Would love some advice re setting up new PC configuration!

defender

defender

defender

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What do you feel is the best way to set up a new PC with two hard disks, one of which is SATA-II, for optimum performance and reliability?

I have my 80GB Western Digital SE (what was so special about that edition anyway??) disk and my shiny new 340GB Seagate Barracuda (SATA-II) in my PC now, after my recent episode with looping reboots and a need to back up my data while I reformat! Btw, I SO feel like upgrading my mobo to take advantage of the SATA-II but don't know if it's really worth it?

Anyway, at the moment I have Windows installed and boot from the new Seagate disk which I must say is really quiet even when under pressure, my WD is certainly not anywhere near as quiet! I also have my software apps like Office, Photoshop, etc. installed on that disk. I then use the WD for storing my data (web sites, documents, pictures, music, etc.).

The thing is, it seems a waste having my 340GB disk hosting just the OS and apps, and using the 80GB disk for storage, so I'm gonna swap 'em over, although I'll probably end up having to install Windows fresh (maybe even format?) on the WD so everything runs smoothly.

I'm also currently looking into storing the Documents and Settings folder (is that possible???), or at least the My Documents folder, on the storage hard disk as opposed to the default location on what will be the system hard disk. That way all my stuff will be already backed up on a seperate hard disk should I ever need to reformat the system disk, although I'll still have to back up data such as Office templates/macros, Outlook files (actually I can change their location at the beginning), Favorites, Start Menu (just as a reminder of all the software I need to reinstall), etc.

Now you can see why I'd love to figure out how to have the Documents and Settings folder on a seperate hard disk? So if I have to reformat the system disk and/or install a fresh copy of Windows I have all my data on a seperate disk that I can point the new copy of Windows to somehow with everything intact.

What do you think? Is this possible? Should I even bother trying? :D

Look forward to the responses!
 
Currently HDDs don't use the full potential of the SATA I interface, so you really don't need to upgrade your mobo.

Assuming your smaller HDD is IDE then I would have the SATA drive as my OS drive. You can partition the 320GB drive for various types of storage and use the 80GB as backup.

In my system I have a 250GB Hitachi Deskstar with the following setup:

Windows: 50GB
Games: 50GB
Applications: 50GB
Media: 50GB
Downloads: 30GB

My second HDD is an IDE 100GB Maxtor and it is just one big partition used to backup all the data from the latter four partitions of the first drive. It also has a disk image of the Windows partition I made when I got it just the way I liked it.

So far 100GB for backup is plenty as I do not have THAT much data yet [system is only 2 months old]. However, I will shortly be getting my hands on a second Hitachi Deskstar for backups.

If you want to move your My Documents or move the folders inside My Docs separately, simply right-click the folder you want to move and go into its properties. Their should be a target field. Simply change this value and hey presto. You can also change the locations using the XP PowerToy TuneXP.

If you want to move the whole Documents and Settings folder then you have to do that before an installation as once it is all installed youre stuffed as the whole system relies on the D&S being where it is. To change the default location you will need to create a new Windows installation CD using nLite. I have next to no knowledge on how to go about this, but I am sure there is ample data on here and at the nLite website.

SiriusB
 
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