Opinion needed....which hard drive as main?

[Man In Black]

Original hard drive, currently using, with OS, programs, and files: 80GB WD 800JD

New hard drive: 320GB Seagate 7200.10


Method 1: Continue using 80GB as drive for OS and programs, partition 320GB and save Acronis backup images to one partition, and use the other partition for all my files and stuff.

Method 1: Make an 80GB partition on the 320GB drive, one big partition for the rest, clone my old 80GB hard drive over to the 80GB partition, boot to that partition on the new drive, use the large partition for files, and use my old 80GB hard drive to make backups of the 80GB partition containing the OS and programs.

Which way do you think would be better?

[geko29]

The 320 is more than likely faster (I'm assuming the 80 is rather old), so I'd definitely boot from it.

[Man In Black]

Argh.

So I made an 80GB partition and one big partition on the 320.

I was going to create an image of my old drive and restore it to the 80GB partition, but apparently you can't restore to the same drive the image is on....and I had to put the image on the 320GB drive, because I don't have room on the old drive.

So then I was going to clone the old drive, but you cant clone to a partition. So If I go into clone, and do it manually, not expanding the old partitions when they are put on the new drive, I have like 220GB that should be made into a empty partition for data, but TI doesnt let you do that...it just leaves all that space as unallocated. Sigh.

I don't see how I can get my old drive copied over.....argh.

[Gus]

So then I was going to clone the old drive, but you cant clone to a partition. So If I go into clone, and do it manually, not expanding the old partitions when they are put on the new drive, I have like 220GB that should be made into a empty partition for data, but TI doesnt let you do that...it just leaves all that space as unallocated. Sigh.You can allocate the 220GB portion after the cloning is done, can't you? It's not going to end up as useless space.

[Man In Black]

You can allocate the 220GB portion after the cloning is done, can't you? It's not going to end up as useless space.

Apparently not. Acronis TI doesn't let you modify the partitioning on already-partitioned HD's.

I tried the Seagate DiskWizard, and it told me...."The selected drive has a non-standard partition table layout. DiskWizard is unable to partition any free space on this drive"

[Gus]

I got Disk Director along with True Image, so I can play with partitions as much as I want to. Disk Director would definitely solve your problem.

[Man In Black]

I got Disk Director along with True Image, so I can play with partitions as much as I want to. Disk Director would definitely solve your problem.

I suppose it would, but its fairly expensive for something I'd probably never use again.

[Uther]

Don't make a partition. Forget cloning. Just do a fresh install of your OS on the new hard drive. Keep the 80GB drive as-is for reference until you get everything set up on the new drive the way you want.

[Man In Black]

Don't make a partition. Forget cloning. Just do a fresh install of your OS on the new hard drive. Keep the 80GB drive as-is for reference until you get everything set up on the new drive the way you want.

I'd still want to have the OS and programs on a 80GB partition so it could be backed up.

But yeah, thats a good idea....I could use the old drive until I get the other completely set up. I have SOOOO many programs, drivers, utilities and stuff....Not looking forward to it, but its not that big a deal. Only thing...what about like my games....I don't want to start them over again....I suppose I just find whatever they use for saved games and user profiles and copy it over once I get them installed again?

Oh, and when I get the OS set up the way I want it, is there a way to make a backup or something....so if I ever need to reinstall Windows from scratch, it'll all be configured like I want it? I know theres a specific name for it....but I can;t think of it.

[Man In Black]

I was checkin my HD temps.

WD800JD Max Operating Temp: 55C----Temp reading: 48C
Seagate Max Operating Case Temp: 69C----Temp Reading: 51C

[Uther]

Oh, backups. I have all my stuff on a raid 5 array, and have an external hard drive that makes incremental backups every week. So, I'd have to lose 3 drives simultaneously before I lose any valuable data.

I think raid 1 is the easiest "backup" solution... :)
It may not be feasible for you, though.

[Man In Black]

Oh, backups. I have all my stuff on a raid 5 array, and have an external hard drive that makes incremental backups every week. So, I'd have to lose 3 drives simultaneously before I lose any valuable data.

I think raid 1 is the easiest "backup" solution... :)
It may not be feasible for you, though.

Meh, for me, its OK as long as I can back up the OS and programs ever so often onto my old drive.

[Man In Black]

Gak, and then I booted from CD to run some tools on the HD....but my hard drives dont show when I boot from CD....Weird