Actually Optimist, you've reminded me of something there. Although there is a patch for pre-SP2 XP installation discs (the so-called streaming patch IIRC), it doesn't work for Dell OEM XP discs because they aren't the same as standard MS XP ones. I think I read that the patch doesn't work for some other OEM XP discs as well.

There may be something to be said for partitioning large hard drives though. A failure I had earlier this year was caused by a corrupted partition record which, because it was a progressive failure rather than a sudden one, rendered it unrecoverable. Had I partitioned the hard drive, I wouldn't have lost the whole thing.

Optimist,

I thought the problem with copying to a new disk is that things like registry entries got muddled and the non-Microsoft progs usually did not run properly.

Kyoto,

Am I not right in thinking that your 'regular backups' are never used as a disk that boots and runs all the installed software.

I'm guessing that Migrate Easy might simply be a component of True Image.

However, you've both reminded me that I am still on Win 2000 with this office machine and now might be the time to move to XP - and take the hit of re-installing all the bits of third party software.

TP

TP - when I tested True Image, I copied my desktop hard disk to an external USB hard drive and then, using the floppy/CD boot-disk that the software can create, copied it back to an empty hard drive. It worked.

I needed a solution that would do this because although I'd been smugly backing up my data for years, when I lost my hard drive it took me about 12 solid hours to re-install and configure all my applications. It's the first time I'd lost a drive since using the dubious Doublespace application on Windows 3.1 (or 95), and I hadn't appreciated just how much work and frustration would be involved. I was determined not to go through all that again, which is why I made sure with True Image.

It's true that over time the hard disk and Windows Registry become full of crap and there's much to be said for a fresh install every time a new computer is bought, but I've used True Image to create a 'fresh-build' backup (in addition to weekly system backups) which I can go back to if I want to - although lots of subsequent patches would have to be installed of course.

On the subject of upgrading to XP - Windows Vista will probably be out in about six months although if your machine is old you'll almost certainly require a new one for that.

The workaround for installing pre SP2 to a large partition is to install it on a small one, install SP2 and then use a partition manager to enlarge it to the full disk size.

You can make installation easier by copying all of your installation CDs to a setup directory on your hard disk and installing the apps from there. This tends to be faster than a CD install and you don't have to remember what applications you had installed and where the disks are. It's still a pain though.

Vista will be a must have system, but its full functionality will not be availible for at least a year after the first release and there will be compatibility problems with older programs.

Speaking of Vista: I am thinking that when it is offered I might upgrade to Vista (I'm having problems with my XP Home Restore feature that I can't fathom out even with MS article 302796). It's got me a bit nervous and wonder if I'd ever manage a re-install with my pre-sp2 disk. However back to Vista.
I have downloaded Microsoft's Vista Upgrade Adviser and it's telling me that various drivers need updating which is simple to fix, BUT, it's also giving me a message that my USB Controllers need replacing."VIA Rev 5 or later Universal Host Controller" and "VIA USB Enhanced Host Controller".
This is somewhat worrying is it not? My machine is only 2 years old.

K,

So True Image is probably what I should use.

As I am not planning to upgrade the PC I might just as well stay with Win 2000 and then wait to get a new one with Vista and that would be the time to take the hit and re-install all my progs.

TP

TP - probably - I actually ran a brief search on the differences between True Image and Migrate Easy and found this from Acronis Support:

Since you have already installed Acronis True Image on your computer you don't need Acronis Migrate Easy because the functionality of the former includes all the functions of the latter. However Acronis Power Utilities does inlude several programs that are very useful for those who deal with partition managing and system back up.

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=65224

You will need to ensure that whatever backup device you're using (such as a USB hard disk if any) can be read by your system when you do a restore.

Thanks K,

I have a second hard disk in the PC anyway.

I use Retrospect to copy to it every night using their system that keeps the files that have been changed. It does clog up fairly quickly but it's a comfort to know that something you deleted, or overwrote in error, is recoverable.

In the case of a disk crash on my C: it would have everything from yesterday, but be no good for restoring software.

When the drive D: gets too full I copy everything from C: to an external firewire drive using the other Retrospect prog that copies everything that has change. I then purge my D: and start again.

And finally, each night I use something called Karen's Replicator to copy my data files to an office server, which is taped. The previous night's tapes are taken off the premises each night in case the building gets straffed over night.

All of which still does not do what Acronis looks to be capable of doing, namely re-loading all my progs.

TP

TP

If you are simply installing a new disk all you have to do is install the new hard disk as a secondary, run your partition management program which should have an option to copy your entire disk to the new device and enlarge the partition to the size of the new disk. When it's done, you simply swap the cables around, and remove the old disk if you want to.

The True Image program that Bolshi referes to has an option to backup the entire disk image as a file on another disk which can then be imported onto the existing or a new disk. Although you need a lot of backup disk space, it is an excellent way to backup your system but you do not require that just to transfer to a new HDD.

TP - agreed, if you're partition software can copy/ghost from one hard drive to another you don't necessarily need something like True Image. It sounds like you have a fairly good backup strategy in any case :-)

I suppose this second hard disk strategy could be a good safety net for my 'Restore' issues. Probably cheaper than other options and as long as it's bootable I suppose.

Op,

Well that's easy then. Install the new hard disk as the secondary and follow your work flow.

And Partition management is within Win 2000 - or I need to download it?

K,

"It sounds like you have a fairly good backup strategy in any case :-)"

Yes, once, or actually several times, bitten once shy. I also have a folder called Sources into which I put the downloaded installation software for the myriad of progs I use. Saves a heck of a time if one is doing a clean installation, as long as they are copied to somewhere I can access.

TP



TP

TP

No! partition management is not part of Win2K or XP. I used it as a generic term for the software which you will have to install.

If you Google "partition managers" you will find plenty of options. It appears that the one I was refering to is now called Paragon Partition Manager but there are loads of others.

Op,

I thought that was what you meant.

As ever I'd opt for the one that someone around here has used and found OK.

Taking a long weekend so off in a mo'.

Thanks for all the advice, friends.


TP

I have an 80GB hard disk and it was divided into 8 x 10GB partitions by my computer maker.

The first partition is called 'Drive C' and, as you can imagine, it is well full. It carries the Windows XP Professional operating system and is hovering at around only 16% empty.

When I download software from the Internet, I pop the actual (usually zipped) download file into a named folder after installing it. I then save these individual download folders in a separate 'Downloads' master folder on one of the partitions.

I use two partitions, together with a separate external hard drive, for backup purposes.

Thus I have all my programs for re-installation on either a CD or on this one partition and all my data on one of the other partitions and also on my separate external hard drive.

Most of the other partitions are completely empty.

I would think a completely fresh re-install of Windows would be best, as it would clear out what may well be a very cluttered Registry. However, here's my question:

Q. Is it possible to resize the partition, which I call 'Drive C' without doing a clean re-install of Windows?

Doc
VCom do a product called Partition Commander, 29. Not used it myself (no partitions) but do use their Fix-It utilities.
http://www.shop.avanquest.com/uk/prod.php?pid=1979

Bolshi

It says:-

"Redistribute Disk Space - Easily increase free space in a partition by moving unused space from another partition on the same drive. Windows alone cant do this, and without VCom Partition Commander, this procedure requires a complex sequence of resising and moving of partitions and data. The built-in wizard performs all the necessary actions in a few easy steps."

This looks like it does just the job I want. Thank you. :-)

Get the right download for your Windows system for Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1 - Beta

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Browser add-ons can help personalize the way you use the Internet. The add-ons available here have been carefully screened by Microsoft and rated by users to help you select the ones that suit your needs and preferences. eg,

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Let's hope it's more careful than the feckless screening of their own products.

I tried an earlier beta of IE7 and it had an unusal problem which may be particularly revelant to traders - it wasn't possible to open and maximise IE windows on two screens with F11. Maybe they've fixed this by now, although the chances are that IE7 will still be full of bugs when it's launched so this may still be one of them.

It was also extremely difficult at the time to get back to IE6 and the process involved doing a system restore under XP.

Kyoto. You say "It was also extremely difficult at the time to get back to IE6 and the process involved doing a system restore under XP. "
Groan :-(
I've loaded IE7.3 Beta. I think it works fine but my provider, BT/Yahoo sys their browser doesn't support it and shouldn't be used! Darn it! Oh well, I'll plough on with it until something bad happens.