i need format and partition advice

[danhasmail]

hi all,
i'm currently useing:


Win Xp Pro SP2

Asus P4c 800e deluxe
P4 2.4c MHz cpu
1 Gb Corsair ram ( 2 - 512 in dual channel slots)
ati Radeon 9500 AGP 128 DDR
20 Gb Maxtor ide HDD

i was useing a 80 Gb Maxtor sata HDD. i had to take it out for a reason that doesn't matter here.
i want to put it back in now and was wondering ????
A.) what size partitions should i make? last time i had it 40 & 40. i had OS and programs i used alot on c: and stuff i didn't use much on d: but i don't know what the best way to do it is.
B.) what file system is best, fat 32 or NTFS? i was thinking NTFS
C.)should i format and partition useing win 98 start-up disk, or win xp on the HDD i'm useing now, or the MaxBlast 4 disk i downloaded from Maxtor website? or does it matter?
D.) and finally, i have a win xp pro. upgrade disk. it won't load from dos so i have to load it from windows. i have a full copy of win xp home and win 98se, should i use one of them first (and which one is best) or keep the HDD im useing now in and put the 80 HDD in as a 2nd drive and load it from the windows i'm useing now??

any feedback and info anyone can send me will be greatly appreciated.

thank you in advance
danny

 

[rvnguy]

danhasmail,

It really depends on what you intend on ending up with.

If I got it correct, you have a 20gb that currently has your OS on it. If you are happy with the current installation condition and installed apps I would use MaxBlast to clone the OS drive to the new drive. I think they call it "make a new boot drive".

This will retain all apps, settings etc that you currently have.

As far as partitioning, this is a personal choice. You can use the 80 as a single drive, or create additional volumes on it. Depends on what & how you are comfortable using it.

You can always opt to perform a fresh install onto this 80 drive if you choose.

I would use MaxBlast, as you already have it and it does nothing special. All normal win OS conventions.

FAT32 vs NTFS - If you solely use this as a win system I favor NTFS for certian reasons. If it is shared by others OS's(multiboot) it should confor to the requirements or at least a partition should.

Hope this helps

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

 

[sweetme]

Hi danhasmail,

Is your system functioning right now with the hard drive that is installed? If it is and you are using XP try this. Add the 80 gig to the same cable as the master make sure jumper is on slave position reboot system it should pick it up. Then,(wow hard to do this on-line lol) You might get lucky and Xp gives you play by play format instructions or you might have to go to administrative tools > disk management. You should see your second hd there. Use the help and read read read. good luck
Hope this helped

Sweetme

 

[BaudKarma]

The simplest solution would be to add the 80 as a second drive. This would also maxamize your storage space. The problem with this plan is that your 20 is probably a few years old. It's probably not as fast or as reliable as your 80.

I would format the 80 as one partition under NTSF, then transfer your OS and files over. Once you've got everything running smoothly, you can wipe the 20 and add it as a second drive, for backups, seldom used files, etc.

 

[funkytunaa]

There's nothing like a nice fresh copy of windows on a new drive in a machine to make your machine run a little better.

I'd use the 80 for a master, install fresh copy of windows and programs. Whack the 20 as a slave then transfer your files you need from the 20 then take it off and set it aside just in case. Although it does depend on if you are desperate for space.

You can never be too careful with data, it's REALLY hard to get data back once a drive has been formatted and then had information put back on it.

 

[ceh4702]

The motherboard you are using should be able to see all 80 Gigs of that hard drive in Windows and in the BIOS. I would use the 80 GIG as the primary partition and put your OS on that drive and make the other drive the Slave. If you make the 20 gig a slave and then install the new drive, you should be able to install a fresh install and copy your documents and your bookmarks and your e-mail address book over onto the 80 gig drive. It is up to you if you want to put all 80 gigs as one partition or not. That is a lot of space if you ever have to run any drive utilities like defrag. Did you use up the 40/40 gig partitions before?

The best way would be to split it up and store all of your documents and download files on the extra partition.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[danhasmail]

hi everyone and thanks for all the advice.
i received help from this and a few other sites.
i made my decision yesterday, here's what i did.if your interested.
i went ahead and re-partitioned and formated the 80 GB useing MaxBlast 4 disk manager, into 2 "NTFS" partitions, C:50 GB and D:30 GB.
i switched bios to boot from cd and installed fresh copy of win xp pro on C: then shut down and added the 20 GB as a slave. put fresh copy of ms office on C: then fresh copies of everything else on the D: drive. copied my files and stuff from the slave and am just about done fine tuning everything. i'll leave the slave as it is for now but in awhile will reformat it and maybe make a ghost copy of C: and D: drives on it(before they get too big to fit)and put it away in case of disaster. i have other small drives like that if i need more space.
thanks again and e-mail me if you want to add anything or just chat. bye