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Re: Partitions...

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Tazz wrote:
> On 08/11/2011 5:52 AM, JakeD wrote:
>> mike<spamme9@gmail.com>  wrote in news:j99gts$4au$1@dont-email.me:
>>
>>> JakeD wrote:
>>>> I'm using Gparted to create three NTFS partitions on my 160GB hard
>>>> drive.
>>>>
>>>> I am thinking of creating three partitions of approximately equal
>>>> size:
>>>>
>>>> Partition 1: for Windows XP OS and some progrmas to run on that OS
>>>> Partition 2: For Windows Vista or perhaps Windows 7, plus some
>>>> programs to run on that OS
>>>> Partition 3: To be used for storing data files created on various
>>>> programs on the above two partitions.
>>>>
>>>> Questions:
>>>> 1) Please confirm: Should I create three primary partitions, and flag
>>>> the first two as bootable?
>>>>
>>>> 2) Gparted offers me the option of creating a DOS partition table.
>>>> Should I create one?
>>>>
>>>> Many thanks
>>>>
>>>> Jake
>>
>>
>> Mike,
>> Thanks for your thoughts on this. Unfortunately much of what you touched
>> on is out of my depth, as my tech savvy is limited. Although I have been
>> using PCs since 1993, and have had to muddle through the usual SNAFU's, I
>> am still 100% layman.
>>
>>> Do you have a REAL need for two operating systems?
>>
>> Not at present. However, it occurred to me that it would be nice to have
>> extra partitions so that if I later decide that the addition of Vista or
>> Win7 is needed, I can install it without needing to overwriting XP.
>>
>> I've heard of Xbox but have never tried it. My hunch was that going the
>> Xbox route would be more open to glitches and SNAFUs than using a 2nd
>> partition for the secontd OS. Was that assumption incorrect?
>>
>>> To that end, I recommend making your OS boot partitions as small as
>>> practical.
>>
>> I thought it would make sense to have enough room on the partition for
>> the programs that I'll be using under the OS on that partition, partly
>> because it keeps things organised (no chance of trying to figure out
>> which OS it is configured to run under, etc.
>>
>>> The time to think about backing up your system is NOW, before you
>>> partition the drive.
>>
>> OK - thankfully, I don't have anything on the drive to back up.
>>
>>> You want backups to be SIMPLE and quick, or you won't do 'em.
>>
>> Agreed!
>>
>>>   The way I dual-boot is to swap plug-in hard
>>> drives.
>>
>> Why do you prefer that option above the option of having multiple
>> partitions on the same internal drive?
>>
>>> Use a free disk-vendor version of Acronis to do an image backup of
>>> your boot partition to your secondary partition on a REGULAR basis.
>>
>> I tried Acronis on my previous PC. I did the backup, and trusted that all
>> was working as intended. Then, when I came to do my second backup a few
>> weeks later, I found I had clean forgotten how to use Acronis and had to
>> re-read the manual! That's one of this disadvantages of being in my late
>> 50s with a memory that ain't what it used to be! Perhaps if I force
>> myself to use it a THIRD time, the procedure will start to etch itself on
>> my (human) memory. I don't think the procedure was that complicated, but
>> I do recall that it required a certain amount of blind faith, since
>> things like disc images smack of alien technology to me... :)
>>
>>> And it works just as well with a dual-boot system...if you must.
>>
>> What is it about dual-boot systems that you dislike?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Jake
> 
> 
> What you could do is divide up your hdd into partitions, as far as 
> Windows is concerned it will see and name them C, D, and E. Install your 
> primary OS on C. When it's up and running go in the Disk Management 
> section and remove the drive letter for the partition that you made for 
> the future OS. So if the other OS partition was D then remove the drive 
> letter. Then select the E drive and change the letter of that drive to D 
> (or whatever letters you want to use).
This is risky. The BIOS creates a map of physical partitions.
The OS maps that to drive letters. I've had several occasions where
the map got messed up and the OS starts booting from C:,but soon discovers
that it can't find c:.
I suspect/accuse that this is all the effects of copy protection.

Another wrinkle is that win7 creates a hidden partition at the beginning
of the drive.  I had all manner of backup/restore problems until I
used GPARTED to partition/format without that hidden partition.
> 
> That way you'll have your primary OS space and another partition for 
> your data files. You won't see the other partition, Windows will sort of 
> know it's there but it won't do anything with it.
> 
> (I haven't fully tested this next part, I'm assuming this is how it'll 
> work. aka my best educated guess) If / when you do decide to install 
> another OS just run the installer and it'll see all the partitions and 
> you can choose what one to install it on. I would think the installer 
> would then put the dual boot stuff in place.

I've had various degrees of luck installing win/linux dual boot.
Problems happened when I decided I didn't want dualboot any more.

M$ and hardware vendors don't want you to dualboot.  It causes support
problems.  And M$ doesn't want to help you migrate to linux.
> 
> As others have said, it's best to have OSs on separate physical drives.
> 
> 

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Thread

Partitions... JakeD <fgdfgdfg@ghghfgh.com> - 2011-11-07 16:33 +0000
  Re: Partitions... mike <spamme9@gmail.com> - 2011-11-07 13:00 -0800
    Re: Partitions... JakeD <fgdfgdfg@ghghfgh.com> - 2011-11-08 09:52 +0000
      Re: Partitions... mike <spamme9@gmail.com> - 2011-11-08 04:04 -0800
        Re: Partitions... JakeD <fgdfgdfg@ghghfgh.com> - 2011-11-08 13:39 +0000
          Re: Partitions... BillW50 <BillW50@aol.kom> - 2011-11-08 08:15 -0600
            Re: Partitions... "RnR" <rnrtexas@gmail.com> - 2011-11-08 09:38 -0600
              Re: Partitions... BillW50 <BillW50@aol.kom> - 2011-11-08 10:02 -0600
          Re: Partitions... mike <spamme9@gmail.com> - 2011-11-08 12:50 -0800
            Re: Partitions... wrat@panix.com (the wharf rat) - 2011-11-09 20:31 +0000
              Re: Partitions... mike <spamme9@gmail.com> - 2011-11-09 12:49 -0800
                Re: Partitions... wrat@panix.com (the wharf rat) - 2011-11-12 09:38 +0000
        Re: Partitions... BillW50 <BillW50@aol.kom> - 2011-11-08 08:44 -0600
        Re: Partitions... wrat@panix.com (the wharf rat) - 2011-11-09 20:27 +0000
      Re: Partitions... Tazz <dmswaine@gmail.com> - 2011-11-08 15:26 -0400
        Re: Partitions... mike <spamme9@gmail.com> - 2011-11-08 12:21 -0800
          Re: Partitions... Tazz <dmswaine@gmail.com> - 2011-11-08 19:33 -0400
            Re: Partitions... mike <spamme9@gmail.com> - 2011-11-08 17:32 -0800
      Re: Partitions... wrat@panix.com (the wharf rat) - 2011-11-09 20:24 +0000

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