Windows 7: Need Help for Adding New HDD

I currently have one 160 GB C:\ drive that both my Win 7, Programs and Docs are on. I want to add a 500 GB drive, make 50 GB of it my C:\ for the OS -- 225 GB of it my D:\ for Programs -- 225 GB my E:\ for Docs. I would then make the 160 GB drive a 30 GB F:\ for OS backup and 130 GB G:\ for Doc backup. Since the backups are compressed, I assume the numbers would work for the foreseeable future. == I have a few questions on this. == First, do the partition numbers sound right? -- Second, What do I have to do to change the drive letters to make the new 500 GB my C:, D: and E:? I am not backing up my Program files, because if there were a problem in the future, they would have to be reinstalled anyway, is that correct?
== One final question. This is the HD I have my eye on. WD Caviar Blue SE16 3.5in 500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive WD5000AAKS Western Digital Hard Disk Drive HDD HD 7200 RPM 16MB Cache-Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com I am not sure what SATA means except that it has a different type wire than IDE. This would fit OK with my motherboard, correct? Thanks for all of your help.

What is SATA or Serial ATA?

Don't forget, you are going to lose some space for things such as the system reserved space for the boot files(100mb)

Here is your mother board.
Yes it has two SATA-2 3.0Gbs ports on the mother board for the hard drive you listed in post #1 to plug into.

You will need a power cable and a data cable like Brianzion posted.
They are not included with the hard drive.
ECS Web Site

Data cable.

bigmck,
Go with at least 32mb cache.
Western Digital WD5001AALS Caviar Black Hard Drive - 500GB, 7200 rpm, 32MB, SATA-3G at TigerDirect
and if your upgrading how about score a 1tb drive?
Western Digital WD1002FAEX Caviar Black Hard Drive - 1TB, 7200RPM, 64MB, SATA 6Gbs at TigerDirect
Now my personal preference.
Hitachi OS00163 Deskstar IDK7K Internal Hard Drive - 1TB, 7200RPM, 32MB, SATA-3G 0S00163 at TigerDirect
Good luck !

sata power cable

I myself personaly have 6 sata ports which im thinking of taking use of i mean why not ?

i have three open ports left why not make them all hard drives that would be very insane and i have the slots for atleast 2 more hard drives possibly add a third drive like a blueray but from what i seen before windows only reconizes 2 rom drives the hard drives might be different can someone give me a answer cause i tested it out through ide and it didnt work i have three roms installed right now 2 lg dvd burners and a nec dvd player and cd burner 1 rom sata the other two ide also the second ide rom is unplugged just to let you know

it won't let the system boot when it is plugged

Personally I would go with a SSD for the OS only and then use your old drive for backups. Then get a 500 GB drive for storage (programs, document, etc. etc.).

I second the SSD but it is a much bigger purchase price. From a performance standpoint no contest but do go Sata III and used a PCIe sata III adapter such as !
ASUS U3S6 PCI Express Expansion Card - 2x USB 3.0, 2x SATA-6G at TigerDirect.com
You get two Sata III internal and two USB 3 external, works great !

If your heart's set on 500GB ok.
But why not just get 1TB (eg. Caviar Black or Seagate Barracuda). What are they US$100 or less.

"...I am not backing up my Program files, because if there were a problem in the future, they would have to be reinstalled anyway, is that correct? "

NO! Unless I'm missing something. Keep a couple of system images. When disaster strikes restore and everything's back OS, your programs - the works within say 20 minutes. (a little longer if you need to stick in a new HDD).