Partitioning and Windows ME

[hansolo77]

HELP!
I just bought a new 60gb hard drive. Taking the advice of some fellow workers, I partitioned it 4 ways to make it more stable. My partition map is as follows:
1) Windows - 3gb
2) Windows Swap - 500mb
3) Internet Cache - 500mb
4) Freespace/Programs - 56gb
This is all good, but I want to make a change. Is this partition map "doable?"
1) Freespace/Programs - 56gb
2) Windows - 3gb
3) Windows Swap - 500mb
4) Internet Cache - 500mb
Before I do this, I want to make sure of the following.
1) Installing windows on partition 2 will be bootable
2) Installing additional programs will default to partition 1(c:\)
The reason for this change is that I'm having to change the designation drive letter for every program I install. Its ok, just troublesome. If anyone knows of a possible solution could ya let me know? Even if its something simple, like changing the drive letter (if thats possible). I just want to be able to install all my programs outside of the windows drive.

Thanks.

 

[thatrenowned]

Thing I'd do is:

1) Backup everything
2) Delete all partitions
3) Create new partitions however you want them
4) Install Windows, and when it asks where you want to install it (default is c:\windows), select other directory and pick D:\windows

If you're going to play about with your partitions, I'd start over again...but then, thats what I would do..you might not want to go throught the hassle of all the reinstallation.

Rgds

 

[hansolo77]

OK great.. If I do this, will I be be able to install all my programs without needing to change the drive letter from D:\ to C:\?

 

[thatrenowned]

To be honest, I don't know. Usually, programs have a default directory which has been set. Maybe something can be changed in the registry, but I don't know much about that, so I can't advise you.

Rgds

 

[Scotsdude]

Changing the drive letters is only going to help on certain installs. Most install packages are set to install to whichever drive windows resides on.

My current systems looks like this:
c: - win me (2Gb)
d: - programs and data storage for win me (7.5Gb)
e: - cd drive
f: - cdr drive
g: - winxp (20Gb)

when i'm in xp, most programs will install to G, because that is the windows system drive.

I woouldn't play about with your partitions, I'd just leave it as is, and change the designated install drive for each install program.

Pain in the backside I know, but then, so is life....

Scotsdude

 

[DelCompuSales]

I like your idea of separating things. I agree with "thatrenowned" on the best would be to repartition and reinstall.

One thought. I really do not like to have any one large drive as you are planning. For normal use, there is no reason to have a 56 Gb partition. Only if you are planning on movie editing would I leave such a large drive. I would recommend smaller 5-10 gb partitions and maybe a 20-30 gb partition.

This gives you alot of flexibility. When ever you go to scan disk or defrag, you will appreciate not having to spend the time scanning and defragging one large partition.

 

[thatrenowned]

I agree with that...also, if one of the partitions gets damaged, you don't lose all your work\games, just some of them. Better to be left with something than nothing.

Rgds

 

[hansolo77]

Great! Thanks everyone for your tips. I'll try partitioning and formating as thatrenowned suggested and try installing to a different drive and see if that works. If not I'll just change the drive letter. I'll also split up the 56gb drive to smaller parts too. Keep dishing out ideas tho!

 

[hansolo77]

Well, I went home and tried it all froms scratch again. I put WindowsME on drive D. I then went to install my programs and they all defaulted to install to D this time. I guess programs are automatically made to install on the drive as Windows. Does anybody know if there are any registry hacks, or programs to make installers think Windows is on a different drive?

 

[cdogg]

hansolo77,

I understand that you're trying to separate your drive into different partitions. What I don't understand is why you want the freespace at the front of the drive instead of at the end. Especially on large hard drives, disk access is much faster at the beginning than at the end. So with that in mind, it would be smarter to leave the operating system and it's files the way you had them before.

I believe there is a registry hack you could implement that would change the default browse path to the drive letter of your choice. When an app installs, it will still prompt you to install in the same directory as Windows, but by simply clicking the browse button, you're taken right to the default path you specified in the registry. It would still save you some time to have to navigate each time.

On my system, C:\My Documents was the default "browse" path. I simply searched the registry for that same path. I examined each instance I found (only a handful to go through) and made sure it wasn't for a particluar program. Changed about 2 or 3 instances all together and it works fine for me.

Hope that helps somewhat...

 

[hansolo77]

Thanks for your reply CDOGG... what I'm wanting to do it install windows on its own partition, and have programs on their own partition. I don't know why, I guess i'm just being stubborn. Someone told me its more economical as freespace is concerned. Thanks anyway everybody.. I'll figure something out.

 

[cdogg]

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great idea to separate Windows from other programs and their files. As a matter of fact, I highly recommend it!

I was just trying to tell you that it would be a better idea to have Windows on the first partition of the hard drive where it will load and run faster.

If you're familiar with the registry, you can try my suggestion and see if that helps you out...

 

[hansolo77]

nah.. i'll just let it go.. no biggie

 

[cdogg]

kewl