Images are more important than ever

kado897 · 19 Mar 2011

Yes that was my first thought and I already use Macrium.

whs · 19 Mar 2011

kado, this is no Rocket Science. You can do it. And if you have questions along the way, keep asking. And follow the advice of BFK - an image can always save your bacon. And report back. I would be interested knowing how you have done.

unifex · 19 Mar 2011

I always keep my data (any of my files: documents, work files, photos, whatever) on a separate partition (in laptops) or even better on separate physical hard drive (in desktops; some laptops allow for a second drive as well). This way my files are protected from any possible system crashes. If I need to re-install Windows my data is not affected in any way.

Moreover, by placing my files on a separate partition/drive allows me to create whatever folder structure I want. With this in mind, I am not sure what is the problem of "integrating a data partition into the Windows data environment". I think the advice whs is giving referrs to the actual standard folders from the C:\Users\YouUsername.

Personally I don't use those folders at all. I put my files into whatever folder I want on my data partition. The standard user folders created by Windows I keep where they were created, or, in case of a SSD, move them to some separate partition on a HDD. This is because some programs insist on writing their temporary files into this structure and I prefer to avoid extra writing to my SSD. Other than that, I forget them.

As a result, I just need to organise my data in the data partition, but there is nothing special about moving data there, just cut and paste.

kado897 · 19 Mar 2011

Thanks for all your advice. I will post back if and when I do it.

ignatzatsonic · 19 Mar 2011

unifex said:

Moreover, by placing my files on a separate partition/drive allows me to create whatever folder structure I want. With this in mind, I am not sure what is the problem of "integrating a data partition into the Windows data environment". I think the advice whs is giving referrs to the actual standard folders from the C:\Users\YouUsername.

Personally I don't use those folders at all. I put my files into whatever folder I want on my data partition. The standard user folders created by Windows I keep where they were created, or, in case of a SSD, move them to some separate partition. Thi sis because some programs insist on writing their temporary files into this structure and I prefer to avoid extra writing to my SSD. Other than that, I forget them.

As a result, I just need to organise my data in the data partition, but there is nothing special about moving data there, just cut and paste.

Exactly so.

I have NEVER used the C:\Users structure and have NEVER saved anything on C willfully.

Nor do I use libraries.

All personal data is on D. Windows slings some stuff into subfolders of C:\users of its own accord, but I never have to refer to it or deal with it.

I can drag and drop at will without any concern for properties or permissions.

mjf · 19 Mar 2011

whs said:

Yes, 4 primaries is the maximum. But that is easy to fix. We'll make C a logical partition. You can do that since you have the 100MB active boot partition. (check in disk management whether that is true).

Then you take the bootable CD of this program and change C: from primary to logical. The control is in the Partition tab > Modify. But you can only do it with the CD of PW because the C partition must be inactive in order to do that.

Now you can create a new Extended partition (best with Disk Management after you shrunk some space off C and then as many logical partitions as you have letters. Just right click on the unallocated space after you shrunk and you will see. Very easy.

I tried that once and ended up with a mess. I know the theory and software well enough but not enough of the details of the OEM:SLP OS authentication. This is where it came unstuck I think.
Given most shop bought PCs (eg. Acer, HP...) have this type of OS make sure everything is backed up and imaged before trying it.

Simplify: I have the 100MB system reserved. Changed C: (Boot/OS partition) from primary to logical using PW. No problems. Booting - big problems.

whs · 19 Mar 2011

ignatzatsonic said:

unifex said:

Moreover, by placing my files on a separate partition/drive allows me to create whatever folder structure I want. With this in mind, I am not sure what is the problem of "integrating a data partition into the Windows data environment". I think the advice whs is giving referrs to the actual standard folders from the C:\Users\YouUsername.

Personally I don't use those folders at all. I put my files into whatever folder I want on my data partition. The standard user folders created by Windows I keep where they were created, or, in case of a SSD, move them to some separate partition. Thi sis because some programs insist on writing their temporary files into this structure and I prefer to avoid extra writing to my SSD. Other than that, I forget them.

As a result, I just need to organise my data in the data partition, but there is nothing special about moving data there, just cut and paste.

Exactly so.

I have NEVER used the C:\Users structure and have NEVER saved anything on C willfully.

Nor do I use libraries.

All personal data is on D. Windows slings some stuff into subfolders of C:\users of its own accord, but I never have to refer to it or deal with it.

I can drag and drop at will without any concern for properties or permissions.

Hmm, sounds like you prefer to do things the old way. But the Windows7 library and folder structure is much more advanced. Why not take advantage of it. And using drag and drop for moving data is really working without a net. There are better and safer ways to copy/move data. I would not want to go 10 years back.

kado897 · 19 Mar 2011

mjf said:

whs said:

Yes, 4 primaries is the maximum. But that is easy to fix. We'll make C a logical partition. You can do that since you have the 100MB active boot partition. (check in disk management whether that is true).

Then you take the bootable CD of this program and change C: from primary to logical. The control is in the Partition tab > Modify. But you can only do it with the CD of PW because the C partition must be inactive in order to do that.

Now you can create a new Extended partition (best with Disk Management after you shrunk some space off C and then as many logical partitions as you have letters. Just right click on the unallocated space after you shrunk and you will see. Very easy.

I tried that once and ended up with a mess. I know the theory and software well enough but not enough of the details of the OEM:SLP OS authentication. This is where it came unstuck I think.
Given most shop bought PCs (eg. Acer, HP...) have this type of OS make sure everything is backed up and imaged before trying it.

I have an OEM OS (HP). You think I may run into licencing issues?

whs · 19 Mar 2011

Not at all, why should there be a licensing problem. I have done that on 4 different OEM systems without any problem. And I really do not know what mjf is talking about. Maybe he can clarify.

ignatzatsonic · 19 Mar 2011

whs said:

Hmm, sounds like you prefer to do things the old way. But the Windows7 library and folder structure is much more advanced. Why not take advantage of it. And using drag and drop for moving data is really working without a net. There are better and safer ways to copy/move data. I would not want to go 10 years back.

WHS:

The topic has been long since beaten to death and the horsemeat is well tenderized.

I investigated libraries. If I thought they were an advantage, I would have long since used them.

But you knew that.

I am organized. I don't keep my strudel recipes in a file called "cool stuff" in a folder called "Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada".

I've never lost data due to moving/copying technique, dating back over 15 years. Needless to say, I have multiple backups. I don't work without a net.