XP full install partitioning and logical drive procedures

[fenix]

Hi all,

I'm new to loading XP onto a computer. (Hey, I didn't get a VCR until 1992 ! )


I just did a full installion of a licensed copy of XP, and I created and partitioned a C: and a D: drive. I didn't see anything about setting a primary drive or as the active drive, (like on a W98 using fdisk). The computer rebooted and then it asked me if I wanted to boot to the CD. I chose yes, and it partitioned the D: drive and loaded setup files again, I assume the same ones that loaded on the C: Maybe I shouldn't have booted to the disk the 2nd time and just have let Windows boot from the Windows folder that was installed. It would be good if someone can tell me this.

Point: I have a folder named Windows in my D: drive also, but it has less files in it than the one on the C: drive and I'm not sure if it was supposed to be loaded. My C drive has the Program Files folder and the Documents and Users folder in addition to the Windows folder (The D: only has the Windows folder)

So is the Windows folder on thge D: just an incomplete duplicate, or is this how an XP OS full install sets it up: a Windows folder on each logical drive ? I haven't gone through every file comparing the 2 Windows folders, but at a quick glance the ones on the D: seemed to be mostly duplicates, (although it was only about 200MB and the one on the C: was about 500 MB. If the D:\Windows isn't needed, can I simply delete it to the recycle bin ???

btw, everything seems to be working on the computer. I setup the wireless and activated and registered the copy.
(A full install XP disk is down to $150 now). I just don't want any thing cropping up when the updates start loading in and they maybe see 2 windows folders, if indeed the 2nd one isn't needed.


Thanks ahead of time for any help as you can see I need to get a few things straightened out.

fenix

 

[acewarlock]

Do you have 1 HD that is Partioned into 2 Drives or do you have 2 HD's.




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Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.

 

[Freestone]

The first time through an XP install you are in the non-GUI (Graphical user interface) stage where most of the time is spent waiting for XP to copy files from the CD to the install partition. Once these files are copied, the system is rebooted, and the install proceeds from the GUI.

But, as you guessed, the second boot you should not have booted from the CD, but let the CD boot prompt time out and let the boot proceed from the hard drive.

XP installs to one drive and doesn't create a Windows directory on another, so at this point, I really don't know what you have as far as installs. Doing a Start, Run..., diskmgmt.msc will bring up a Window in which the lower pane shows drives(s) and partitioning. Which drive is marked as System? If C: then you might be able to delete the D: drive, but I can't guarantee that. Perhaps best would be to delete all partitions and reinstall from scratch. Easier to do now before too much time is invested and too many programs are installed.

 

[linney]

It would be a good learning experience for you to start again and get it right, a bit repetitive, but it will be all over in an hour or less. Format both partitions and and start again. When you "Press the Any Key" only do it once, no more after that.

HOW TO: Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP (Q313348)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q313/3/48.asp

Read the paragraph,
"How to Partition and Format Your Hard Disk by Using Windows XP Setup."


For more help (shows enlargeable screenshots) go here.

http://www.petri.co.il/install_windows_xp_pro.htm

http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/InstallXPPro/installxppro1.htm

If you don't want to go back to the beginning have a read of these.

How to remove a second installation of a Windows operating system from a partition

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;888023&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

2 copies of windows XP installed on my system
thread779-846333

 

[fenix]

acewarlock, sorry I wasn't clearer stating one physical drive w/2 partitions.

Freestone and Linney,
thx for the clear explanations. I will suggest to the computer owner to start fresh. I'll read up on the links.

There was one other issue. Originally we wanted to use the disk to upgrade the bootleg xp disk, (computer was purchaced from a srtip mall computer store), but halfway way through the upgrade (attempting to make it a legal copy), it had a critical type error message that said it was recommended that the installation be canceled. (Realtek AC97 issue). I cancelled the install, the load went on for a few minutes and finally went into the reboot, but it went into an endless rebooting sequence that ended in the F8 menu. I tried all 5 options, (Last Known Good, 3 safe modes, and start Windows normally) and it always came back to the F8 screen. I figured it was a corrupted load, so that's when I decided to do a full install.

Point: I said that the compute was working normally, but upon further contact with it, the sound card has the yellow question mark in Dev Mgr, and there is no speaker in the system tray. So this sounds like maybe a hardware or a driver update issue for the AC97 issue that interrupted the first upgrade attempt. Guess I'll see if a driver update is available for the integrated sound before I reattempt another full install. I was hoping the fresh OS would correct the AC97 problem, but after it needed 90 updates from the disk that MS sent us, I'm guessing the disk they sent us was more than a few years old in version and it wasn't going to have any AC97 update info.

 

[acewarlock]

Why are you making 2 Partions?

What size is the drive?

Can the BIOS handle that size drive?




This is a Signature and not part of the answer, it appears on every reply.

This is an Analogy so don't take it personally as some have.

Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.

 

[fenix]

I thought that you made 2 partitions to put separate the system folders and files and the user data folders and files.

I guess I should have just made a C: and a D: on one partition, right ? I'm a little rusty with loading OS's

It's just an 80G drive and I believe there's no issue with a bios limitation

thx for your replies

 

[Freestone]

There is nothing wrong with your strategy of two drives, one for the OS and the other for data. Many people do exactly that.

As far as the AC97 driver, did the computer come with any CDs? Perhaps the driver is on one of these..

 

[acewarlock]

I would have just made 1 partition with Drive C: and that's it. I have 250Gb drives with only 1 partition and just C:. Make life alot easier.




This is a Signature and not part of the answer, it appears on every reply.

This is an Analogy so don't take it personally as some have.

Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.

 

[Rick998]

I have to agree with Freestone. I always create a second partition. On this second partition I keep not just my data but also a copy of the i386 install folder (so I never get asked to put the XP installer CD in), a copy of the driver installers and a Ghost image of the primary partition.

If the primary partition ever gets corrupted then it's quicker to restore from the partition image stored on D: than it is to re-install from scratch, i.e. minutes rather than hours.

 

[linney]

Get your XP installed first and then chase your sound drivers and any other drivers that you may need. The only manual loading of drivers that ever go in before setup completes are the mass storage drivers inserted by pressing F6 during setup, usually when you have a raid or sata installation.

If you are having problems getting setup to complete because of driver problems try removing the hardware from the machine, turning off any bios scanning and even updating the bios.

After setup completes run the Belarc Advisor to make an inventory of your exact hardware details and then visit the manufacturer for the latest drivers.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

The latest XP SP2 CD's still require 60+ updates as SP2 was released several years ago.