Windows XP & Partitions

[cman01]

I just bought win xp pro. I want to install it from scratch because I heard there are alot of problems when it comes to upgrading from a previous windows (I have win me now, have to get rid of this crap asap!). My computer's harddrive came partitioned when I bought the pc, the partition is the only way I can restore my pc to factory stttings in case of a disaster (which has happened 3 times). My question is: If I install win xp from scratch, will I lose the all important backup partition? Also, which file system is needed for authoring DVD's? I just installed a new dvd burner and heard something about a fat32 file size limit. TIA

[Conquest10]

when you do a clean install off the boot cd, it asks you which partition you want to install xp on. so you can keep the drive partitioned the way it is. you can also choose to erase all the partitions and just have one. dvd authoring can be done with any file system, i think. but ntfs is the better one to use.

[Conquest10]

the fat32 limit is 2 or 4 gigs. not sure which one.

[VideoTechMan]

I also have XP Pro, and yes it is true, that it is best if you install the OS from scratch rather than upgrading it from an older OS.....when I bought my laptop a year ago it also came preloaded with Windows ME....one of the worst OS Microsoft came out with...full of bugs and crashes. If you do a fresh install, then most likely you will lose everything on the hard drive if its repartitioned and formatted. Personally I dont think you want nothing to do with ME since the restore cd's installs it back on your system. To make it simple, install XP from scratch and never look back. Then once you have that and all the installed programs you want to use, back it all up so in case you have a problem in the future, you can restore everything and never have to worry about the crappy restore CD's that comes with computer systems you buy from the store. Another reason why I build my own computer systems....i build it the way I want it.

As far as DVD authoring, it has nothing to do with the filesize....that only comes into play when you are capturing to your computer from your camcorder. FAT32 has the filesize of 4GB limit, and the OS that supports that is Win98. Go with the NTFS file system, that's the native system that XP and Win2000 supports, with no capture limit.

VideoTechMan

[Rond66]

Is your Win XP Pro a full or an upgrade version?
Make a Dos startup disk using ME first.

If you have Win XP Pro full version.
Restart with Win XP Pro CD or Dos startup disk is your comptuer.
You will need to unpartition and format. (All OLD DATA WILL BE LOST)
Then install Win XP Pro full version.

[musher70]

yes, I too, bought a system like that, from H_P, i think,
bastards would'nt send me a restore disc, and told me just
to keep restoring to 1st day config, by hitting F10, during
boot-up, this was xp home BTW, sio angry was i, I got
an xp-pro disc, and then i just deleted that hidden
partiton, it was like 5 gigs i believe, maybe youll get
lucky and install "partition x"like they did...

[WeedVender]

You have one of those Compaqs dont you?

I suggest you just intall XP and forget about converting the drive to NTSF. If you want to capture, then get another HDD, save everything u have there, then remove any partions (some programs have provide this), format, Convert To NTFS, then install XP forget about the Compaq system restore thing, It doesnt do anything that important. Its just a simplified version of installing an OS and the programs bundled. I highly suggest you look in the 5 gig partion and get the programs you want like Microsoft Works and Money...
You can also always go back to ME by puting those Quick Restore cds back in. But ME is bs of an OS.
You can also burn CDs or DVDs for back ups of ur files instead of moving things to a seperate HDD.

[Joe328]

Good reply WEEDVENDER. I would do the same and get one of those 8mb cache hardrives. They are fast, it shaved 10mins off dvd2one. I'm using a oem 5400rpm 80G that came with my compaq and I got a 7200rpm 80G with 8mb cache as the 2nd harddrive. It's fast!!!!

[cman01]

How do I go about making a backup cd once I get xp installed the way I want it to?

[WeedVender]

Well if u install XP, then I think everything would be deleted. I never actually upgraded an Os. just clean installs. So i suggest u back up now using a cd burning program like nero and just burn ur data in nifty cds then install XP.

[jbcalg]

back up your data on cd but if you mean a drive/partition image - try symantec ghost or powerquest drive image

do a clean install of XP - make an image
install SP1 and updates (except Q811493) - make an image
install your programs - make an image

that way you can restore the image any time you need to, to the point you need
(yes XP has system restore but occassionally the restore will fail because files have been overwritten by other restore points)

btw: above assumes windows and programs are all on c:\ drive - i keep the OS and programs on different partitions, so make images accordingly

[cman01]

Update: I chose the option to update from scratch, it said that it would erase windows and everything from the disk, but when the install finished, the old files I had on the pc are still there. Even though I chose new installation instead of upgrade. I don't get it.

[WeedVender]

I think you didn't convert the disk to NTFS. Well if u didn't u still have that 4 gig file limitation like on previous versions.

[Gazorgan]

You aren't going to be able to restore. That's a function of OEM software in realtion to Win ME. Installing XP from scratch is going to break all connections to any software you currently have installed. Now, if you can download the disaster recovery software from your OEM and get teh XP version, then you should be alright. The other option is to use Norton Ghost and image you install to another partition.

Unless you format, all the old programs will still be there. However, this makes a HUGE mess, especially in the Program Files folder. Also, XP is a different animal than 98, and if you dont' understand rights/user context, you may have problems.

[cman01]

So what do you reccomend I do? Try this current setup, or do it all over again? I've already done a backup of all of my important stuff. If I stay with the current setup, should I run into any problems?

[cman01]

I converted to ntfs. But all of my old files are still on the pc. When I try to erase the C: partition setup won't let me saying that the installation files are on the disc and it cat't be erased. How do I get around this?

[WeedVender]

C:\ Format C:\

or something like that..
or just pop in the XP cd.

Did you delete the 5 gig partion?

[cman01]

OK, I did the clean install, yes I did delete the 5 gig partition. I created a new one that is basically my whole hd. The install went through clean this time, nothing left from the old system! Things look good so far, now I'm just installing drivers, programs, etc...