Computer Woes

[PBMAX]

Great Bird, good luck. I mentioned partitioning, but can't recall if xp will do this or if I used Partition Magic when I set up my hardrive last time. In DOS you could do it easily... But yeah I know what you mean I have built 18station networks and even wired the CASA, but I have not delved in to DEEP DEPTHS of PCs in a while as my pc has been gracious enough to behave the last year or so... It's amazing what changes in 6mnths to a year.... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif in the PC world today....

 

[BillyP]

I recently bought a new PC, with a 40GB hard drive. It came formated as drive C. I want to partition it into 3 drives.

Can you partition the free space of a hard drive, without reinstalling XP? Seems I remember you could do this with 95.

 

[Bird]

Paul, I read through the instruction manual once; not sure at all of what it said, so I'll read it again before I open the case on this contraption. The extent of my working inside a computer was to install a Soundblaster board in an IBM over 10 years ago, then I later installed a CD-ROM in the same computer with no problems at all, but that was when we had Windows 3.1; not nearly so complicated.

Are you superstitious? Right after I read that manual, I was doing something else and discovered that one of my speakers had died. So, after checking everything to make sure it was really dead instead of a balance problem or some such, I went back to the store and bought new speakers (they work fine), but got almost back home when a black cat strolled across the road in front of me. Reckon it's safe to play with this machine in the next day or two? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RoyJackson]

"Can you partition the free space of a hard drive"

I thought XP had that built into it...maybe not though...

Anyway, if you want to partition the drive of a omputer that already has the OS and other applications loaded, you mightwant to see if Partition Magic has a version that is XP compatable.
Well, I did a search and it is compatable with Windows since Win 95. Click on this link for details .

I've used Partition Magic for about 3 years now. It works really good. One other nice thing about it is you can change the partition sizes (to make better use of your Hard Drive) as required, unlike FDISK (which requires formating the drive).

 

[BillyP]

Thanks Roy,

Looks like Partition Magic is what I'm looking for. If Win XP has something like it built in, I can't find it or any information.

Thanks again

 

[dieselsmoke1]

Bird,
Pay close attention to the instructions regarding setting the new drive to master or slave.

Your existing drive will be the master, assuming you use the connector shared on the same ribbon cable.

If applicable, Set your new drive to the slave position by moving the jumper on the back (probably came as master or CS) with a pair of tweezers.

This will be required, as i doubt your PC will support cable select (CS or CSEL)

If this does not work, the drive position will need to be enabled in the bios. Nothing to be afraid of, I'll be glad to help talk you thru it if needed.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Set your new drive to the slave position )</font>

Supposedly the idea is to install the new drive, load all the software onto it, then copy all the data files to it, and then format, or otherwise wipe clean, the old drive and then use it for backups. So . . ., does this mean set the new drive to the slave position until everything is loaded onto it, then go back and switch them? It'll probably be this weekend at least before I have time to tackle the job, and I'll admit those instructions are not entirely clear to me.

Incidentally, since I know nothing about hard drive brands, models, etc., I'm assuming I got the right one for the right price. One guy said to just get an IDE hard drive of at least 40GB. Well, the packing slip that came with this computer says it has a "20GB Ultra ATA hard drive". I was also told that Fry's Electronics was the best retail store for that sort of thing and I'd never been in that store until yesterday. They certainly do have a little bit (or maybe a lot) of everything. They had a Maxtor Ultra ATA/133 showing a price of $119.99 (that's also the price on Maxtor's web site) on sale for $78.99 with a $30 rebate off that, which made it cheaper than the 40GB drives, so that's what I got. After I got home and read the instructions, I find it's made for a 3.5" drive bay and I'm not sure right now, but think I'll be putting it in a 5.25" bay and have to go back to the store and get the $9.95 brackets for that.

 

[MossRoad]

Bird,
One thing you could do is just pull the old drive out and stick the new drive in. Load it up with your operating system, programs, etc. That way, you take no chance of goofing up you existing drive. If you run into problems, just stop what you are doing. Pull the new drive out and stick the old drive back in, and you're back up and running in just a few minutes. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif This way, you can take your time, safegaurd your data, and not be rushed to get it done. Once it is up and running on the new drive, you can then worry, ah, err, concentrate on getting the old drive in as the slave drive, copying your data to the new drive, wiping it clean, setting it up for backups, etc... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Bird]

David, I do believe that sounds like the safest way for me to go. Thanks.

 

[PBMAX]

Bisides, you can usually only BOOT up from one or the otherif you have 2 drives with OS's on them. You have to choose wich drive you will boot to if you leave them both connected. Since they both have Operating Systems on them. You mentioned, your original HD is set up as E: and not C:. So you may get some crazy results if you try to boot up with both harddrives connected. AS Xp will automaticly try to set up the NEW HARD DRIVE as C:....

My suggestions (as some one else alredy mentioned)is copy your saved files for the programs you need on your ZIP or CDR and then save them to the new drive once your up and running. Keep the old drive as is for a week or 2 till you've had time to make sure you got all you need off it. Then Reformat and stick it back in as xtra storage. That or toss it to one of the kids in the family as a freebee... Or put on in one of those new portable harddrive kitss for $50.

Bird, Installing PC parts has only gotten easier lately. Very few even have jumper settings any more as they let the BIOS or the OS determin thier settings. Some of my fellow Gamers still look for physical setting because they like to overdrive certain things...
Me, I'v gotten lazy /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gifThanks to XP, I just plug in the new hardware and let XP pick out the drivers and setting and go. Then I tweak IF need be.(Maybe load software for the new divice) Who has xtra time each week any more to play with this stuff...