[M177ER]

[FONT=Verdana]So many questions...[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]My set up:[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E4300[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]MOBO: Asus P5N-E SLI[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]RAM: 2 x 1 GB [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]HDD: Western Digital Cavier 250 GB[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]CD/DVD: LG Super Multi DVD Writer [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Video Card: XFX GeForce 7600 GS[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]OS: Windows XP SP2 OEM[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]This was a custom build and put together by the computer shop with the OS loaded by them.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]MOBO BIOS[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Is it necessary to flash the BIOS if everything is running alright? The forum on the Asus website has differing opinions on which is the best BIOS but that the current version that I have 0202 is stable. 0401 is recommended though.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]HDD Partitions[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]What is the benefit of having a HDD partition that has the OS separate from the other files? From what I have found on Google it is to make backing up easier. What OS files need to be moved to this partition?[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Drivers[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Which drivers should be updated? Video card, sound card and CD/DVD drive? After updating them how do you back this up? I have Nero 6 Express which has Backitup.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]If after doing a clean install (if I ever need to) can this backup just be copied over the system folder (C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers) and everything will update and work correctly?[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Backing up[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]As I said I have Nero 6 Express which has Backitup. I am not worried about backing up My Documents, this is easy enough, but what needs to be on a bootable disk if something happens? Is it really necessary when I don’t have problem doing a clean install if the system crashes or gets infected since I have all of my personal documents backed up? [/FONT]

[Dave Hybrid]

The only drivers worth doing are graphics cards on a regular basis to keep up with new games, you should only do any other drivers when you are having technical problems.

You should never have to flash your BIOS on your motherboard.

Partitions are personal preference, I prefer 1 drive, some like to separate one drive and store different stuff on each partition.

[Wolfeymole]

[FONT=Verdana]HDD Partitions[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]What is the benefit of having a HDD partition that has the OS separate from the other files? From what I have found on Google it is to make backing up easier. What OS files need to be moved to this partition?[/FONT]

I prefer two physical hard drives, one for the operating system and the other divided into multiple partitions.
Obtain a 20GB hard drive and install XP to that.
On the other of say 200GB divide it into 4 partitions of;

Downloads

Drivers

Your Stuff ie Pics Music etc

Backup

It's a debatable point whether to make a backup folder with this arrangement as all you have to do is re-install/repair windows should it go pear shaped.
All downloaded executable program files can be installed to C: from the partition on the number two hard drive.
The same applies to Drivers.

[grush]

Agree the only drivers I update unless I have problems is the graphics, Never flash the Bios unless you have a real problem. Basically if it ain't broke don't fix it.I have 2 160 gig physical drives split into partitions 1x20 gig for the OS the others are in 10s I keep all the different stuff in different drives pics in 1 music in another all the executable in another etc. all personal preference. Don't think it really matters too much but I don't like junk in with the OS.
Backups I do on active stuff, I've got all the EXE backed up on a couple of DVD saves messing with lots of C/D I've never backed up theOS as if I get to needing a restore I'd rather do a clean install.

[hAvAAck]

the only real actual benefit I get from partitioning my HD is that I can format the OS without losing any files in case there's an error or virus. This makes me happy. :)

[M177ER]

Thank you all for your responses.

For now I'm going to leave everything as is and with the next clean install (I just like to start over from time to time) of XP I'm going to put in my old hard drive which is 40 GB and put the OS on there.

Does having 2 HDD mean that I have to figure out the heck RAID is?

[hAvAAck]

Originally Posted by M177ER Thank you all for your responses. For now I'm going to leave everything as is and with the next clean install (I just like to start over from time to time) of XP I'm going to put in my old hard drive which is 40 GB and put the OS on there. Does having 2 HDD mean that I have to figure out the heck RAID is?

DEFINITELY NOT
Just make one the "slave" to the other the "master"
The master should have the OS on it

[M177ER]

Originally Posted by hAvAAck DEFINITELY NOT Just make one the "slave" to the other the "master" The master should have the OS on it

Ok Thanks. :D

[hAvAAck]

definitely wait for someone else to comment, I might be off if they are SATA II or anything, I hear they're doing new things with HDDs, and I only know about old stuff.
RAID != good, that's for sure

[Dave Hybrid]

RAID means you use two drives as one.

So two 200GB drives mean one 200GB drive, except if one goes down you are ok as you have a mirror, also you can read data faster as you are reading effectively from two drives at once.

I'm 99% sure you cannot have RAID with IDE drives.

[mr_miller]

you can raid with IDE but its dependent on the controller you have on the bios. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAID.

[M177ER]

My MOBO has 4 SATA slots so I have decided I am going to get a 80 GB SATA HDD and have the OS and program files on this drive. Each in a 40 GB partition (2 x 40 GB). I don't need to use RAID and it will auto detect the HDDs.

The Plan

After backing up the files I want to keep off of the 250 GB HDD I am going to disconnect it.

1. Connect 80 GB to SATA slot 1
2. Partition and add OS and program files
3. Reconnect 250 GB HDD and transfer backed up files from data DVD.

Does this sound like it will work? NB. M177ER needs you to speak noobish.

How do I completely erase the 250 GB HDD? Do this before or after disconnecting and moving it to the other slot?

Thank you.

[grush]

If you're transferring files from the 250 format it after you've reconnected it that way you can transfer direct from drive to drive instead of your backups.Backup anyway for safety.Don't forget to set your Bios to boot from Sata first

[M177ER]

The 250 GB HDD I have now is SATA so the BIOS should be OK.

I do not want to go drive to drive. I want to put the files that I have on the 250 GB drive right now onto DVD (word and excel files, music and videos that's it); completely erase the drive (to get rid of the OS, program files, and any crap); then reconnect the drive to the next SATA port over (slave in IDE speak) and then put the word and excel files, music and videos back on it.

[grush]

You just need to format the drive then,wouldn't matter before or after the install of the new drive.Personally I'd do it after I'd transfer the files from backup and checked the new drive is working ok.