Create partition and move original backup to it

Hi folks,

I followed some advice to create redundant original backups of my new computer to both the internal D:\ drive and to the new USB drive that I have dedicated to backing up this computer over time.

The main system files are on the C:\ drive, which is an SSD. To save room on the SSD, I want to put some programs on the D:\ drive, and have created the program files folders for this.

A couple of days later I had installed some programs and wanted to create a restore point that includes the D:\ drive. Windows tells me that I can't do this because the D:\ drive contains the backed up system files.

Question: Can I\do you advise, creating a partition on what is now the D:\ drive and moving the backup files to it, so that I can create Restore points for the D:\ drive? Or, should I delete the initial system backup that is on the D:\ drive and rely on the copy that is on the new USB drive?

Thank you!

Judy in Texas said:

The main system files are on the C:\ drive, which is an SSD. To save room on the SSD, I want to put some programs on the D:\ drive, and have created the program files folders for this.

Blue means fine.

But the RED mean that this is the main problem and issue for the system restore.

Here is what i did.
Both Windows system and programs / application are in C:\ drive, not separately.

For having Windows system and the programs & application in the same C:\ drive.
This will not take too much storage as it is around 30 GB to 50 GB depend on how many programs you have.

Then you need to reserve about 60 GB or less, maybe 50 GB for other system files need to be in C:\ drive.
Files such as pagefile and the system restore storage file.
Pagefile normal is about 10 GB.; and system restore storage is less than 10 GB.
When you start the system restore it will required about 5 GB or more, depend how many system restore points you want to keep.
When it reached to the limit, the oldest system restore point will be deleted, for the new system restore points to include inside the storage.
Normally, it is best to leave the same amount of GB used for windows system & programs.

I used SSD and the system & program C:\ drive is about 100 GB, which half is taken by system/program and other need storage such as pagefile and system restore points.

SSD prices is coming downward, as 250GB SSD is about S$120 (Singapore dollars) and 480GB = SSD $200.

Judy in Texas said:

The main system files are on the C:\ drive, which is an SSD. To save room on the SSD, I want to put some programs on the D:\ drive, and have created the program files folders for this.

Do note that having the programs on D:\ may cause problem.
In normal situation, C:\ drive is the partition where boot, system, active; assigned.
This include the programs on the same drive which is C:\ drive.

D:\ drive may change, and if the optical drive use D:\ drive, you cannot open any programs at all.

Hence all Windows OS and programs must be on the same drive.

To be continue...

Judy in Texas said:

Question: Can I\do you advise, creating a partition on what is now the D:\ drive and moving the backup files to it, so that I can create Restore points for the D:\ drive? Or, should I delete the initial system backup that is on the D:\ drive and rely on the copy that is on the new USB drive?

Thank you!

This is where you have to re-install as you cannot simply move the programs at all.

Install Windows OS and Programs Files on the SSD, as you may notice it may use about 30GB average.
Come to worse is to use all the SSD for Windows OS, Programs Files; which include the Boot partition, if any.

Do all the necessary setting.
System restore setup (mentioned already)
Do the 1st system restore point at this stage, so that you do not need to re-install should anything happen.
Once you have done the 1st system restore point, you are safe as any issue, you can do restore to the 1st.

Next;
For HDD, use it for data, backup imaging (depend on your preference) and others.
You can now do BACKUP imaging, depend on your choice (frankly speaking, i never do this BACKUP, that is i used other method, being using for a long time.)

All set, the rest is up to you.
Install Windows 7 = done.
Install Programs Files = done.
System restore point & BACKUP imaging = done.

Note:
Do install all necessary Program Files, and limit to a few need only.
Before install other (not so important) do remember to do system restore point.
Encountered problem, do restore.

Finally:
Remember to do the Windows Updates.
For Windows updates, it will auto do a system restore point before updating.

--end--

Lots of great advice here and I am convinced to install all programs on the C:\ drive.

However, going back to my original question, I have made two initial backups, one on the D:\ drive and one on the USB hard drive. I can't make another initial backup because I have now put a bunch of stuff on the computer. I now realize that if I was going to make an initial backup on an internal drive, I should have partitioned the drive, as is done with so many computers that one buys, but that did not happen.

So, I still have my original question, what to do with the original backup file that is on the D:\ drive? 1) Delete it, and if I ever need to restore the system to the state it was in when I bought it, restore from the USB hard drive. (I have made a startup DVD.) 2) Find out if it is safe/doable to partition the D:\ drive at this point in my computer's life and copy the initial backup to it, or 3) Leave the initial backup file on the D:\ drive, and, I assume, it will get re-backed up every time I run backup on the D:\ drive, or 4) something else that you folks will advise.

Thank you!

There is an short-cut way to go around this issue.

Have your remove that backup "D:\ drive contains the backed up system files."

If this is done, then do try to Config the System Restore, and add the D:\ drive as it contain additional Program Files.

The System Restore only point to that backed up system files is in D:\ drive as the problem, nothing else.

So, proceed to do it, and if successful, your problems is resolved.

Leave this as it is, until you want to re-install again, but need to remind yourself on about Windows + Program Files together.

Do it, as i don't think you will have any problem.