cutie_pyie
07-25-2006, 06:40 PM
Hi Guys (and other Gals),
I have an problem that I need help with please.
I have a Dell E-310 3.xxGHz Pentium-4 running Window MCE 2005 (as installed by Dell).
PC does NOT have a TV tuner or anything else other than CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive.
NIC port is built-in, video and audio are also built-in and use shared memory.
All of Dell's JUNK has been removed from the HDD. One heck of a job to do!!
The Hard drive (80GB,SATA) is partitioned (at this moment) as follows:
C:==NTFS, Primary,10GB, Windows MCE OS only, as loaded by Dell, all Dell's extra JUNK is gone from it;
D:==NTFS, Logical, 2GB, Page file fixed at 1,000MB;
E:==NTFS, Logical, 5GB, Temp files & TIF's;
F:==NTFS, Logical, 5GB, My installed application programs, MS Office, Spybot, Avast AV, Nero, etc.;
G:==NTFS, Logical, 10GB, My documents, music, pictures, etc.;
H:==NTFS, Logical, 10GB, Basically empty;
I:==NTFS, Logical, 20GB, Backup images of other partitions, copied to CDs/DVDs for archival;
J:==NTFS, Logical, 14GB, Basically empty
The Page file, Temp files & TIFs went each to their own partitions to help alleviate disk fragmentation of "C".
It was done this way (by a friend), to make it easier for me to backup my data &
such and to make whole system backup (smaller images) and reinstallation of main OS easier.
And to keep "C" as simple as possible. I am not sure about having "My installed Programs" on a seperate partition though?
I will use an Imaging program (True Image from Acronis) to make backup images of partitions C:, F:, G: as necessary.
As of this moment there are NO applications loaded on the system, it is just bare-bones MCE OS.
I want to install a second Operating System to be able to use/test some (questionable) programs and to do P2P stuff
so that it will not mess up my main OS.
I already have a copy of Windows XP Pro SP2, but have been informed that I can copy/clone/install
a 2nd copy of same OS (MCE 2005), to another partition (on same PC) to use as my TEST bed.
After putting this 2nd OS on the system, I would update it with all hotpatches & fixes and then image it so I could quickly restore it to original condition if something messes it up, or it gets a trogan, worm, virus, etc..
My questions that I need help with though are:
1.) Is it better to "Clone/copy" the original OS (MCE2005) to another partition or just install Windows XP to another partition? Already have copy of it!
1a.) If cloning MCE is the way to go, can/do I create an image of installed OS (using Acronis True Image), and then just restore that image to another primary partition? Are there any "gotchas" in doing this?
2.) Wll 2nd OS be able to see & access the other logical partitions?
3.) If I later decide to "remove" this 2nd OS and its partition, how do I change the boot loader so only one (main) OS will show up, or none will show up & system will just boot right to OS that's left without any user intervention?
3a.) If using clone of MCE as 2nd OS, how do I specify in boot loader which OS would load first automatically, with no user intervention? I would have very little in so far as application programs on 2nd OS.
3b.) What would be recommended (security) programs if any, for 2nd OS? I.E.: anti-virus program, spyware checker, etc?
4.) I realize I will have to re-partition the hard disk to create another primary partition for the 2nd OS.
**** Please comment/suggest what you think would be recommended partitioning strategy and sizes for partitions and why!!! *****
Thank you SO very much for your help in this regard and I anxiously await any and all responses!
Sincerely,
Cin :-@
I have an problem that I need help with please.
I have a Dell E-310 3.xxGHz Pentium-4 running Window MCE 2005 (as installed by Dell).
PC does NOT have a TV tuner or anything else other than CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive.
NIC port is built-in, video and audio are also built-in and use shared memory.
All of Dell's JUNK has been removed from the HDD. One heck of a job to do!!
The Hard drive (80GB,SATA) is partitioned (at this moment) as follows:
C:==NTFS, Primary,10GB, Windows MCE OS only, as loaded by Dell, all Dell's extra JUNK is gone from it;
D:==NTFS, Logical, 2GB, Page file fixed at 1,000MB;
E:==NTFS, Logical, 5GB, Temp files & TIF's;
F:==NTFS, Logical, 5GB, My installed application programs, MS Office, Spybot, Avast AV, Nero, etc.;
G:==NTFS, Logical, 10GB, My documents, music, pictures, etc.;
H:==NTFS, Logical, 10GB, Basically empty;
I:==NTFS, Logical, 20GB, Backup images of other partitions, copied to CDs/DVDs for archival;
J:==NTFS, Logical, 14GB, Basically empty
The Page file, Temp files & TIFs went each to their own partitions to help alleviate disk fragmentation of "C".
It was done this way (by a friend), to make it easier for me to backup my data &
such and to make whole system backup (smaller images) and reinstallation of main OS easier.
And to keep "C" as simple as possible. I am not sure about having "My installed Programs" on a seperate partition though?
I will use an Imaging program (True Image from Acronis) to make backup images of partitions C:, F:, G: as necessary.
As of this moment there are NO applications loaded on the system, it is just bare-bones MCE OS.
I want to install a second Operating System to be able to use/test some (questionable) programs and to do P2P stuff
so that it will not mess up my main OS.
I already have a copy of Windows XP Pro SP2, but have been informed that I can copy/clone/install
a 2nd copy of same OS (MCE 2005), to another partition (on same PC) to use as my TEST bed.
After putting this 2nd OS on the system, I would update it with all hotpatches & fixes and then image it so I could quickly restore it to original condition if something messes it up, or it gets a trogan, worm, virus, etc..
My questions that I need help with though are:
1.) Is it better to "Clone/copy" the original OS (MCE2005) to another partition or just install Windows XP to another partition? Already have copy of it!
1a.) If cloning MCE is the way to go, can/do I create an image of installed OS (using Acronis True Image), and then just restore that image to another primary partition? Are there any "gotchas" in doing this?
2.) Wll 2nd OS be able to see & access the other logical partitions?
3.) If I later decide to "remove" this 2nd OS and its partition, how do I change the boot loader so only one (main) OS will show up, or none will show up & system will just boot right to OS that's left without any user intervention?
3a.) If using clone of MCE as 2nd OS, how do I specify in boot loader which OS would load first automatically, with no user intervention? I would have very little in so far as application programs on 2nd OS.
3b.) What would be recommended (security) programs if any, for 2nd OS? I.E.: anti-virus program, spyware checker, etc?
4.) I realize I will have to re-partition the hard disk to create another primary partition for the 2nd OS.
**** Please comment/suggest what you think would be recommended partitioning strategy and sizes for partitions and why!!! *****
Thank you SO very much for your help in this regard and I anxiously await any and all responses!
Sincerely,
Cin :-@