I've often heard that the OS should be on a drive (logical drive) by itself so that, when it gets a problem, you can just re-install a new copy of the OS on that drive. However, isn't the OS modified when you install programs? Where would you install them? Can someone explain the procedure for this and how it works? It has always confused me and, if if works as I understand, I'd like to try it.
Hi -- Welcome to Seven Forums. I think probably having a C and D drive is a good idea. When I installed my Win 7, I considered making a partition for my D drive and install my programs on D. I did not do it, wish I had. == You can make your C drive about 40 GB and put your Win 7 on it. You can use the D drive then (much bigger than 40 GB I would assume) to put all of your programs on. Like you said if you have to install your Win 7 again, you would not have to take everything off your D drive. I believe you would have to still install your programs again as they would not be associated with Win 7 anymore. Not completely sure about that. I think you would be better off with a C and D drive.I've often heard that the OS should be on a drive (logical drive) by itself so that, when it gets a problem, you can just re-install a new copy of the OS on that drive. However, isn't the OS modified when you install programs? Where would you install them? Can someone explain the procedure for this and how it works? It has always confused me and, if if works as I understand, I'd like to try it.
You can install Win7 on a logical drive only if the boot files are on another Primary partition like in the case of a Dual boot where XP or Vista is installed first. However if you remove the Dual Boot, you cannot mark a Logical partition active to recover the MBR into it. So it is best to always put OS on a Primary partition.
In your case, I believe you are asking how to separate the partitions so your data is safe in its own partition in case your OS becomes unrecoverable, or so that all of your data isn't imaged along with the OS every time.
If you wish to do this, then you should put your Programs on the OS partition, your User files on the separate data partition (which may in fact be Logical) using this method: User Folders - Change Default Location
Then save a Win7 backup image of the OS partition externally so if it every becomes unbootable or problematic, you can reimage the OS partition and have your User files waiting in their own vault ready to go.
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