Best hard drive solution

[Oliver]

Currently I have an 80GB HDD on my Dell Dimension 5150 and in
desperately in need of a secondary drive. I've found the one I want, a
Western Digital 250GB SATAII but I am unsure of the best storage
solution.

As far as I can see there are two viable things to do:

1. Install Windows on the new secondary drive, leaving programs and
files on the 80GB disk.

Pros:
· No need to rearrange files from 80GB disk to new 250GB disk.
· Easy and quick.
· Appearance of a fresh start.

Cons:
· New Windows installation will not recognize programs installed on
the 80GB disk due to the registry.
· Untidy organization due to new files and programs being installed
on the 250GB disk and old files being on the 80GB disk.

2. Migrate all files and applications over to the 250GB disk leaving
the 80GB to deal with Windows.

Pros:
· Does not require a fresh install of Windows.
· Better organization of files.
· 80GB for Windows to use on its own with no obstruction.

Cons:
· Very time consuming migrate.
· foreseeable problems with the transfer of applications.
· Cranky old Windows install still being used. (Would be nice for a
fresh start)


These are just my ideas, they probably don't make any sense to the tech
savvy of you out there but that is the reason I'm asking for help!
Ideally I want to know my best option of finding the fastest and
easiest way of having a well organized, well structured high
performance, storage system.
I'm really not sure of what to do, I'd like one big drive so I didn't
have to worry about installing specific things in specific disks to
increase performance, however that is not a viable solution. I have
currently 1.8GB of space remaining and I have noticed a significant
performance drop in recent weeks. I think that perhaps the clean
install of Windows might be best, but you folks out there probably have
a much better idea than I do! All replies are greatly welcome!

Thanks,
Oliver

 

[Rod Speed]

Currently I have an 80GB HDD on my Dell Dimension
5150 and in desperately in need of a secondary drive.

Presumably you mean desperately in need of more space.

I've found the one I want, a Western Digital 250GB SATAII

I prefer Samsungs myself, quieter and run cooler.

And 400G drives are better value currently.

but I am unsure of the best storage solution.

As far as I can see there are two viable things to do:

1. Install Windows on the new secondary drive,
leaving programs and files on the 80GB disk.

Very bad approach.

Pros:
· No need to rearrange files from 80GB disk to new 250GB disk.

Thats very easy to do tho.

· Easy and quick.

Slower and harder than doing the obviously, clone the
80G drive to the 250G drive and then boot off the 250G
drive and have the 80G drive for extra storage later.

· Appearance of a fresh start.

Nothing like as good as cloning the 80G drive to the 250G drive.

Cons:
· New Windows installation will not recognize programs
installed on the 80GB disk due to the registry.

So you will have an unusable mess.

· Untidy organization due to new files and programs being
installed on the 250GB disk and old files being on the 80GB disk.

2. Migrate all files and applications over to the 250GB
disk leaving the 80GB to deal with Windows.
Pointless.

Pros:
· Does not require a fresh install of Windows.

Neither does cloning the 80G drive to the 250G drive.

· Better organization of files.

Much worse than cloning the 80G drive to the 250G drive.

· 80GB for Windows to use on its own with no obstruction.

You dont need anything like that for Win.

Cons:
· Very time consuming migrate.
· foreseeable problems with the transfer of applications.
· Cranky old Windows install still being used.
(Would be nice for a fresh start)

These are just my ideas, they probably don't make any sense to the
tech savvy of you out there but that is the reason I'm asking for help!

Yes, neither makes any sense.

If the current install works fine, you're best cloning the 80G drive to
the new 250G drive and then using the 250G drive as the boot drive.
That results in everything running from the newer faster drive with
the same clean organisation you have now. Use the 80G drive for
extra storage later when you need it and as a destination for
backups so you dont lose everything if the 250G drive does die.

If you dont like the current install much, cut to the chase and do
a clean install of the OS and programs to the new drive, with it
the only drive in the system. Once you have that done, plug the
old drive in too and use the files and settings transfer wizard to
get the data files and settings from the old to the new install if
you are using XP.

I personally leave the old drive alone for a few months,
just in case the new drive does die early, for a bit of
insurance. Then when I'm happy its fine, format it and
use it for backups if that is the only system you have.

Ideally I want to know my best option of finding the
fastest and easiest way of having a well organized,
well structured high performance, storage system.

If the current OS install is a mess, there's really only one option,
do a clean install of the OS and programs on the new drive, and
use the files and settings transfer wizard to get the data files and
setting across to the new install if you are using XP.

I'm really not sure of what to do, I'd like one big drive so I didn't
have to worry about installing specific things in specific disks to
increase performance, however that is not a viable solution.

Of course it is.

I have currently 1.8GB of space remaining and I have
noticed a significant performance drop in recent weeks.

Its unlikely that the OS install has got degraded over that time.

I think that perhaps the clean install of Windows might be best,
but you folks out there probably have a much better idea than I do!

I think its unlikely that you need to do a clean install.

I'd clone the 80G drive to the 250G drive and use the 250G drive
as the boot drive, and see how you like the performance. No reason
why you cant do a clean install of everything if you dont like the
performance after you have tried the clone approach.

All replies are greatly welcome!

Even those that tell you to go and shove your head up a dead bear's arse ? |-)