creating secondary partion on HD for file storage

Hey guys,
I read in a different thread about taking 1 HD and making 1 partion for OS files and one for everything else. Could someone please shed some light on how this can be done or where I could look for the information about it. I've heard bout doing this and what it "helps" but I don't exactly remember how it's done.
Spock96

 

Having a second partition for your data is something I always recommend to users who are savvy enough to know how to use a second partition. Seems odd, but alot of people just can't seem to grasp the concept of one partition for OS and apps, and one partition for data. That way, you can blow away the OS partition any time you need to, and always still have your data. As to how it's done, first I nned to know which version of windows you are running.

 

I'm running XP Home Edition. I only have 2 40 GB drives and the one is almost full.... could I possibly have my OS files on one and my data one the other and have my OS read off the secondary drive? (hypothetically speaking)

 

With 2 hard drives the way you split up your files should be obvious. Use drive C: as your OS and application drive, and use drive D: as your data drive. no need to further partition the drives.

 

Would that make my computer run faster? Cause my C: Drive is getting full.

 

Yep. Having some free space on your drives is important. Do you know how to tell windows to use D as your data drive?

 

And can I do that with stuff installed on my C: drive or do I need to uninstall them and reinstall them on my D: drive ,or just copy them to my D:drive?

 

No I don't think I know how to tell windows to do that.

 

Leave the OS and Programs on your C drive alone. No nned to move them. What you move is your pictures, music, movies, documents.

 

Do you know how to use Windows Explorer to see your My Documents, My pictures, My Music, and My Videos folders?

 

Ok, i can put a folder on mt D: drive with all my pics and word docs and such in it while still having the programs installed on my C: drive?

 

Correct. But there's a way to do it so windows will default to the D drive as your documents drive. Which version of windows are you running?

 

XP Home Edition

 

1. Go to Start>All Programs>Accessories>Windows Explorer and start Windows Explorer.
2. Navigate to Users>YourName. You will see folders called My Documents, My Music, My Videos, etc..
3. Right click on My Documents and select Properties.
4. Select the Location tab
5. Click the Move button
6. Select the D drive and click Select Folder
7. Click Apply, then click Yes when prompted to move your files.
8. Repeat the process for your pictures, videos, etc...

 

Thank you I really appreciate it
Spock96

 

I tried that but since I'm the only one that has an account on this computer I didn't see my user I say the User folder, but My Doc. My Music etc.. weren't in it. So I moved My Doc. to my D: drive through my Start Menu and it seems to have moved all of them, because if I look under properties the target is D: for all of them but I only moved My Doc. there.