I Have two physical drives, can I install my OS seperatly a 2nd time?

[jayro]

Just recently had my local COMPUTER TECH install a 2nd physical drive in my box. The new drive is my c:\ drive now. The OS and all the files from the original c:\ drive have been moved over to the bigger, new, 15GB drive. The original c:\ drive has been designated as the "Old - c ( D:\ )" and the new 15GB, as mentioned, is now the "Drive-c( C:\ )". This 2nd drive was installed because the original hard drive was only 1.6GB and I wanted more storage.

At any rate, I am now running Win95 from my 15GB disk and the 1.6GB disk still has all the old files it ever did, on it.

My question is this:

Can I wipe my 1.6GB disk clean and reinstall WIN 95 to it and then keep it separate from all my programs and files on the 15GB disk so that if I ever wish to reformat and install the OS again due to Win95 getting corrupted (I've heard Windows can get like that :-) LOL), I won't lose anything but Win95 - not all my programs and data files. ie - (reformatting and reinstalling the OS won't be as costly and inconvenient in terms of loosing data)

Forgive me if this is a ridiculous proposition. I'm not altogether sure about multiple drives and partitions and all that sorta "advanced" thinkin' stuff (I'm only using the 15GB, c:\ disk anymore and the 1.6GB, d:\ disk is being ignored, mostly). Maybe I'm mixin' together information that should stay separate and gettin' confused in the process. If so, my 'pologies..... and thanks to anyone that can "tune me in" to the way it really is and how I can benefit from having two physical drives as opposed to just one.

ciao!
jayro

[Murf]

Well your thinking is on the right track. However, to answer your question YES you can have Windows 95 on both drives, however, some changes need to be made to the Slave Drive.

For clarification.

Your new 15 Gigger is called MASTER C: drive
You old 1.6Gigger is called SLAVE D: drive

Now the 1.6GB could also be MASTER if it is installed on a different cable then the MASTER C: drive or attached to another drive like a CDROM,

Anyways, when the tech moved everything over to the new drive he probably used a software program like Partition Magic, Ghost etc., thus retaining everything on the old drive. I will also assume he took care of the different setting required..so what to do.

If the old 1.6GB is only going to be used for storage, then rather then wiping the drive clean and reinstalling Windows (BTW: there are problems doing this for a novice), you can delete everything on that drive but Windows. This way you still have Windows 95 on that drive.

You must note that if you have to reinstall windows from this "So called" backup, the only way for it to work is do like the TECH did, use a software program to copy back over to the new 15GB.

When you FORMAT a drive you cannot be selective in what portion of that drive you format, formatting erases EVERYTHING on that drive.

Here is what I would do.

Reformat the D: drive, you can do this within windows since it is a seperate drive from where the operating system is.

Once it is formated, create a folder on the 1.6GB call it say Win95CAB.

Now put your Windows 95 CD in (hope you have that), and go to the Win95 folder on the CD. In there you will see a whole bunch of *.CAB files. Copy all of these to that folder you created on the 1.6GB drive.

Now on the CD itself when you first open it you will see a file SETUP.EXE, copy it to that folder on the 1.6GB.

Now what you have is the Windows 95 Operating System files needed to install Windows 95. If you for whatever reason have to reformat the 15GB, then you would double click on the SETUP file on the 1,6GB to reinstall Windows.

[jayro]

Hey Murf

Ok....little fuzzy on what to do here. If I "format" the 1.6 drive..... how am I gonna make a folder on it. After I reformat, the 1.6 drive won't have any data of any type to work with right? or am I missin' something here?

Thanks

jayro

[Murf]

After you format the drive, you can use Windows to add a folder to the drive. It will accept it, you do not need any operating system on the drive for it to accept data.

After you format then REBOOT, the drive will be there with nothing on it. But Formatting prepares the drive to accept data..

The you would go into explore and, depending how you want to do it, using the top menu you would go:

Click on the drive letter, lets say it is D:

Now go to FILE | NEW | FOLDER to create it, then use cut and paste to transfer the CAB files into that folder.

Just remember FORMATTING a DRIVE WIPES it clean and prepares the drive to accept data. You using windows to tell it to create the folder on that drive.

[jayro]

Ok Murph

Now have a "Slave d:" with nothing but a folder on it named Win 95 which contains everything my '95 installation CD has in the folder of the same name, a copy of setup.exe from that '95 installation CD "WIN 95" folder (not sure why you mentioned to copy that seein' as it's already in the WIN 95 folder to begin with) and a "Recycled" folder. For that matter, not quite sure why I was to put the WIN 95 folder and all the "cabs" on the d: drive to begin with seein' as I have the installation CD right there "handy". Any further explanation for me?

That result is what you were expecting, based on your instructions, I trust? Let me know, if it isn't.

Now there's 1.6GB to store data on any 'ol way my little heart desires! WooHoo!!!!

thanks Murph

jayro

P.S - Runnin' Scan Disk and Defrag on this d: drive sure is a pleasure!!!! LOL

[Murf]

Installing Windows from a hard drive goes a lot better and faster then from the CD and with less possible errors. If for some reason the CD gets scratched (this can happen easily) or you loose it, someones steals it...., you will still have the operating system on the hard drive to install from. You do not have to keep it on the hard drive, up to you. It does take a little space of your 1.6GB drive.

Windows always puts the recycling bin on a drive.

I also use a text editor like Notepad and copy the "KEY" # down from the Windows CD, then save it as a TXT file to my hard drive. This way you will have it, in case the CD is lost.

Well you now have plenty of room for storage.