders on my E drive that just hold shortcuts to these programs and my vb projects. I then add these folders to my taskbar as toolbars which effictivly give me a menuing system.

Fourth:
I Ghost my C drive to my E drive. I call this file system1.gho

Fifth:
Install the newest versions of apps that require registry access. Basically my PIM apps(Time and Chaos and Express Plus). Then I re-point them to the proper data files like my email folders on my E drive.

Now, I have everything setup properly System0.gho is no longer needed, but I sometimes keep it just to be safe.

When a service pack for win2k or ie comes out I re-image my C drive with the system1.gho file, install the service pack. And start over from the Fourth step, but I call the image file system2.gho. If it works for a week or two I delete system1.gho and rename system2.gho to system1.gho

I still have to re-install a few apps but nothing huge.

**DiGiTaIErRoR** · Sep 2nd, 2003, 10:28 AM

Since you can reinstall over your old windows installation, I don't see the point of a format.

However,

C:\ FAT32 2 GB
D:\ NTFS 12 GB
G:\ NTFS 111 GB

Windows 98 is on C:\
Win2k an XP are on D:\ along with most of my applications
G:\ is just massive storage

**VisionIT** · Sep 2nd, 2003, 02:14 PM

Just specifying my poll vote:

My setup:

C:\ 111GB NTFS
D:\ 248GB NTFS
E:\ 1GB NTFS SCSI
G:\ 1GB NTFS SCSI
H:\ 40GB NTFS

I have:
Windows 2000 SP4 installed on C:
Windows 2003 Enterprise Server & tons of invoices on D:
More invoices on E:
Yet more invoices on G:
Redhat Linux 8.0 & VMware Win95/98/Me/XP on H:

I've used and sold hundreds of XP Home and Pro, but i'll still continue using good ol' 2K. SP4 makes it even more stable, if not a little slower. The only reason i'm running everything else in VMware is for testing programs and drivers!

I've only just had the PC back from our frankly rubbish insurance company!

Damn you XXXXXXX XXXXX. I'll leave you guessing!

**Kasracer** · Sep 2nd, 2003, 02:47 PM

I've formatted just the other day, however, I have about 280GB of space, so all of my stuff is ALWAYS on seperate hard drives.

Norton Ghost comes in handy when you get your system just as you want it, so instead of formatting, you just re-image and everything is back to normal.

My last format lasted about 10 months.

I have my own problems with microsoft and their "plans" but windows doesn't go "OMG you're currupted, format NOW!", so if your's does that regularly, you may want to check out your hardware. The format is always my own doing.

**Sastraxi** · Sep 2nd, 2003, 05:38 PM

You do realise that this thread is from the filly-days?

**Kasracer** · Sep 2nd, 2003, 05:51 PM

Originally posted by Sastraxi
You do realise that this thread is from the filly-days?

Na, I usually don't pay attention to the dates

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