Install new hardware with minimum fuzz?

Olle P · 17th Nov 2006, 10:36 PM

I'm going to buy some new hardware for my computer; CPU, PSU and a SATA2 HDD.

Currently running 2 IDE HDDs, with plenty of partitions, on an ASUS A8N-E motherboard.

My aim, after installation, is to use the new HDD, parted into two or three partitions, for the OS, and use the old drives for backup with one partition on each.

According to the motherboard's manual installing a SATA-drive is as easy as plugging it in. I can also chose which of all available HDDs that is to be the boot drive in BIOS.

My current main issue is with drive lettering. What's the easiest way to tell the OS (Win XP Home) that the partitions on the new HDD is to have the lower letters (C, D and E) instead of just piling on from J: up (with I: being my current boot partition)?

Cheers
Olle

peaz · 19th Nov 2006, 01:23 PM

Unplug the older drives when installing the OS on the new drives. This will allow it to use the lower drive letters. THen after that's done, plug in the old drives and windows will not assign a drive letter to them since it's conflicting. Then all you need to do is to go into the computer management and go to the disk management and assign those drives a letter each. that should be it.

zy · 19th Nov 2006, 02:26 PM

yea.. unplug all of them

...

partitions the HD using the Windows XP installation before continueing to install windows on it

Olle P · 19th Nov 2006, 03:40 PM

That's what I thought.
Thanks guys!

/Olle

17th Nov 2006, 10:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Olle P Active Join Date: 12 Jan 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 815 Reputation: 315 Rep Power: 7	Install new hardware with minimum fuzz? I'm going to buy some new hardware for my computer; CPU, PSU and a SATA2 HDD. Currently running 2 IDE HDDs, with plenty of partitions, on an ASUS A8N-E motherboard. My aim, after installation, is to use the new HDD, parted into two or three partitions, for the OS, and use the old drives for backup with one partition on each. According to the motherboard's manual installing a SATA-drive is as easy as plugging it in. I can also chose which of all available HDDs that is to be the boot drive in BIOS. My current main issue is with drive lettering. What's the easiest way to tell the OS (Win XP Home) that the partitions on the new HDD is to have the lower letters (C, D and E) instead of just piling on from J: up (with I: being my current boot partition)? Cheers Olle __________________ If you're not living on the edge you take up too much space... Asus A8E-N, Athlon64 X2 4600+, 1024MB Kingston value, XFX GF7800GT, Seagate 160GB/8MB

19th Nov 2006, 01:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
peaz ARP Webmaster Join Date: 13 Oct 2002 Location: http://atpeaz.placidthoughts.com/ Posts: 8,515 Reputation: 1673 Rep Power: 31	Unplug the older drives when installing the OS on the new drives. This will allow it to use the lower drive letters. THen after that's done, plug in the old drives and windows will not assign a drive letter to them since it's conflicting. Then all you need to do is to go into the computer management and go to the disk management and assign those drives a letter each. that should be it. __________________ Ken Ng Tech ARP Visit my web gallery - Ken's Digital Canvas Shoot and Earn Money from Stock Photography Sterling@PJ Community Forums

19th Nov 2006, 02:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
zy Dead Join Date: 16 Dec 2002 Location: Penang,Malaysia - Buffalo,New York Posts: 12,884 Reputation: 2064 Rep Power: 39	yea.. unplug all of them ... partitions the HD using the Windows XP installation before continueing to install windows on it __________________ current: P4-3.2\|P4P800-Deluxe\|512x4-DDR\|NV6600 WD2500KS\|WD5000AAKS\|AD-7191A\|1860NX\|Z2300\|MP470 home (malaysia): P4C-2.6@3.1-StockHSF\|AI7\|256x2-BT-D43\|512x2-DT-D43\|A9600XT-VIVO WD1200JB\|2xWD2500KS\|DRU-800A\|DVD-E616P\|LTR-52327S\|152x\|V.S.4121\|iP1500 laptop: M1210\|T7200\|2GBDDR667\|160GB5K160\|GO7400

19th Nov 2006, 03:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
Olle P Active Join Date: 12 Jan 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 815 Reputation: 315 Rep Power: 7	That's what I thought. Thanks guys! /Olle __________________ If you're not living on the edge you take up too much space... Asus A8E-N, Athlon64 X2 4600+, 1024MB Kingston value, XFX GF7800GT, Seagate 160GB/8MB

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