partitioning questions and help

[iceni60]

hi, i'm going to partiton my HDD i want to make a copy of my C drive so if anything happens, which for me usually does every 4/6 months, i can delete the patition i'm on now and use the backup image i'm going to make.

i also know that my computer will bootup quicker and have less work to do if i move some of my files on to another partition. so, that will be two patitions i want to make - one a backup and a smaller one for files to make my computer boot quicker and with files that don't need to be on my C drive.

in Disk Defragmenter it says i have 71% free space, so i think i should be able to do what i want to.

i have a problem though: the last time i tried to make a partition it failed, i think it was because i was using a program that made my whole HDD encrypted and i know that can mess these kind of things up. and then when i deleted the failed partition it did delete, but when i looked at free space on my HDD it was twice as small as it should have been. so the failed partition wasn't there but was still using up the space on my HDD it would have been

my first question is: can i make a System Restore point before i try and make my partition, so if it goes wrong i can restore back to how it was before? i also have MSs backup tool which i installed from my MS CD; do you think i should make a backup with that too? i haven't ever used it though and i don't have a DVD rewriter so i'd have to save it on my C drive.

how should i make the partitons? at school we use Partition Magic, but i don't have it. can i use the MS CD? i also have a copy of Acronis's Partition Expert, that's what i used last time when it didn't work, but i don't think it's the program's fault, but the encryption software i was using. when i installed Acronis's Partition Expert it got me to make some floppy disks, if i use Acronis's Partition Expert should i use them and go into the BIOS and boot from them, or do i just open the program and follow the instructions? i have had alook to try and work it out, but the PDF is very big and i need help from someone who knows how to use it correctly.

do i make the partitons Active, Primary or Logical? or would one of them have to be one and the other one i'm going to make another?

what size should i make the partitions? if i hover my mouse over my C drive it says:
Free Space: 27.2 GB
Total Size:38.2 GB

thanks for reading all of this :) if you can help me i will be very happy http://emoticons4u.informationalot.com/cool/cool32.gif
and if there's any information i need to give i'll be happy to do so http://emoticons4u.informationalot.com/cool/cool18.gif
thanks.

[hadi]

sorry for the big mistake in above message

-{ Quote: "i also know that my computer will bootup quicker and have less work to do if i move some of my files on to another partition. so, that will be two patitions i want to make - one a backup and a smaller one for files to make my computer boot quicker and with files that don't need to be on my C drive.." }-
Not really with nowadays computres. Tried it my self and didnt notice any difference
-{ Quote: "in Disk Defragmenter it says i have 71% free space, so i think i should be able to do what i want to." }-
Correct
-{ Quote: "my first question is: can i make a System Restore point before i try and make my partition, so if it goes wrong i can restore back to how it was before?." }-
System restore restores files not partions
-{ Quote: "how should i make the partitons? at school we use Partition Magic, but i don't have it.." }-
No need for full program.You need the two floppy disks partition magic creates during install.Open PMagic and look in its menu(under tools I think)and hit make emergency floppes-have two formated floppies ready-insert first floppy and restart (its bootable)then you'll be prompted to insert the second thats it. you work in a DOS like GUI.
-{ Quote: "can i use the MS CD?." }-
Yes but you work in an invisible world.
-{ Quote: "i also have a copy of Acronis's Partition Expert, that's what i used last time when it didn't work, but i don't think it's the program's fault, but the encryption software i was using. when i installed Acronis's Partition Expert it got me to make some floppy disksif i use Acronis's Partition Expert should i use them" }-
yes you can
-{ Quote: "and go into the BIOS and boot from them" }-
NO bios. they are bootable insert 1st one first then you'll be prompted to insert others
-{ Quote: "do i make the partitons Active, Primary or Logical? or would one of them have to be one and the other one i'm going to make another?" }-
logical, active your first existing is the primary.
-{ Quote: "what size should i make the partitions? " }-

according to your need and as far as you are in the empty area of the disk.that is IF you are going live partitioning (meaning:keeping OS and prtitioning the free space of the HD)

[hadi]

-{ Quote: "sorry for the big mistake in above messag-{ Quote: "

Dont get me wrong iceni60
that was my first message which MODs kindly removed.

[iceni60]

Wow, thanks for your time hadi :)

i'd really like to be able to make a backup incase somethng goes wrong, but i don't think it's possible without a CD/DVD rewriter. does anyone know of something that can do it? it will have to be kept on my C drive, maybe SyncBack, Cobian Backup or http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/index.htm

i am fairly comfortable using the MS CD. i have often used it to make partitions and i know how to choose what size i want to make them too, and i know how to delete it if it goes wrong. but, that is only on a freshly formatted drive. i think i'll try that way, the only thing is i haven't ever seen it let you decide if you want to make it Logical, Active etc. will there be any problems making the partitions on my drive now? as it isn't a fresh install?

sorry for all the questions, i know i don't normally go on so much, it's just that i'm scared i'll make a mistake.

[dog]

Hi Ice, ;)

1. For Partitioning Software - I would recommend Partition Magic - it's well worth the money. You can change your partitions as needed, from creating new partitions to resizing or deleting existing ones. Along with a few other things. ;) It's completely safe, and extremely user friendly, make sure you create the rescue boot disks (2 Floppies). I use the PowerQuest version of PM 8, which was purchased by Symantec, but you can still purchase the older PowerQuest branded version at a slight discount from the current Symantec offering. While supplies last at least. :)

2. Personal I store everything on different partitions, I also use multi-internal drives too. It makes life much easier, and allows for smaller images of the windows boot drive. I also create backup images of the other partitions, just encase I accidently delete something, it can easily be restored - these images don't have to be updated too frequently. I also keep a baseline image of the windows drive as a backup, along with imaging updates frequently which I append to a separate active image file.

3. For Imaging Software - I would recommend Acronis True Image - It's a great program, that's very intuitive to use and is very reliable. I had been using Norton Ghost until I recently made the switch to Acronis TI 8, which is a much better product IMHO.

HTH,

Steve

[hadi]

-{ Quote: "Wow, thanks for your time hadi :)

i'd really like to be able to make a backup incase somethng goes wrong, but i don't think it's possible without a CD/DVD rewriter. does anyone know of something that can do it? it will have to be kept on my C drive, maybe SyncBack, Cobian Backup or http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/index.htm

i am fairly comfortable using the MS CD. i have often used it to make partitions and i know how to choose what size i want to make them too, and i know how to delete it if it goes wrong. but, that is only on a freshly formatted drive. i think i'll try that way, the only thing is i haven't ever seen it let you decide if you want to make it Logical, Active etc. will there be any problems making the partitions on my drive now? as it isn't a fresh install?

sorry for all the questions, i know i don't normally go on so much, it's just that i'm scared i'll make a mistake." }-
The best, reliable, fast, effecient, no mistakes,no fuss, no wait, alltype of files go in one run,dont care about what type of files, just copy and best and 100% no problems backup is to hook another HD in place of your CDROM.so try to find small size that suits your need. they are cheap in computer repair shops or at car boot sales or in old thrown computer junk yard if there is one

Trust me I have done many times: the two PMagic floppies simple,easy, more than enough and do what I call "live partitioning"
IF you are going live partititoning:
1-backup you files
2-run scandisk/chkdsk
3-defrag (Important)
4-defrag again
5-insert 1st PMagic floppy and restart insert second when prompted
6-follow instruction to cut just what you want from HD free space dont reach the occupied space PMagic shows you where the data area is (different colour)
7-when finished take floppy out and restart.

otherwise I recommend fresh install when you use M$CD to partition.

[hadi]

in step 7 above when finished b4 you take floppy out
on Pmagic menu select FORMAT choose the type of format ntfs/fat or other
in the same menu choose to format logical/primary when finished.Now you can remove floppy and restart.

[iceni60]

thanks Dog and Hadi. i might take in a floppy to school today and see if i can copy PM then i can use that :) thanks Steve

Hadi, instead of hooking it up to the CDROM wouldn't it be easier to hook it up to the slave on the HDD's IDE? or isn't that how it's done ???

[hadi]

PM is an installed program you cant copy it in the first place and two floppies are nothing compre to its size. BUT the two floppies are emergency floppies the program creates during install. to give you access to the program in case some thing goes wrong. Now these two floppies can be done at any time not only during installation. Go to PM menu and lookfore "create emergency floppies" select it making sure putting a formated floppy in its drive and follow instructions

[iceni60]

i have just realised that i will be OK. I'm going to try it out on a computer at school first. I'll do it during break-time so i can grab a teacher if it goes wrong ;D

Thanks for all your help and time Hadi and Steve. :)

[hadi]

-{ Quote: "Hadi, instead of hooking it up to the CDROM wouldn't it be easier to hook it up to the slave on the HDD's IDE? or isn't that how it's done ???" }-
Yes ofcourse make sure jumpers are set accordingly.

[iceni60]

-{ Quote: "Yes ofcourse make sure jumpers are set accordingly." }-
I don't have a copy PM, only at school not at home, so, i think the only way i can try it at school which will also work at home will be with the MS CD and i think they have their own copy of XP with a disk, i hope, so i shouldn't need to make any changes with the Jumper switches. anyway, i'm going to try and get a techer to show me 8)

[iceni60]

-{ Quote: "Yes ofcourse make sure jumpers are set accordingly." }-
Oh sorry, i wasn't with it. you were talking about the IDE slaving sorry :-[

[hadi]

-{ Quote: "I don't have a copy PM, only at school not at home, so, i think the only way i can try it at school which will also work at home will be with the MS CD and i think they have their own copy of XP with a disk, i hope, so i shouldn't need to make any changes with the Jumper switches. anyway, i'm going to try and get a techer to show me 8)" }-

Jumpers thing was an answer to your question about hooking HD. it has nothing to do with PMagic

[iceni60]

-{ Quote: "Jumpers thing was an answer to your question about hooking HD. it has nothing to do with PMagic" }-
thanks for that, although i wont be using it right now i would have thought that the cable select would have worked without any configuration as, i think, all computers come with an IDE cable select now. you'd think that the cable select jumper would automatically be configured, but i bet mine hasn't knowning my computer

[hadi]

Not all computers. new ones use different connection (serial for ex)for fast read/write and making drive less noisy. Back to IDE
Some kind of Hard disks won't work with autoselect. So to be on safe side (means computer (bios) recognize HD and OPerating system wont hangup. set
Master for HD connected to IDE far end
Slave for HD connected to the middle connector.