Second hard drive newbie....

[howiess2000]

As the title suggests, this is the first time i got a second hard drive...

Its a WD 500g 7200rpm. and I'd like to use it for a couple of different things. First I'd like to use part of it for storage.(videos, music, Pics, etc) The other part, I'd like to use to clone my 150g WD Raptor, (that contains Windows, games, and settings) in case the the raptor should crash.

I'm guessing I should start off by partitioning the 500g drive into 2 drives. Then running backup software on one partition and running cloning software on another.

I guess my question is: Can this be done on the same HD? Would I need to set up the 500g HD as a raid drive?

Thank you in advance, for your help.

[glc]

No, you do not want to use cloning software - you would use imaging software. Partitioning it is up to you, but not necessary. You can simply create a FOLDER on it for storing your images.

Cloning a drive will WIPE the target drive and make the target an exact duplicate of the source drive.

[howiess2000]

ok, ix-nay on the cloning software. if cloning wipes completely wipes out a drive, then that would defeat the purpose of storing valuble files on it. thank you from saving me from a disaster.

So, image software will provide an ez way of restoring my raptor, in the case of me having to replace it?


i haven't started setting up this new drive, i'm still collecting info.

[glc]

Yes, something like Acronis True Image. It can create a compressed image of the drive - and it's restorable from boot media.

[howiess2000]

i just installed the new HD in the case; connected sata wire and sata power.

in bios the drive is recognized, in hardware manager the drive is recognized, but in My Computer, the HD is not recognized.

i'm guessing its just a setting that i'm overlooking.

again, i'm just looking to use it as extra storage space, (as well as, using it to hold the image of my primary drive) so setting this drive as a raid drive isnt the answer...right??

ty for your help

[howiess2000]

opps... nevermind the previous reply. I just saw this sticky.

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=175212