So I'm planning on buying a new HD...

Post by **Captain** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:00 am

Planning on getting the Seagate 250GB SATA-300 from TigerDirect.ca for $107. What I want to do is transfer all my files and settings using F.A.S.T., then removing the drive and formatting my old 80GB to reinstall XP on it. Right now my 80GB is split into two partitions. I basically want everything in drive D in my new HD while drive C would be on the old HD solely used for program files and Windows. D will hold media, games, data, music, etc.

Is this a good plan? When I format, I don't want to have to go through customizing XP configurations and settings all over again, such as folder views, file types, and IE favorites. I've been told that F.A.S.T. does it all for you. Is this a good plan?

I'd actually be willing to go through it without having to format. I'd rather just move my D partition from my old HD to my new one. Currently it is 45GB but I've also been told that it will automatically become 250GB once on the new drive.

Signed,

Confused.

Post by **AmIdYfReAk** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:28 am

Ok, i am confused....

So you want this HDD To have everything from your D drive, then you want to Enlarge your partiton on the 80 gig so it takes it all?

So c:

80gigs windows only
d-> Seagate With shit abondant!

right?

if i am getting this right, a simple Cut and paste then a little round of Partition Magic would get this done in Two shakes of a lambs tail...

Post by **Captain** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:46 am

AmIdYfReAk wrote:Ok, i am confused....

So you want this HDD To have everything from your D drive, then you want to Enlarge your partiton on the 80 gig so it takes it all?

So c: 80gigs windows only
d-> Seagate With shit abondant!

right?

Somewhat, currently my old HD has a maximum capacity of 76GB (it says 80 but you know how HD manufacturers are). My C drive is 30GB and D is 45GB. I want to move the D drive from the old HD into the new one and I want to edit the capacity so it becomes 250GB. Then I want to edit the C partition on the old HD to become the 76GB but I want to use it for program files and Windows.

That would be grand! It would also mean I wouldn't have to go through reinstalling about 15 huge-ass games if they remained in their original path, right?

Was that better?

Sorry if the earlier post made little sense, it's 4:46am here.

Post by **Captain** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:48 am

BTW, SATA-300 is otherwise known as SATA-II but my Asus P5P800SE only supports SATA-150. This means that once I insert the SATA-300 HD, it should automatically be configured to run at 150, right?

Post by **AmIdYfReAk** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:16 am

its 5:10 am here right now, so yea...

and you just agreed with what i said... litterly..

anyway,

All you need to do is connect the HDD, Format it within windows, go to your current D drive, Select all ( Ctrl A ) then Cut ( Ctrl X ) then go to the new hdd ( it will be some random Letter at the mo ) then press Ctrl V ( paste ) and wait for it all to transfer over.

Now, Aquire a copy of Partition Magic, open it up, Delete the D partition off of the 80gig, then resize the C to 74 ( max ), click apply, reboot...

wait for that to finish, and the computer will reboot yet again, then when you are back in windows go to the "Disk management" right click on your 250 ( the Big icon, Not the top one ) and Select Change Drive letter and paths" change it to D and apply the changes..

Now you should be Setup the way you want to..

Now as for the SATA thing, There will be a jumper on the hdd that will change between SATA1 and SATA2 modes, Put it on SATA 1. simple as that..

Now i am going to bed, i am tired..
later.

*cough* 5:20am :/

Post by **+JuggerNaut+** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 2:24 pm

free and works perfectly either via a USB stick or live CD - no install:

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/

Post by **Captain** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 4:38 pm

Thanks Amidy, Juggs, sure have made me feel better knowing I don't have to reformat.

BTW Amidy, I'm strapped for cash, do you want to pick up the mobo and CPU some time this week?

Post by **Captain** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 5:01 pm

AmIdYfReAk wrote:wait for that to finish, and the computer will reboot yet again, then when you are back in windows go to the "Disk management" right click on your 250 ( the Big icon, Not the top one ) and Select Change Drive letter and paths" change it to D and apply the changes..

What about file allocation? Will that be automatically set?

AmIdYfReAk wrote:Now as for the SATA thing, There will be a jumper on the hdd that will change between SATA1 and SATA2 modes, Put it on SATA 1. simple as that..

I thought SATAs were jumperless :icon32:

Post by **Captain** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 12:48 am

Anyone seen better deals than the one I'm about to get?

Post by **FragaGeddon** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 12:54 am

I just bought a 320GB IDE HD for $114 Cdn.

Post by **FragaGeddon** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 12:55 am

Where are you in Canada CM?

Post by **Captain** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 1:30 am

I'm looking for SATA btw, I live in Mississauga.

Post by **FragaGeddon** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 1:39 am

I would have bought two SATA's, but then I'd have to buy a new motherboard and CPU and power supply.
My desktop system has two SATA 80GB drives.
But replacing them with bigger ones would be stupid to waste 2 drives.

Post by **Captain** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 2:05 am

I've got an 80GB IDE and a mobo that supports SATA with enough space for at least 2 more HDDs in the case. Plus I'm running out of space, fast.

Post by **RRROOOAAARRR** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 2:07 am

I'd seriously recommend Western Digital HDDs over Seagate any day.

Post by **Captain** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:04 pm

Oh? My IDE is currently a WD, any reason why I should pick them over Seagate?

Post by **RRROOOAAARRR** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:13 pm

Captain Mazda wrote:Oh? My IDE is currently a WD, any reason why I should pick them over Seagate?

Long-term reliability. Over time, a higher %-age of Seagates fail than WDs. Using WDs in my current system, about to build a new gaming monster, and not even bothering to look at any HDDs other than WD.

Post by **Tormentius** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:30 pm

Claiming lower failure rats on X brand of hard drive is very subjective. I've heard that every top brand is better than the other but have seen very little to prove those claims. That said, I prefer Seagate not because of reliability but because of the 5 year warranty they have and the fact the use native SATA rather than a converted signal.

Post by **RRROOOAAARRR** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:39 pm

Tormentius wrote:Claiming lower failure rats on X brand of hard drive is very subjective.

Not when I work in tech support and have seen the engineers' logs :icon30:

Post by **Tormentius** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:03 pm

RRROOOAAARRR wrote: Not when I work in tech support and have seen the engineers' logs :icon30:

A lot of people who post here work in tech support. It doesn't change the fact that those drive failure rates amount to nothing more than personal preference or possibly being on the wrong end of a bad run of drives (especially when working for an OEM system company). I've heard from a few colleagues working in support that brand X is worse than brand Y but none of those opinions are backed by facts and are nothing more than that: opinions.
:icon26:

Post by **Foo** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:07 pm

You mean except the ones that are backed by fail rate numbers, right...

Post by **RRROOOAAARRR** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:23 pm

Foo wrote:You mean except the ones that are backed by fail rate numbers, right...

Winner!

Post by **Tormentius** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:37 pm

Foo wrote:You mean except the ones that are backed by fail rate numbers, right...

If thats the case then by all means post some fail rate numbers from a reputable source.

From anything I've experienced or read the major brands are equally good and reliability comes down to personal experience and opinion.

Post by **Captain** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:03 pm

From TigerDirect:

For this Seagate:

-Component Design Life (min) 5 years
-Nonrecoverable Read Errors per Bits Read 1 in 10E14

For this Western Digital:

Hmm, no such stats for it.

I think I may go with the WD, I didn't notice this one earlier and it's the same price as the Seagate. Same HDD as well.

Post by **FragaGeddon** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 5:23 am

Captain Mazda wrote: For this Western Digital:

Hmm, no such stats for it.

Manufactured by: Western Digital
Mfg Part No: WD2500JS
UPC No: Not Available
Shipping Weight: 1.0 pound
Limited Warranty:
36 months parts; 36 months labor

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... 50JS&Tab=7