OS and Data on separate drives

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  1. Posts : 31,242
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #11

    After you have completed the new install - use the built in location feature to point the user data folders to your existing data folders on the second drive - instructions are in the reply from Wishmaster post #5 - when prompted to move existing files say yes as this will move the hidden desktop.ini file to your data folder that makes the folder into a special folder.

    As the data is more than likely on an NTFS drive you will need to take ownership of the folders on your data drive and add your new user to have full permissions - this is due to the fact that user Fred on vista is not the same as user Fred on win7 and due to UAC the actual user in normal use will not have these rights by default.

    Once you have these transferred, the folders on the data drive will be accessible from the links in your user folder and the others that can be added to the right of the start menu
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #12

    karlsnooks said:
    Probably your simplest and surest approach is:
    1. Disconnect your data drive.
    2. Do a clean install of Win 7
    3. Reconnect the data drive.
    4. Use the power of Win 7 libraries to add the folders on your data drive to the appropriate library.

    Now some links:


    SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation


    As it seems you may have only one Hard Disk Drive (HDD) DO NOT use the method listed in this tutorial as IT WILL over-write everything of the HDD, it cannot be done to a single volume/partition on a HDD it will do the entire HDD and all data will be lost.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #13

    BlueDragon,

    Barefoot is correct. I did not pay enough attention to your system specs.

    Since you have only one physical hard drive (which is divided iinto two logical drives), then you would end up losing your data when the hard drive was cleaned.

    One suggstion then is to simply backup your entire Data drive to an external USB drive and then when setting up the hard drive, set up your two partitions and after the install then copy your data back to your new data partition.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,114
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #14

    Bare Foot Kid said:
    karlsnooks said:
    Probably your simplest and surest approach is:
    1. Disconnect your data drive.
    2. Do a clean install of Win 7
    3. Reconnect the data drive.
    4. Use the power of Win 7 libraries to add the folders on your data drive to the appropriate library.

    Now some links:


    SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation


    As it seems you may have only one Hard Disk Drive (HDD) DO NOT use the method listed in this tutorial as IT WILL over-write everything of the HDD, it cannot be done to a single volume/partition on a HDD it will do the entire HDD and all data will be lost.
    If you read BlueDragon's post 1 and post 7 he says there are 2 seperate drive's that's the reason i told him to be sure and unplug his data drive before the clean install that way he can't lose his data
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #15

    Hello Smitty.





    I saw his use of the term "drive" that's the problem, so many confuse the terms for drive, partition and volume, not to mention HDD with drive; I would rather err on the side of caution than be responsible for someone losing their data.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #16

    Unfortunately, terms are ofter used interchangeably causing confusion.

    I sure do find a snapshot of the maximized output of Disk Management to be helpful in eliminating misunderstandings.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,114
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #17

    Sorry we both have the same concurns for his data, maybe if he would clarify 2 harddrives or 1 harddrive with 2 partitions we could better help him:)
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #18

    Hello bluedragon.





    Will you please post a snip/screen-shot of the entire disk management drive map so we can see what you have going on as there may be a fairly simple way to resolve the situation.

    In the Windows start menu right click computer and click manage, in the left pane of the "Computer Management" window that opens click disk management and post a snip of that.


    How to Post a Screenshot in Seven Forums
      My Computer


  9. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #19

    The easy solution is to go to the folder(s) on the other drive (I guess it is really another partition), right click on the folder and "Include in Library"
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 29
    Windows 7 Pro 64 bit, Vista home premium 64 bit, XP Pro 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #20

    Hi, If you read my first post and my 7th post. I clearly indicate that i have two drives... thanks for your concern. Regards, BD.
      My Computer


 
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