Reinstall XP-new hd-use of partitions

Had a pc-crash. Couldnt boot. Reinstalled XP over the old one. Did not format. Seems like everything is still there. (Almost everything). But this solution is not good in the long run.

So....I bought a new internal hd, 500 GB Samsung Spin Point. Tomorrow or the next day I will install this one. I still want to make use of the old 250 GB int.hd. But I want to make a clean install of XP on the new hd. This will be my main hd. Have not decided how to use the old one. Never done anything like this before.

My questions:

1. What to do, and in which order? (Maybe first format the old, and then connect the new hd where the old one is now?)

2. Do I have to do some changes in BIOS? Or elsewhere?

3. Is this a good idea, and why/or why not?: On the new hd I want a Cartition whit only Windows XP, and nothing else, because of safety and ease. If XP fail, then I format Cart and reinstall Windows XP.

On D: I put all my programs. Firefox, Thunderbird, cd-burners, anti-virus etc.

On third partition I put music, pictures, movies, documents etc.

4. How much space do I need for XP on C:?

5. How much space do I need for programs on D:? Yes I know, stupid question because that depends on what programs and how many. But is, lets say 10 GB, a lot of space for programs, or is this only suitable for 15-20 programs?

6. Any important things I should keep in mind?

Thank you

 

In answer to Q4

http://www.answerok.com/software/2044-software.html

 

Thank you, Texcritter

Still waiting for more answers.

As soon as I get the job done, I buy BING, and learn how to use it. Should have done this a long time ago. BING is the only thing I need now, because I have bought a new DVD-burner, external USB/Firewire hd and a lot of CD/DVD for backup use.

But still need some help.....so please someone...

 

Q5

I think you have answered this yourself but my programs which I have a lot of take up 30 gig of space (one program alone takes over 2gig)

 

tepe,
I don't understand why you separate Windows (C) from Applications (D).
Windows isn't an OS only, it's MS Windows + MS Applications.
Do you move the MS Applications also to your D-partition ?
Or is the D-partition only for non-MS Applications ?

I prefer to have all applications in ONE partition and the most logical one is the C-partition, because separating all MS Applications from Windows won't be easy.

Separating your personal files from Windows and Programs is good.

 

ErikAlbert, thank you. A guy I work together with adviced me to seperate Windows and Applications. I am not sure, but I guess this goes for all non-MS Applications. The reason: In case of a Windows crash, you format C: and reinstall Windows. The Applications at D: will still be there. No need to reinstall Applications etc.

But I dont know if this is a good idea or not. The way you do it, which I believe is common, may be the better way. So I may go for this: C: for Windows and all Applications, and D: for music, documents, movies etc...

Will seperating Windows and Applications give me some problems or slow down my computer? Any good reason not to do it this way?

 

tepe2,

I used to do this a few years ago when i was dual booting with Win 98. As ErikAlbert suggested, it's better to have your installed apps in the C: drive. Separating your OS from the installed apps makes imaging/restoring a little more complicated. Separating your OS from the installed apps has no advantages that I can see except for large apps like games. I do install these into a separate partition because this partition only needs to be imaged rarely. If the large game was in the C: drive then it would be included in your frequent C: drive backup image, making for slower backups and larger images.

 

I don't know if it is better or not, due to lack of experience. I never did this until now.

I know that some users do the same thing, like you do, probably for the same reason.
For me it was more a matter of grouping all applications under the same folder "Program Files".
Even when it would work faster, I don't think it would make much difference on my fast computer.

So I'm not going to say anything more, because I don't like to give advice without practical experience.

 

Thanks.

I think I stick with the solution I have right now, which is the same as yours, and forget about seperating Windows and Apps.

How about question 1 and 2. And do I partition the new drive from the XP-cd during installation? This should be easy right?

 

I can't replace a harddisk in my computer, I would give that job to a technician.
If I re-install my computer from scratch, I always zero my harddisks and I partition both harddisks with winXPproSP2 during the installation. I don't have any partition software.

 

Hello,
I've written a guide about installation of XP, including all of the questions you ask. Might wanna take a look?
Mrk

 

This is great! Thank you so much!

 

No - still have reinstall the applications. The XP installation won't know about them since they are not in the Registry.

The exception to this are programs that don't install - execute and run apps such as autoruns.

As has been mentioned, getting user data, including My Documents, off of C is the way to go.

 

Thanks.

I have now reinstalled XP. During installation I made a partition (39 GB) for XP and all programs. In Windows I made a new partition (426 GB) for documents, music, movies etc.

But I face one problem. My Windows partition now has the drive-letter H: instead og C: And when I try to change it, I get the message it is not possible.

I will start a new thread to find out about this.