D partition empty...want to add to C partition

[Char Jackson]

I do that all under the default profile folders. Heck, they're already
named just like you describe above.

Yep, a lot of people do that. Since it's the default, it's the easiest
option. My point was that the data is significantly less safe there.

I can still access the data on a no longer bootable partition using PE or
putting the drive into a dock if need be.

Yep, but it gets significantly more difficult after that partition has
been reformatted and Windows reinstalled.

 

[Seth]

Yep, a lot of people do that. Since it's the default, it's the easiest
option. My point was that the data is significantly less safe there.

What makes it more difficult? Any drive can easily be formatted and any
data folder can easily be deleted. Just as easy if located on C: or D: or
any other letter.

Yep, but it gets significantly more difficult after that partition has
been reformatted and Windows reinstalled.

Which also goes for the D: partition as well. That's why in case of failure
and no backup available, retrieve files before doing installation. That
advice goes for even if the data is on a different drive letter (or actually
any drive installed in the system and not disconnected first) as any
"sloppy" person could just as easily install to the wrong partition/drive if
they don't pay attention. And the people who are most likely to make a data
dangerous mistake are probably people who are apt to not pay attention.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

On Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:42:36 -0800, Gene E. Bloch

There are multiple winning strategies.

One of the better responsees to my irreverences - thanks for the laugh.

 

[Char Jackson]

What makes it more difficult? Any drive can easily be formatted and any
data folder can easily be deleted. Just as easy if located on C: or D: or
any other letter.

A majority of the systems brought into my shop have perfectly
functioning hardware, but Windows has experienced a severe malfunction
(it's not unusual for it to be a direct fault of the customer rather
than a fault with Windows itself), and the owner has decided to
restore an OEM image or simply reformatted and reinstalled Windows. At
that point, I see the machine because something has gone dramatically
wrong. In most of those cases, they are disappointed to learn that
their precious data is at a high risk of being lost. I can recover
some, but usually not all, if they have reformatted and reinstalled.
It's time consuming and I charge by the hour for that since every job
is different. If they had simply stored their data on a second
partition (at a minimum! Moving to a second drive is even better) then
I wouldn't need to recover anything because it would still be
available.

I can't remember the last time a system has come in where the owner
has accidentally blown away a second partition or drive. It's
typically the 'C:' drive that got trashed. So my point isn't that data
stored on a different partition or drive is 'safe', only that it's
relatively safer compared to storing it on the C drive along with the
OS.

Which also goes for the D: partition as well.

If D: is a data storage partition, why would it be reformatted? I
suppose it could happen if an owner was especially fat fingered, but
it's not at all common, IME. Like I mentioned above, I can't remember
the last time a system came in with that problem.

That's why in case of failure
and no backup available, retrieve files before doing installation. That
advice goes for even if the data is on a different drive letter (or actually
any drive installed in the system and not disconnected first) as any
"sloppy" person could just as easily install to the wrong partition/drive if
they don't pay attention. And the people who are most likely to make a data
dangerous mistake are probably people who are apt to not pay attention.

Great advice, and if everyone followed it I would have a lot less
business.

Is this horse dead yet?

 

[Al Smith]

The advantage is that you have a place to store downloaded apps,
videos, digital music and photos, documents, etc., where they won't be
lost if you find that you need to reinstall Windows.

Obviously, losing the entire drive means losing all of its partitions,
but many times a system crash can be rebuilt without touching any
other partitions, so it's a measure of safety.

Ramping up the safety even more could involve adding a second internal
drive, a second external drive, or off-site (or even online) storage,
but there's no denying that a second partition is safer than a single
partition.


For my own systems, I agree with you. That's why I have 6 internal
drives and sometimes 2 external drives. I'm not a fan of external
drives, but sometimes they make it easier to move large amounts of
data between systems, especially when it's not practical to move it
over the network.

How do you get six internal SATA drives? My new dell only has
three SATA plugs on the motherboard. I've got one for my DVD
drive, and the other two for my two internal hard drives. Do you
get a card with more internal SATA plugs? What about power? Do you
use an extension cord with multiple leads?

-Al-

 

[Seth]

How do you get six internal SATA drives? My new dell only has three SATA
plugs on the motherboard. I've got one for my DVD drive, and the other two
for my two internal hard drives. Do you get a card with more internal SATA
plugs? What about power? Do you use an extension cord with multiple leads?

Different hardware has different ports. There are some motherboards out
there with 8. 6 is becoming pretty common. Add-on cards give you more as
well.

The VM servers in my lab all have at least 8. 4 on the motherboard and 4 on
an add-on RAID card.

 

[Char Jackson]

How do you get six internal SATA drives? My new dell only has
three SATA plugs on the motherboard. I've got one for my DVD
drive, and the other two for my two internal hard drives. Do you
get a card with more internal SATA plugs? What about power? Do you
use an extension cord with multiple leads?

My Asus M2N32-SLI DELUXE motherboard has 7 internal SATA connectors
and one (external) eSATA. I have a CD/DVD burner on port 7 and ports
1-6 are hard drives totaling 7 TB. One external drive runs off the
eSATA port and the other external is only USB. For power, I have 2
Y-adapters but otherwise the PC's power supply has enough power leads
for everything.

If you have an empty slot, I suppose you could add a SATA controller,
but at some point you might also want to consider upgrading the system
power supply if it's marginal.

 

[Bogey Man]

Much snipped for
brevity-------------------------------------------------------

Yep, a lot of people do that. Since it's the default, it's the easiest
option. My point was that the data is significantly less safe there.

That is why you make regular backups of things that are important and can't
be replaced. If something can be replaced by making a simple download why
worry about losing it as you can get it again.

 

[fei]

Bogey Man wrote on 02/16/2010 09:41 ET

I am using Window 7 and have a 750 GB HD with C and D partitions of appro
345 GB. The D partition is empty and I would like to add this space to the
partition and not have a D partition at all

If I use disk management and reduce the D partition to 0 bytes, and add thi
to the C partition will the D partition disappear or will I have to delet
it? I see "Shrink volume" and "Delete volume" when I righ
click the
partition. Is the correct procedure to shrink the D partition to 0 add th
space to C and then delete the D volume or could I simply delete the
volume and then extend the C volume to take up the space that was occupie
by the D partition

Thank you

Ron

Quick questions rarely have quick answer

If there are data on the D partition, make a backup and then delete it. Th
built-in disk management has the Extend Volume function, which helps exten
you
C drive.

 

[VanguardLH]

Bogey Man wrote on 02/16/2010 09:41 ET :

If there are data on the D partition, make a backup and then delete
it. The built-in disk management has the Extend Volume function,
which helps extend your C drive.

You thought Bogey was still waiting after *22 MONTHS* for a reply?
(Picture a skeleton covered with cob webs slumped over a monitor.)

When replying, note the timestamp on the post to which you reply,
especially if using a web-based interface to Usenet.

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

Bogey Man wrote on 02/16/2010 09:41 ET :

If there are data on the D partition, make a backup and then delete
it. The built-in disk management has the Extend Volume function,
which helps extend your C drive.

You thought Bogey was still waiting after *22 MONTHS* for a reply?
(Picture a skeleton covered with cob webs slumped over a monitor.)[/QUOTE]

Well, it is called the world-wide WEB ... (-:

When replying, note the timestamp on the post to which you reply,
especially if using a web-based interface to Usenet.

Yes, otherwise at least one person will pop up pointing out - usually in
a very sarcastic manner - what you've done.