Mntsnow et al - Article Idea? OS on own partition config

[Brangwen]

I have an idea for an article, but am not qualified to author it.

I have read on this forum (and perhaps others) that the ideal configuration is to load one's OS on it's own partition. Other programs are to be loaded on alternate partitions or drives. The reasoning, as I understand it, is should one require a clean install of the OS, only one partition / drive need be formatted, the OS is loaded and presumably new shortcuts are created and away you go. I attempted this but found to my dismay that after creating a new shortcut, an error message instructs me (on some programs, at least) that some component is missing (for example) and the program requires reinstallation. If my original premise is true: one can reinstall OS on it's partition afterwhich one is good to resume operations w/o reloading <u>everything</u>, how come error messages as described above appear? When loading a program for the first time, isn't the registry (or some other) OS component modified? If so, how can this quick-fix of dumping then reinstalling the OS be accomplished if the Registry (for example) is thrown out with the OS clean install?

Unless my premise is totally inaccurate, can an article be written by someone more "in the know" than I explaining how to configure a HDD so that a quick clean install of an OS can be peformed successfully?

Thank you. I apologize if this is the wrong forum for this topic.

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif


[This message has been edited by Brangwen (edited 09-09-2001).]

[griobhta]

Don't think it works that way Brangwen. In a win32 system most programs place files in the windows,system or system32 directories as well as making changes to the registry. So no matter where you place the main part of the program when you wipe os partition you loose all of these changes/files.

there are a few programs that will allow you to do this but it is largely smaller ones and trial and error to find which ones.

What you can do is make sure all your data is on a different partition such as 'My documents' etc. That way when you don't have to worry so much about loosing files so much when you have to reinstall.

Griobhta

[Brangwen]

griobhta:

Yeah, it seems that way to me as well!

Thx.

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[smokin1]

I do that on this system..and it works really well..the trick is to keep an up to date image of the c: drive AFTER you have installed all your programs..that way all of the registry stays in order..remember..new program installed..new image of drive c:...real problems?..format c: and start over..all you need is for your image program to be loaded on d:..or whatever..catastrophe?..up and running in 15 minutes..I could write it..heh..I live by it..
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[elroy]

I always use 2 partitions that way if windows goes south on me I can move important data to the 2nd partition and easily re-install windows in the first partition than move the data back to the first partition. I also store files, downloads etc on the 2nd one.
In the past I have installed windows and several of my "must have" programs along with setting up my internet connection than copied the entire partition onto an old 1 gig drive. Than unhooked the 1 gig drive. In case of disaster I just hooked up the 1 gig drive and copied it back onto the main drive, back up and running in no time at all.

[This message has been edited by elroy (edited 09-09-2001).]

[Brangwen]

Smokin1: Can you explain how you keep an image in your methodology?

Elroy: Your idea seems pretty **** sensible. So, you copy to spare HDD, then when OS partition / drive goes South, format then copy contents of back-up to C? Could you do same with spare partition on a HDD that stays in the box? Or an external USB HDD?

Thx.

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[t048]

OK, here's what I use to do; it's kind of similar.

Make three partitions. the first one is small, only a few hundred meg for a swap file. Then the second and third for windows and program files on one and my docs on the other.

Now, before you install windows, hide the first partition because Windows will see that as "c:" and it will want to install there. With that hidden (for now), windows will see the second partition as c:

After you install windows, change the registry to see the d: drive as "My Documents". Then unhide the first partition and set it up as your swap space. It will show up as e: instead of c: (sometimes it shows up as d:, though).

This scheme allows you to have the fastest (?) partition for your swap file and that will help reduce file fragmentation. Also, all of your documents are on a separate partition for easy isolation and back up.

[griobhta]

t048

I tend to use a seperate partition for the swap file in win9X however as far as I see it if you set the min and max for the swap as the same size then you should not have to worry about file fragmentation.

If you make the swap file the second partition then you don't have to worry about hiding/unhiding it.

Also as to where the fastest part of the disk is.. Have heard many things from the begining to the middle. Suppose it depends on the hard disk. There is also the thing that if you only have one hard disk and your swap is physicaly far removed from the main windows partition then the heads will have to do a lot of work jumping back and forth. I just put it where ever I have room at this stage.

The idea of imaging a bare installation is a popular one. I tried it for a while but found I had a problem when I updated drivers. You had to wait till you installed you image file then up date the drivers then create new image to keep it up to date. Too much like hard work to me. Just to feckin lazy.

Griobhta

[smokin1]

Brangwen.. I do pretty much what bhess does. I have a 2 gig c: partition. Install all programs to drive d:
When I have all programs/drivers/tweaks complete.. I use drive image to make a copy of C: then I burn it to a cd and set it aside..whenever I add a new program..I burn a new image
HTH

[bhess]

I tried all that until I met Mr. Drive Image pro. Now I install whatever I want and keep a back up image.
What you proposed though would work if you kept an up to date back up of the registry. Then when you reinstall the os you could rewrite the registry. That should work although I never tried it.

[Brangwen]

Smokin:

So, when your C drive goes South, you format it, install CDROM drivers and boot from CDROM? Or copy contents from CDR containing image?

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[smokin1]

That's pretty much it..I format c: then boot to a drive image boot floppy..and restore the image from the cd...
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[bhess]

Yup, except you don't have to format. When you restore an image it overwrites everything.

[Brangwen]

Thx, everybody. I'll cut and paste these great ideas to my Computer files.

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[smokin1]

Thanks bhess..you save me a step
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