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afterdawn.com > forums > pc hardware > other pc hardware > reformatting my hard drive yet again
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Reformatting my hard drive yet again
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popol24
Junior Member
_ 		16. February 2008 @ 02:13 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Hi all,

I want to reformat my hard drive, but not sure about one thing. I have two hard drives: one 160GB and the other 500GB. The 160GB is the primary one I use where I install the operating system and the 500GB is simply for storage and got lots of files in it. The question is: If I reformatted my the 160GB, do I need to unplug the 500GB or can I just leave it there plugged while I reformat the 160GB and still have my files in the 500GB once the whole reformatting is finished? Sorry for such a noobie question. Any help would be very much appreciated =] Cheers!
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varnull
Suspended permanently
_ 		16. February 2008 @ 03:43 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Now if you were to set this up properly you wouldn't have to worry about it ever again..

First transfer any data you want to keep from the 160 to the 500.

then you can take the 500 out if you want..

Start your installer, and when it comes to partitioning split the 160 into 2 partitions.. I set windows up like unix with a root (os-windows) and a data (home..temp and user data/program files/settings etc)

For this I allow bloated windows 20 gigs and the rest to the second partition. You have to install windows on the first partition. C: and the second E: will initially be empty.. but that will change quickly as you make a few folders on it.

Install windows to C: and do all the restart nonsense.. then open your C:.. can you see documents and settings? right click and move to E:.. not copy.. move.. same with program files. Windows will keep track of them now they have moved. Then make a couple of other utility folders.. temp and cache is what I make.. you can use them for anything you want.

As you install programs they will ask for location.. so it's E:\program files.. not C:.. any time a program wants a temp or working directory location you can direct it to one of the other directories.

A bizarre and very useful part of this is.. once you have all your programs installed you can save the entire windows registry somewhere on E:, and if you ever have to format your C: again, after installing you can boot to a command prompt and just restore it.. all your program files will work again after a reboot ;) If you do this on say a monthly basis you will not lose much in the way of programs.. and they won't even need setting up again.. all that you have changed is windows (you may need the system files.. some programs add dll's.. so you can back up the system32 folder with the registry (it will whine about files being in use.. I will let you work out how to get around that.. nice command line/no windows running test)

That's how I do it.. far to many people have just one partition and lose everything if windows does one of it's all too regular borks.

so synopsis..

split drive into 2 partitions
install windows on first
move certain folders to next partition
install applications
backup certain parts of windows

and you should never be in this situation again ;)
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popol24
Junior Member
_ 		17. February 2008 @ 05:43 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Woah, that sounds a lot of work and seems very useful, I MIGHT give it a go. But the question I asked wasn't really answered lol

Would I need to unplug the 500GB HD or not while I reformat the 160GB HD so that I do not lose any files in the 500GB HD?

:D
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This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 17. February 2008 @ 05:44
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nownthen
Senior Member
_ 		17. February 2008 @ 12:13 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
No, you do not need to unplug the other HD. Just be careful of which drive you select when you get to the selection screen.
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Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it
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