How can I install Win7 over my C drive but still keep my 100GB backup?

[Toothpick134]

Let me explain my situation. I have decided to upgrade to Win7 64-bit as Im currently on Win7 33-bit.
The problem I have is that i have a large 110GB folder of my backups. I don't have a portable Harddrive to put it on there so I need to be able to keep this folder onto my newly installed widnows.

I was thinking there should be a way to split my only C drive into two parts.. One which will remain the C drive and have the new windows installed on it. And the other part which would only be like 150GB big to put my backup folder on.

Just to clarify I would not want any new windows or any OS to be on that smaller part. Just my backup. Im worried I will loose the backup thats why im asking for assistance.

Thanks

 

[SIW2]

Yes you can make another partition and move your backups onto it.

 

[Toothpick134]

Yes you can make another partition and move your backups onto it.

Thanks for the reply but how would I go about doing this? And once i did it would that partition be kept untouched during the win7 installation?

 

[LMiller7]

You would need to shrink your current C: drive by about 150 GB to create room for the new partition. Most likely you would need a third party utility to do this. Then create a new partition in the vacant space and copy your backup folder there. This of course requires that you have at least 150 GB free space. Reinstalling the OS would not effect this partition.

The problem with this is that sometimes a partition resize will go wrong and corrupt the file system, including your backup folder. For that reason you should have a backup of all important files on a separate physical drive. A backup on the same physical drive as the original isn't much of a backup.

 

[okecove]

repair install

Read repair install, this might help you.

 

[gregrocker]

Let us see a screenshot of your Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image - Windows 7 Help Forums

We will give you the steps to shrink C to make a storage partition which will keep your data safe providing you don't touch it during the booted reinstall.

During the actual install follow these illustrated steps for Clean Install Windows 7 using the Drive Options pictured in Steps 7 and 8 to delete all but the new Data partition, then Create and Format a New partition in the Unallocated space.

While you're waiting read over the steps which assure a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which also apply to retail.

 

[AddRAM]

You should not even be keeping your backup folder on the same partition as windows. Technically it`s not really a backup then. Your backup folder should at least be on a separate partition.

 

[Sam10086]

4th floor is right, and what I want to say you could just make the partition without any third party software. right click computer---manage--disk management, then right click the C drive--- shrink, 150G is about 153600 MB and then I guess you know how to do it.

 

[bigmck]

Just a note about your backup. Since you have it on the same HDD as your OS, if the HDD ever corrupts, your backup is gone. It is much better to have your backups on a separate HDD or an external drive.