Windows 7 on separate partition... the hard way

[The Constant Juggler]

I recently got a new PC, scratch-built, and Windows 7 to put on it. I had the bright idea of installing windows on a 20GB partition of the 1TB drive, just to keep things modular.

What I didn't realise was just how much Windows likes to put stuff in the system partition - and that I would need to do a lot of setup during installation to change that.

So the end result is I've got Windows installed on C: (20GB), and while I can install games and such on D: or F: (450GB), I'm getting a lot of junk dumped in the C drive, which is rapidly filling up. I've moved all the 'My X' folders over, since that's relatively simple. But can I do anything now about folders like Users\X\AppData and C:\ProgramData, where every single program I install seems to like to tuck away pointless bits and bobs?

[12twelve12]

If you have plenty of space available on your larger partition(s) then why not just enlarge the OS partition? This can be done with software such as Paragon's Partition Manager. I ran into this exact problem on my last build and Partition Manager worked like a dream.

"...allows resizing partitions nondestructively. By resizing partitions nondestructively you do not need to completely reformat and repartition the hard drive. You can easily and freely resize your partitions and redistribute free space with the Redistribute Free Space Wizard."


I don't think you can resize a partition with the trial version so if you don't want to spend the $, I would do a search to see if there is similar freeware that can get the job done for you.

[The Constant Juggler]

I guess that's a solution - thanks. I'm obviously not *anticipating* wanting to reinstall Windows, but it would just make it easier.

[mazz72]

Gparted Live.

Open source (free) and works with any OS.

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/

[12twelve12]

Originally Posted by The Constant Juggler I guess that's a solution - thanks. I'm obviously not *anticipating* wanting to reinstall Windows, but it would just make it easier.

You wouldn't have to reinstall with the option I suggested.

Originally Posted by mazz72 Gparted Live. Open source (free) and works with any OS. http://gparted.sourceforge.net/

Thanks mazz! I was wondering if there was a freeware alternative but since I already had Paragon I didn't bother with the research. Curious to see how this stacks up.

[mazz72]

Originally Posted by 12twelve12 Thanks mazz! I was wondering if there was a freeware alternative but since I already had Paragon I didn't bother with the research. Curious to see how this stacks up.

No problem. I've used it many times and it is excellent.

[The Constant Juggler]

You wouldn't have to reinstall with the option I suggested.

I just meant that having Windows on a separate partition makes it easier to reinstall/repair just Windows, while leaving everything else pretty much untouched. I'm not planning on having to do that, though, so I guess it's all right to just accept that I've messed it up this time, expand the system partition, and do it right the next time.

mazz72 - thanks! I'll check it out.

[MikeMoss]

Hi

Another option is to make a image of your Windows drive with a program like Ghost 15 or Acronis.
If your computer goes down you can be back up and running in less then an hour with no hassle or reinstalling of software. You'll never have to reinstall Windows again.

I just got a new computer.

I installed all my software, set all my preferences, put in my custom sounds etc and then backed it all up to my second hard drive and an external drive (You can use DVDs too). Then made a Recovery CD and tested it by recovering some of my data, now I feel reasonably safe.

Saved my old XP computer 3 times. Sure beats reinstalling everything.
I use Norton Ghost 15.

Mike

[The Constant Juggler]

Late revival :P

I've been looking at getting a second HDD for a while now, and I thought it might be a good opportunity to correct my mistake. The idea would be to store my personal data somewhere temporary (external drive or backup DVDs), install the second HDD and stick Ubuntu on it (been eying that for a while as well), and use it to format the primary HDD, then reinstall Windows with the proper process to get everything off the C drive.

Is that going to work? I'm not sure how the multiple-hard-drive setup changes things, nor whether I need to install Windows before Linux (if so, that messes things up a bit).

[EzyStvy]

There isn't a need for the a second HDD and Ubuntu...Once you've backed up your important data - boot off the Windows DVD off you go. You can zap all partitions and recreate then etc..

You want to avoid having more then one drive hooked up so your drive letters sty constant.

[The Constant Juggler]

Hmm okay, I thought I couldn't redo partitions and such just by booting off the Windows DVD. I'll have a go at that, thanks!

Ububtu I've been looking at for a while - I'm making a game and want to support Linux, so I'd like to have that environment to work in. But I guess the second HDD isn't completely necessary.