Question - Using a seperate Data partition

Jim · External Since: Apr 11, 2006 Posts: 54

Just installed XP on a new HD where I created a c: partition for the OS and
a second partition d: for data.

My Questions - I had planned to put all my applications on the data
partition but now I'm reconsidering and may want to put everything on c:
partition, it just seems simpler. Another reason, I'm not quite sure how to
make the installed programs always go to the D drive instead of the c:

Second question - Can I simply delete the d partition (Computer Management,
Disk Management) and them make it part of the c drive?

Suggestions greatly appreciated

philo1 · External Since: May 08, 2004 Posts: 182

Jim wrote:
> Just installed XP on a new HD where I created a c: partition for the OS and
> a second partition d: for data.
>
> My Questions - I had planned to put all my applications on the data
> partition but now I'm reconsidering and may want to put everything on c:
> partition, it just seems simpler. Another reason, I'm not quite sure how to
> make the installed programs always go to the D drive instead of the c:
>
> Second question - Can I simply delete the d partition (Computer Management,
> Disk Management) and them make it part of the c drive?
>
> Suggestions greatly appreciated
>
>

Yep

I'd install Windows and your apps on the C: drive

no problem with keeping your data on D:

but I'd also get an external drive and backup your data there...

always good to keep your data in at least two places...as eventually
your HD is going to die

XP does not have any built-in non-destructive repartitioning...
so to combine your D: and C: drive you'd need a third party utility

DL · External Since: Apr 17, 2009 Posts: 46

Other than by starting again from scratch you need third party tools to
merge the partitions
You select Custom Install when installing a program, then select were to
install it, rather than using the default installation option
It doesnt IMO make a whole lot of sence to install apps on a seperate
partition. If you blow away your win partition you would still have to
reinstall your apps

"Jim" <jrwolfe DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:%23xraXO1VKHA.4704@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Just installed XP on a new HD where I created a c: partition for the OS
> and a second partition d: for data.
>
> My Questions - I had planned to put all my applications on the data
> partition but now I'm reconsidering and may want to put everything on c:
> partition, it just seems simpler. Another reason, I'm not quite sure how
> to make the installed programs always go to the D drive instead of the c:
>
> Second question - Can I simply delete the d partition (Computer
> Management, Disk Management) and them make it part of the c drive?
>
> Suggestions greatly appreciated
>

nesredep egrob1 · External Since: Apr 26, 2004 Posts: 183

On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:19:43 -0400, "Jim" <jrwolfe DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote:

>Just installed XP on a new HD where I created a c: partition for the OS and
>a second partition d: for data.
>
>My Questions - I had planned to put all my applications on the data
>partition but now I'm reconsidering and may want to put everything on c:
>partition, it just seems simpler. Another reason, I'm not quite sure how to
>make the installed programs always go to the D drive instead of the c:
>
>Second question - Can I simply delete the d partition (Computer Management,
>Disk Management) and them make it part of the c drive?
>
>Suggestions greatly appreciated
>

Please think - when a computer comes up with trouble it is generally caused by
the operating system in C: - thus when you get into trouble as we all do from
time to time, it is nice to have a small C: and all the data and program in D:

Reason - a lot of people have or will turn to Acronis to generate images of
drive C:
When keeping those images up to date, say once per week or even fortnight you
simply restore using the Acronis Image - therefore the less information there
the faster the restore comes good - I can bring up my computer in 10 -- 20
minutes whatever the fault is and as a mad photographer, I have thousands of
photos to store and the rest of the computer consisting of app 2 Terra with
partitions ending in K: bytes is just left to care for itself.

B|rge in sunny Perth, Australia

Daave · External Since: May 06, 2009 Posts: 71

Jim wrote:
> Just installed XP on a new HD where I created a c: partition for the
> OS and a second partition d: for data.
>
> My Questions - I had planned to put all my applications on the data
> partition but now I'm reconsidering and may want to put everything on
> c: partition, it just seems simpler. Another reason, I'm not quite
> sure how to make the installed programs always go to the D drive
> instead of the c:
> Second question - Can I simply delete the d partition (Computer
> Management, Disk Management) and them make it part of the c drive?
>
> Suggestions greatly appreciated

I suggest you perform another Clean Install, making sure to delete all
partitions and create only one partition.

Although there are third-party programs that will allow you to resize
partitions (Windows XP's Disk Management doesn't do this), you would
need to find one that can merge the two partitions into one (if that's
even possible). Otherwise, a new Clean Install is the way to go.

If you haven't installed any programs yet, you may want to consider
using C: for XP and the programs (and all the settings) and D: for data
*only* (instead of the new Clean Install).

db · External Since: Aug 22, 2009 Posts: 36

my suggestion is to take advantage
of that secondary partition.

right click on my documents and
in its properties page you can
relocate my documents and
default it to the d drive.

-------------------

the above is a valuable tip because
if the boot partition/system partition
becomes corrupted then it is highly
likely that you will loose your personal
data in my documents if it is still
on the c drive.

further, even though system restore
is a valuable tool, it will not restore
your personal data that is located
on the c drive.

system restore only restores system
files and programs.

--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @Hotmail.com
- nntp Postologist
~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>

"Jim" <jrwolfe DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:#xraXO1VKHA.4704@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Just installed XP on a new HD where I created a c: partition for the OS
> and a second partition d: for data.
>
> My Questions - I had planned to put all my applications on the data
> partition but now I'm reconsidering and may want to put everything on c:
> partition, it just seems simpler. Another reason, I'm not quite sure how
> to make the installed programs always go to the D drive instead of the c:
>
> Second question - Can I simply delete the d partition (Computer
> Management, Disk Management) and them make it part of the c drive?
>
> Suggestions greatly appreciated
>

Jim · External Since: Apr 11, 2006 Posts: 54

Many thanks for all your helpful suggestions. I decided to bite the bullet
and re-format to a single partition. I'm more comfortable with that
arrangement.

Thanks again.

"db" <databaseben DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OAJmED9VKHA.4416@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> my suggestion is to take advantage
> of that secondary partition.
>
> right click on my documents and
> in its properties page you can
> relocate my documents and
> default it to the d drive.
>
> -------------------
>
> the above is a valuable tip because
> if the boot partition/system partition
> becomes corrupted then it is highly
> likely that you will loose your personal
> data in my documents if it is still
> on the c drive.
>
> further, even though system restore
> is a valuable tool, it will not restore
> your personal data that is located
> on the c drive.
>
> system restore only restores system
> files and programs.
>
> --
> db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
> DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
> - Systems Analyst
> - Database Developer
> - Accountancy
> - Veteran of the Armed Forces
> - @Hotmail.com
> - nntp Postologist
> ~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
>>
>
> "Jim" <jrwolfe DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:#xraXO1VKHA.4704@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> Just installed XP on a new HD where I created a c: partition for the OS
>> and a second partition d: for data.
>>
>> My Questions - I had planned to put all my applications on the data
>> partition but now I'm reconsidering and may want to put everything on c:
>> partition, it just seems simpler. Another reason, I'm not quite sure how
>> to make the installed programs always go to the D drive instead of the c:
>>
>> Second question - Can I simply delete the d partition (Computer
>> Management, Disk Management) and them make it part of the c drive?
>>
>> Suggestions greatly appreciated
>>

Daave · External Since: May 06, 2009 Posts: 71

YW.

Jim wrote:
> Many thanks for all your helpful suggestions. I decided to bite the
> bullet and re-format to a single partition. I'm more comfortable with
> that arrangement.
>
> Thanks again.
>
>
> "db" <databaseben.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:OAJmED9VKHA.4416@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> my suggestion is to take advantage
>> of that secondary partition.
>>
>> right click on my documents and
>> in its properties page you can
>> relocate my documents and
>> default it to the d drive.
>>
>> -------------------
>>
>> the above is a valuable tip because
>> if the boot partition/system partition
>> becomes corrupted then it is highly
>> likely that you will loose your personal
>> data in my documents if it is still
>> on the c drive.
>>
>> further, even though system restore
>> is a valuable tool, it will not restore
>> your personal data that is located
>> on the c drive.
>>
>> system restore only restores system
>> files and programs.
>>
>> --
>> db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
>> DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
>> - Systems Analyst
>> - Database Developer
>> - Accountancy
>> - Veteran of the Armed Forces
>> - @Hotmail.com
>> - nntp Postologist
>> ~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen
>>
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>>
>>>
>>
>> "Jim" <jrwolfe.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:#xraXO1VKHA.4704@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>> Just installed XP on a new HD where I created a c: partition for
>>> the OS and a second partition d: for data.
>>>
>>> My Questions - I had planned to put all my applications on the data
>>> partition but now I'm reconsidering and may want to put everything
>>> on c: partition, it just seems simpler. Another reason, I'm not
>>> quite sure how to make the installed programs always go to the D
>>> drive instead of the c: Second question - Can I simply delete the d
>>> partition (Computer
>>> Management, Disk Management) and them make it part of the c drive?
>>>
>>> Suggestions greatly appreciated