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HDD optimum partitioning
HI
I'm upgrading my Dimension8400 to windows7 and have a spare WD500G HDD, so wondered if anyone could suggest best way to go.
(Please lol if i'm way off)As I'm installing win7 would a quick /safe way be to
Make backup
install blank drive.
start PC and go into set-up
format new hdd with two partitions 1) win7 2)data
install win7 (as clean) on new drive partition
set win7 partition as primary boot
restart and copy over user files
wipe old drive when I'm happy all is well and use as extra storage (and recovery parition)...
comments?!
CPU P4 540HT
RAM 4G (I know only 3G gets used)
1xDVD 1xDVDr/w 3.5 Floppy (full of dust)
1xWD 500G hdd 1x new WD 500G hdd
Radeon 4850HD
mellie_man
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August 4th, 2014 06:00
Thanks. Osprey4
are there any recommendations for partition sizes or Letter/name assignments in my case.
I've only ever used PCs were there's one C: partition covering the whole HDD.
osprey4
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August 3rd, 2014 15:00
Hi Mellie Man,
Looks like the correct approach to me. I've got a link below to an OS installation guide, if that would help.
osprey4
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August 4th, 2014 16:00
The operating system and applications need ~75GB, so I would install Windows 7 onto a ~200GB partition. That will leave ~300GB for data. The system partition is usually assigned drive letter C. How you want to assign drive letters to your data partition, optical drives, etc. is up to you. Mine are set up as C: (system), D: (data), E: (DVD drive).
mellie_man
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August 5th, 2014 16:00
Thanks again
Just preparing stuff and had the thought...
Current WIN XP HDD is set as C:
when I install win7 on 2nd (new) drive how to get that one to end up with C:
I have found a possible trick swapping drive letters using regedit C_->Z, new one to C, then Z->D
but wondered if there was a more obvious way.
Possibley remove existing HDD and install win7 on new one then put old HDD back in, I tink that would have other implications.
osprey4
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August 8th, 2014 05:00
When you install Win 7, it will set the system drive as C. Your existing drive with XP will be assigned a different letter, probably D. I would NOT try to change drive letters for the system drive.
I assume you are not trying to dual-boot XP and 7.